---
ref: tool:people-data-labs/search-companies
name: Search companies
company: company:people-data-labs
workflows: [workflow:funding-signal-outbound]
access: [api]
tags: [capability:build-audience, category:data-provider, has:api]
docs: https://docs.peopledatalabs.com/docs/reference-company-search-api
updated: 2026-09-27
---

# Search companies

Returns up to 100 company records per call that match an Elasticsearch or SQL query over PDL's company fields, such as industry, size, location and funding.

Send either `query` (Elasticsearch) or `sql`. Each record returned costs one
credit, so set `size` (1 to 100, default 1) and page with `scroll_token`.

## Set up

Use the first option your agent supports.

### API (official)

- Base URL: https://api.peopledatalabs.com
- Endpoint: `POST /v5/company/search`
- Auth: send the header `X-Api-Key: $PDL_API_KEY`
- Get a key: https://dashboard.peopledatalabs.com/api-keys
- Docs: https://docs.peopledatalabs.com/docs/authentication

Before doing anything else, make one read-only call to confirm access.

## Rules

- Ask the user before anything that sends messages, costs money, or changes data.
- Never print API keys.