A business entity search lets you look up any company registered in a US state: its exact legal name, status, formation date, registered agent and filing history. Every state keeps its own register, usually at the Secretary of State, and each one has a free online search. The table below links to the official search for each state we cover, with the state filing fee for a new LLC and our step by step guide.
Business entity search by state
Guides for more states are being added. For a state not listed here, go to that state's Secretary of State website and look for "business search" or "entity search".
What a business entity search shows
- Legal name and entity type: corporation, LLC, limited partnership, nonprofit or a foreign entity registered from another state.
- Status: whether the business is active, in good standing, delinquent, dissolved or revoked.
- Registered agent: the person or company that accepts legal papers for the business in that state.
- Filing history: formation documents, annual or biennial reports, name changes and mergers. Many states let you view or order copies.
How to check if a business name is available
Search the exact name and close versions of it: with and without "the", in singular and plural, and with common words like "company" or "services". If a registered name is the same or very close, the state will usually reject yours. Most states also let you reserve a name for a fee while you prepare your filing. A name that is free in the state register can still be someone's trademark, so also search the federal trademark database and check that the domain name is free. Our business name generator can give you a list to test.
Status words, in plain English
| Status | What it usually means |
|---|---|
| Active or in good standing | The business exists and is up to date with its state filings and fees. |
| Delinquent or not in good standing | A report or fee is late. The business still exists but may lose its status if it does not catch up. |
| Administratively dissolved, forfeited or revoked | The state ended the business record, usually for missed reports or taxes. Many states allow reinstatement. |
| Dissolved or cancelled | The owners closed the business by filing with the state. |
Forming an LLC: what changes from state to state
- The name of the filing, such as Articles of Organization or Certificate of Formation.
- The filing fee, and whether there is an annual or biennial report and a yearly fee or franchise tax.
- Extra rules in a few states, such as publishing a notice in newspapers.
Most people form the LLC in the state where they live and work. Forming in another state usually means registering in your home state as well. For the wider steps, see how to start a business and the free business plan builder.
Questions people ask
What is a business entity search?
It is a free online search of a state's register of companies. You can see a business's legal name, status, registered agent and filings. Each state runs its own search, usually through the Secretary of State.
Is the Secretary of State business search free?
Searching is free in every state. Ordering a certificate of good standing or certified copies of documents usually costs a fee set by the state.
Can I search all 50 states at once?
There is no single official search that covers every state. You search each state's own register. A business that works in many states is often registered in each of them.
How do I find who owns an LLC?
The state record shows the registered agent and, in some states, the managers or members listed in the formation documents or annual reports. Some states do not list owners at all.
Why can't I find a business in the search?
Try fewer words, leave out endings like LLC or Inc, and check spelling. Sole proprietors and many partnerships do not register with the state, and trade names or DBAs may be filed with a county instead.