The New York City wholesaler I am about to place an order with sounds great, but I want to make sure it is a real company. Does anyone have tips on how to verify the legitimacy of a business in New York?

There are some simple guidelines you can use to determine whether a business is legitimate in New York. First, verify the wholesaler’s contact and website information.

● Make sure the brick and mortar address shows up on a map as a building. Use an online reverse directory to verify that the given phone and fax numbers trace back to the wholesaler.
● Use whois.com to search for information about the wholesaler’s domain name. If it is not registered under the same name, address and phone number as the wholesaler, it should raise red flags.

You can ask the wholesaler to show you a copy of its tax certificate from the Department of Revenue. Also, verify that the wholesaler is registered with the New York Business Directory. This is a website devoted to providing information about businesses in New York City and surrounding areas.

If a business is registered with a business directory, it is legitimate, right? Are there any other state or national registries I can use?

When a business is registered in a directory, it automatically verifies that it is a legitimate operation, legally speaking. However, it does not guarantee that the business is not going to cheat you. You must do your own research as stated above to verify that information.

There are other business directories you can consult. If you are outside of New York City, but still within the state, search for the business you are looking for in the New York State Office of the Professions web page. Choose the profession under which the business operates. You can then enter the license holder’s name, the license number, the permit holder’s name, registration number, type of establishment or the business name.

Also check out the New York State Division of Corporations. In a simple procedure, you enter the name of the business you want to verify and then select the status and search types. Next, the database is searched for the business name. If the business exists, all pertinent information will be displayed.

I also have to order shipments from other states. Is there a website that can help me verify businesses nationally?

I do know of a website that will point you in the right direction of verifying a business in any state. LLRX.com is a business filings database. Since every state has to file at least one corporate document online, this database searches for those documents. Simply click on the state you need business information for and LLRX will lead you to the appropriate information depending on what type of business you are researching.