How to Look Up an LLC in Alabama (2026)
To look up an LLC in Alabama, search the Secretary of State's Business Entity Records database. The Business Services Division runs it, free and public. No account needed.
Search by entity name, entity number or reservation ID. You can also search by an agent or officer name. Pick the one you already have. Each method pulls up the same public record.
Our team has walked Alabama owners through this exact search many times. The steps below match what the registry currently shows on screen.
Quick Summary
- Skip paid lookup sites, since the state's own registry is free and shows the same records.
- The database covers many entity types, so a name search can return corporations and nonprofits too.
- If a business doesn't turn up under one search mode, try another before you call the Business Services Division.
| Search Method | What to Enter | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| By entity name | The business name, leaving off the LLC suffix for broader results | Name availability checks and general lookups |
| By entity number | The 9-digit Alabama entity ID number | An exact match when you already know the ID |
| By agent, officer or incorporator | The person's name | Finding every business tied to one person |
| By reservation ID | The reservation or registration ID number | Checking on a name reservation you already filed |
How to Search Alabama's Business Entity Records
Alabama's entity lookup lives in the Business Entity Records search. The Secretary of State's Business Services Division runs it. Every search below starts from that page.
1. Search by Entity Name
Enter the company name and leave off the LLC suffix. The shorter string turns up more name matches. The results list shows each hit with its status and ID number.
2. Search by Entity Number
If you know the Alabama entity number, enter it for a direct match. That skips the name guesswork and jumps straight to the record. The state moved from 6-digit to 9-digit entity numbers. Older numbers now show three added zeros up front.
3. Search by Agent, Officer or Incorporator
Enter a person's name to see every Alabama business tied to them. That is how you find companies linked to one owner or agent. Use this mode when you want one person's full business history in the state.
4. Search by Reservation ID
If you already reserved a name, enter the reservation ID to check its status, entity type and when it expires.
What the Search Results Show
Each record lists the entity name, type, status, formation date and registered agent. All of it is public and free to view.
A status other than active often means a missed filing, a dissolution or another shift in standing. Take a closer look before you rely on an older record.
The listed registered agent's name and address show where legal papers reach the company. If you're picking an agent for your own LLC, compare the best registered agent services in Alabama instead of copying what another company uses.
Contact the Business Services Division
For anything the Alabama registry search can't answer on its own, call the Business Services Division at (334) 242-5324 [1].
The division doesn't list a public email inbox, and staff names come and go, so the phone is the surest way to reach a real person.
Business Services also handles UCC filings and other entity paperwork, so say you're calling about an entity records search when you reach them.
Why You Might Need to Look Up an Alabama LLC
These situations send Alabama business owners to the registry:
- Checking that a partner, vendor or customer is active and in good standing before you sign a deal.
- Seeing whether a business name is still free before starting an LLC in Alabama under that name.
- Finding a company's registered agent so legal documents reach the right address.
A quick registry search settles most of these questions. There's no need to call the state at all. Checking a company's standing yourself is safer than taking the other side's word for it.
Making sure a name is free is also the first real step toward forming your own LLC. Alabama makes you reserve the name with the Secretary of State before you file the Certificate of Formation.
Readers in a different state can find that state's registry and search quirks in the national how to look up an LLC guide.
FAQs
Is the Alabama Business Entity Search Free to Use?
Yes, the Alabama business entity search is free to use and doesn't require creating an account. Anyone can look up the same public record the state itself relies on.
Can I Look Up Who Owns an Alabama LLC?
No, Alabama doesn't let you look up who owns an LLC by name. The Certificate of Formation only requires certifying that at least one member exists, not naming individual owners, so the registered agent is what the public record actually shows.
References:
- https://www.sos.alabama.gov/contact
