How to Look Up an LLC in Pennsylvania (2026)
To look up an LLC in Pennsylvania, search the Department of State's Business Entity Search. Type in the company name and review the matching results. Click through to open the full record.
This guide covers every search method the Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations offers, plus how to reach the office directly. Run a trademark check too, before you settle on a name.
Quick Summary
- The Business Entity Search matches on the entity's name or entity number only. It isn't indexed by an officer's or owner's name.
- The search is free and doesn't require an account or login.
- Pennsylvania's registry only covers state-level matches, so pair it with a USPTO trademark search before you settle on a name.
| Method | What to Enter | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Business Entity Search | Entity name or entity number | Confirming an LLC is registered and pulling its filing record |
| Pennsylvania Trademark Search | Business or mark name | Checking for a state-level trademark conflict |
| USPTO Trademark Search | Business or product name | Checking for a federal trademark conflict nationwide |
How to Search for an LLC in Pennsylvania
The Business Entity Search is the Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations' lookup tool. It's built around a single name or entity-number field. Every method below starts from that same site.
1. Run the Business Entity Search
Here's how to pull up an LLC's record:
- Go to the Business Entity Search page.
- Type the company name into the search field.
- Click "Search" and review the results list.
- Open the matching entity to view its full record.
That last click opens the record on file with the Department of State. Cross-check the details shown there before you treat the match as final.
2. Contact the Bureau by Phone or Mail
Call the Bureau at (717) 787-1057 if the online tool doesn't answer your question. The lines are open 8:00 am to 4:45 pm, and a representative can search up to two entity names per call.
For a full filing history in writing, mail a request naming the entity you want searched to the Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations, PO Box 8722, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8722. A written search costs $15 per entity number.
How to Check if a Business Name Is Trademarked in Pennsylvania
Checking for a trademark conflict means searching two separate registries. One covers Pennsylvania. A second one, run by the USPTO, covers all fifty states at once.
1. Search Pennsylvania's Trademark Records
Pennsylvania sorts trademark and service mark applications into classes of goods and services under 54 Pa. C.S. § 1103 [1]. Use the Pennsylvania Trademark Search to check for a state-level conflict before you register a mark. A registered mark stays effective for five years, and renewal is due within six months before it expires.
2. Search Federal Trademarks Through the USPTO
Once the state-level check is done, search the USPTO's Trademark Search tool, which replaced the older TESS system. Start with the exact name, then test a few close spelling variants too.
Reasons to Search Pennsylvania's LLC Registry
People run this search for reasons beyond just checking whether a name is free. The naming section right after this one spells out what makes an LLC name pass the state's own review.
- Checking whether a proposed name is already taken before you file.
- Confirming a company is currently registered with the state before you sign a contract with it.
- Verifying a company's entity number before you reference it in paperwork.
- Pulling up a company's filing record for your own reference.
Pennsylvania LLC Name Requirements
Your proposed name has to include "company," "limited" or "limited liability company," or an abbreviation like LLC or L.L.C. [2]. It also can't contain a word implying the business is a corporation, and it has to be distinguishable from every name already on file with the Department of State.
If it isn't distinguishable, the state won't accept your Certificate of Organization. With a clear name locked in, the next move is to start your Pennsylvania LLC.
What It Costs to Search or File in Pennsylvania
Filing a Certificate of Organization costs $125, and it's nonrefundable whether the state accepts your filing or not. Reserving a name ahead of time is optional: the Name Reservation form costs $70 and holds your choice for 120 days.
Domestic and foreign LLCs also owe an Annual Report each year, due between January 1 and September 30. It costs $7, and it replaced Pennsylvania's old decennial report once Act 122 of 2022 took effect.
A quick search now beats a rejected filing later. Run it, then send in the paperwork once you're confident the name is clear. Our review of the best LLC services in Pennsylvania covers help with the rest of it. For a business in another state, our guide to looking up an LLC covers each state's registry too.
FAQs
Does It Cost Anything to Search for a Pennsylvania LLC?
No, a Pennsylvania LLC search through the Business Entity Search doesn't cost anything, and no login is required. A fee only applies once you order a written record, reserve a name or file paperwork.
What if the Business Entity Search Doesn't Show My LLC?
If the Business Entity Search doesn't show your LLC, call the Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations at (717) 787-1057. A representative can look up the record directly during office hours, 8:00 am to 4:45 pm.
How Much Does It Cost to Reserve a Name in Pennsylvania?
A $70 fee reserves a Pennsylvania name for 120 days. It's useful when you need extra time before you're ready to file your Certificate of Organization.
References:
- https://codes.findlaw.com/pa/title-54-pacsa-names/pa-csa-sect-54-1103.html
- https://codes.findlaw.com/pa/title-15-pacsa-corporations-and-unincorporated-associations/pa-csa-sect-15-204/
