Go to the business and ask for a card. Or check the phone book or Internet.
      Answer1:maybe try the Better Business Bureau
      Answer2:If its incorporated, the state will have a corporate records department with quite a bit of information. You can find the number off most state websites. If it is a partnership or other business not using the name of the owner, then there is probably some place where the name has to be recorded. In my state, it is the same office where deeds are recorded but this could vary. You could also check with the local Better Business Bureau. Look on the web to see if they have a site; sometimes these list a history of the business.
      Answer3:In Florida you would check with the office of the Secretary of State Division of Corporations. They have a website that provides this type of information. Likely each state has a similar office. It might be called something like, "Department of Corporations". To conduct a search in Florida, over the internet, there is no charge and you can have your answer in a matter of moments.
      Answer4:go to the reference desk in the library and look the business up in the criss cross directory.