Frequently Asked Questions
Questions About BCI Services and the Research Process
These answers cover the practical issues most clients need to understand before starting a project.
Services and Scope
Choosing the Right Research Level
What does Beaty Corporate Intelligence research?
BCI conducts public-source research on companies, business entities, corporate leadership, ownership and control, governance, financial condition, operational dependencies, legal and regulatory exposure, and other company-specific risks relevant to a defined business decision.
What is the difference between the Company Risk Snapshot and the Corporate Intelligence Brief?
The Company Risk Snapshot is a concise screening-level assessment designed to identify the principal issues that could affect a decision and determine whether deeper work is warranted.
The Corporate Intelligence Brief provides deeper integrated analysis of the principal risks, how they interact, what the evidence indicates, and what those findings mean for the decision.
When is Enhanced Due Diligence appropriate?
Enhanced Due Diligence is appropriate when a decision depends on resolving specific material concerns that require deeper examination.
Examples may include complex ownership, financial distress, significant litigation, regulatory exposure, acquisition or integration concerns, or issues identified through earlier research.
What if I am not sure which service I need?
You do not need to determine the research methodology or service level yourself.
Describe the company, the business decision or relationship, and the issues you need to understand. BCI can determine the appropriate starting point.
Can BCI handle work that does not fit one of the standard packages?
Yes. Legitimate corporate research requirements that fall outside the standard packages may be considered as Custom Research.
Examples may include multi-company research, ownership or affiliate mapping, multi-jurisdiction research, specialized public-source research, or expedited requirements.
Research Process
How the Engagement Works
What types of sources does BCI use?
Source selection depends on the company and the questions being addressed.
Research may include corporate filings, regulatory records, court and legal records, company disclosures, government records, credible news reporting, industry sources, and other lawfully accessible public information appropriate to the engagement.
What is an information gap?
An information gap is a material question that cannot be reliably resolved from the available public information.
BCI identifies unresolved issues as information gaps rather than presenting unsupported conclusions as fact. In some cases, the gap itself may be relevant to the business decision.
Does BCI continue researching every issue that appears during the assignment?
No. Research is bounded to the agreed service level.
If a materially deeper issue emerges, BCI identifies it as an information gap or possible follow-on due-diligence issue rather than automatically expanding the assignment or adding charges.
Does BCI guarantee that the research will uncover a problem?
No. BCI provides a defined research and analytical process, not a guarantee that public-source research will produce a particular finding.
A company may have few material adverse indicators, significant risks, or unresolved information gaps. The report reflects what the available evidence reasonably supports.
Timing and Payment
Project Start and Turnaround
When does the published turnaround period begin?
Turnaround begins after the scope has been confirmed, required payment has been received, any necessary client information is available, and BCI issues the Project Start confirmation.
Turnaround periods are stated in business days.
What does “Project Start” mean?
Project Start is BCI’s confirmation that the assignment has been accepted and the conditions required to begin research have been satisfied.
The Project Start confirmation identifies the accepted service and anticipated delivery window.
When is payment required?
Standard one-time engagements are prepaid after the applicable scope has been confirmed.
Enhanced Due Diligence and Custom Research are priced after manual scope review. Company Monitoring begins after the monitoring scope has been approved and the recurring subscription has been activated.
What happens if the scope changes after work begins?
BCI does not materially expand an engagement or add additional charges without client authorization.
If a new requirement falls outside the agreed scope, BCI may recommend a separately defined follow-on assignment.
Company Monitoring
Ongoing Risk Awareness
Is Company Monitoring a 24/7 real-time alert service?
No. Standard Company Monitoring is based on scheduled public-source review.
The standard service includes weekly scheduled review, a monthly monitoring update, and interim notice when a material development is identified during scheduled monitoring and warrants client attention.
Do I need an existing BCI assessment before starting Company Monitoring?
Normally, yes.
Monitoring works best when it is measured against a current BCI Company Risk Snapshot, Corporate Intelligence Brief, or Enhanced Due Diligence assessment.
New clients without a current BCI baseline will ordinarily begin with a Company Risk Snapshot.
Research Boundaries
What BCI Does Not Do
What types of work does BCI not perform?
BCI does not perform consumer background investigations, physical or electronic surveillance, impersonation or pretexting, unauthorized access to systems or accounts, technical penetration testing, or acquisition of restricted or improperly obtained private information.
Can BCI assess cybersecurity or privacy concerns?
BCI may assess publicly reported cybersecurity, privacy, data-protection, regulatory, and related corporate-risk issues when those matters are relevant to the business decision.
BCI does not perform penetration testing, vulnerability exploitation, unauthorized technical testing, or intrusion activity.
Client Information
Confidentiality and Report Use
How does BCI handle information I provide?
BCI limits initial intake to information reasonably necessary to understand and scope the assignment.
Sensitive files or confidential documents should not be submitted through the initial public intake form. If supporting materials are needed, an appropriate transfer method can be arranged after scope review.
Can I share a BCI report with other people?
Standard reports are intended for the client’s internal business use and ordinary internal decision-making purposes.
Broader publication, marketing use, public distribution, or republication may require separate permission or terms depending on the circumstances.
Cancellation
What if Plans Change?
What is the cancellation and refund policy?
If a client cancels before Project Start, the payment is generally refundable in full.
If work has already begun, any refund depends on the work already performed and the applicable engagement terms.
Company Monitoring cancellation stops future renewals; the current paid period ordinarily continues through its scheduled end.
The complete operative terms are provided in the Cancellation & Refund Policy.
View Cancellation & Refund PolicyStill Have a Question?
Start With the Company and the Decision
If you are unsure which service fits, describe what you need to understand and BCI can determine the appropriate starting point.