How to Look Up an LLC in Washington (2026)

Published by Jon Morgan | Co-Founder & Chief Editor

Last updated: August 22, 2026

FACT CHECKED by Jon Tobin, Business Attorney

Methodology
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To look up an LLC in Washington, search the Secretary of State's Corporations and Charities Filing System, known as CCFS. Type in the company name or its UBI number, then open the matching record. The result shows the entity's status, structure and filing history.

This guide walks through that search tool. It also covers how to reach the Secretary of State directly, plus what a Washington LLC search does and doesn't cost.

Quick Summary

1. Search for an LLC in CCFS

CCFS is Washington's own record system, so start here first for almost any question about a Washington business. The state keeps this record current.

Here's how to run a search:

1. Go to CCFS and scroll to "Corporation Search."
2. Type in the business name or UBI number.
3. Click Search.
4. Click the business name from the results list to open its record.
5. Scroll to "Filing History" to see documents filed over time.

The record itself lists entity type, current status, filing history and the date it expires. A document printed straight from CCFS isn't a certified copy. Order one from the state if a bank or another state asks for it.

Two entry points cover most searches. Try the full or partial business name first if you're only checking whether your preferred name is taken.

The Unified Business Identifier, or UBI, is the number the state uses to track a business. If you already have that number from a past filing, type it in instead of a name to narrow the search to that one entity.

2. Contact the Secretary of State Directly

Calling works well when the online search leaves a question unanswered. Reach the Corporations Division at (360) 725-0377, Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Pacific time.

For a written record, email Corps@sos.wa.gov with the LLC's name and what you need to know. Email takes longer than a call, but leaves a paper trail for a complicated question.

3. Try Other Research Methods

A few unofficial checks round out the picture CCFS gives you. Search a domain registrar for .com, .net or .org versions of the name, check LinkedIn or Facebook for a matching business profile and check Yelp or the Better Business Bureau for reviews and standing.

Washington LLC Naming Rules

An LLC's name must contain "limited liability company" or an abbreviation like "LLC" [1]. It also can't be too close to a name already on file with the Secretary of State [2]. Run your search before you settle on a name.

Once a name clears, you're ready to file. Our review of the best LLC services in Washington covers providers who can handle that paperwork, plus registered agent services in Washington if you need one on file.

What a Washington LLC Search and Filing Cost

Fees only start once you order a document or file something with the state. Here's what each of those actually runs.

A Washington LLC's Annual Report costs $70 and is due by the entity's expiration date, the last day of the month it first formed. You can file it up to 180 days early to keep the entity active and in good standing.

A Certificate of Existence runs $20, and a certified copy costs $10 plus per-page fees, for proof of a record a bank or partner might ask for. See our guide to starting an LLC in Washington for formation-filing costs.

One more thing worth knowing: signing up with the Secretary of State isn't the same step as getting a Business License from the Department of Revenue. That's a separate, later step, and it's the one that hands you the UBI you'll use on tax filings.

How to Check if a Business Name Is Trademarked in Washington

A name that clears the entity search can still infringe on a trademark. Check both registries before you commit to it.

1. Search Federal Trademarks Through the USPTO

The USPTO's Trademark Electronic Search System (TESS) covers marks registered or pending at the federal level. Try a plain word search first, then check close spellings and variations.

2. Search Washington's State Trademark Registry

The Secretary of State also runs the state's own trademark registry, using the Trademark Registration form. It costs $55 per class of goods or services, plus $100 more to speed it up. For a question about an existing state trademark, the contact line above can point you to the right form.

Types of Business Structures in Washington

Founders in Washington usually pick from a few common structures:

• LLC: Separates personal assets from business debts, with lighter paperwork than a corporation.
• Corporation: Fits larger companies raising outside investment or issuing stock.
• Sole Proprietorship: The simplest setup, but you and the business stay legally the same, with no registered agent required.

Reasons to Search for a Business

A search comes in handy in a few common situations:

• Checking whether a name is already taken before you file.
• Spotting a trademark conflict before it turns into a legal dispute.
• Confirming a competitor or partner is legitimate and in good standing.
• Confirming an LLC was properly closed before you reuse its name. Check our guide to dissolving an LLC in Washington if it wasn't.

For the same search process in a different state, see our general guide to looking up an LLC, which walks through the steps state by state.

FAQs

References:

1. https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=23.95.305
2. https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=23.95.300