How to Look Up an LLC (Business Search by State)
Looking up an LLC takes 2 minutes: go to the Secretary of State's website for the state where the LLC is registered and search their business database. The results will show the LLC's legal name, registration date, status (Active, Inactive, Dissolved, or Suspended), and registered agent information.
Here's where to search for an LLC in every state, plus what the results actually tell you.
Quick Summary
- Most state SOS websites offer a free business entity search. You don't need to create an account or pay for basic information.
- Search results typically show: LLC status, formation date, registered agent name and address, and sometimes member/manager names.
- Virginia is the exception - its filings are with the State Corporation Commission (SCC), not a Secretary of State.
- If you can't find the LLC in one state's database, it may be registered in a different state or under a DBA.
Search for an LLC in your state
The fastest path is to go straight to your state's business search database. Use the table below to find the right website, what the database is called, and whether it shows member or manager names publicly.
| State | SOS website | Database name | Shows member names? | Free? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | arc-sos.state.al.us | Alabama SOS Business Entity Records | Yes (organizers/officers) | Yes |
| Alaska | commerce.alaska.gov | Alaska Corporations Database | No | Yes |
| Arizona | ecorp.azcc.gov | Arizona Corporation Commission eCorp | Yes | Yes |
| Arkansas | sos.arkansas.gov | Arkansas Secretary of State Business Entity Search | No | Yes |
| California | bizfileOnline.sos.ca.gov | California Business Search | Yes | Yes |
| Colorado | sos.state.co.us | Colorado Secretary of State Business Database Search | No (not required to file) | Yes |
| Connecticut | service.ct.gov | Connecticut Business Records Search | Yes (principal name) | Yes |
| Delaware | icis.corp.delaware.gov | Delaware eCorp | No | Yes |
| District of Columbia | corponline.dlcp.dc.gov | CorpOnline (DLCP) | No | Yes |
| Florida | Sunbiz.org | Florida DOS Business Search | Yes | Yes |
| Georgia | ecorp.sos.ga.gov | Georgia Corporations Division Business Search | Yes | Yes |
| Hawaii | hbe.ehawaii.gov | Hawaii Business Express (BREG DCCA) | No | Yes |
| Idaho | sosbiz.idaho.gov | Idaho SOSbiz | No | Yes |
| Illinois | apps.ilsos.gov | Illinois Business Entity Search | No | Yes |
| Indiana | bsd.sos.in.gov | INBiz Public Business Search | Yes | Yes |
| Iowa | sos.iowa.gov | Iowa Business Entity Search | No | Yes |
| Kansas | sos.ks.gov | Kansas Business Entity Search | No | Yes |
| Kentucky | sosbes.sos.ky.gov | Kentucky Business Entity Search | Yes (managers via annual report) | Yes |
| Louisiana | coraweb.sos.la.gov | Louisiana Commercial Search | Yes (officers/registered agents) | Yes |
| Maine | apps3.web.maine.gov | Maine ICRS (Integrated Corporate Records System) | Yes | Yes |
| Maryland | egov.maryland.gov | Maryland Business Express (SDAT) | No (resident agent only) | Yes |
| Massachusetts | corp.sec.state.ma.us | Massachusetts Corporations Division Search | No | Yes |
| Michigan | mibusinessregistry.lara.state.mi.us | MiBusiness Registry | No (may appear in annual statements) | Yes |
| Minnesota | mblsportal.sos.mn.gov | Minnesota Business Filings Online | Yes | Yes |
| Mississippi | corp.sos.ms.gov | Mississippi SOS Business Entity Search | Yes (via filed documents) | Yes |
| Missouri | bsd.sos.mo.gov | Missouri Business Filings | No | Yes |
| Montana | biz.sosmt.gov | Montana Secretary of State Business Search | No | Yes |
| Nebraska | nebraska.gov | Nebraska Corporate & Business Search | Yes (officers/managers) | Yes |
| Nevada | esos.nv.gov | Nevada SilverFlume Entity Search | Yes (managers/managing members) | Yes |
| New Hampshire | quickstart.sos.nh.gov | NH QuickStart Business Search | No | Yes |
| New Jersey | njportal.com | NJ Business Name Search (DORES) | No | Yes |
| New Mexico | enterprise.sos.nm.gov | New Mexico Business Portal | No | Yes |
| New York | apps.dos.ny.gov | NY Business Entity Search | No (paid for details) | Free basic search |
| North Carolina | sosnc.gov | NC SOS Business Registration Search | Yes (managers/officials) | Yes |
| North Dakota | firststop.sos.nd.gov | North Dakota FirstStop Business Search | No | Yes |
| Ohio | businesssearch.ohiosos.gov | Ohio Business Search | No | Yes |
| Oklahoma | sos.ok.gov | Oklahoma SOS Business Entity Search | No | Yes |
| Oregon | sos.oregon.gov | Oregon Business Registry | Yes (managers) | Yes |
| Pennsylvania | file.dos.pa.gov | Pennsylvania Department of State Business Search | No | Yes |
| Rhode Island | business.sos.ri.gov | RI Business Portal | Yes (via filed documents) | Yes |
| South Carolina | businessfilings.sc.gov | SC Business Entities Online | No | Yes |
| South Dakota | sosenterprise.sd.gov | South Dakota Business Information Search | No | Yes |
| Tennessee | tnbear.tn.gov | TNBear Business Entity Search | No | Yes |
| Texas | direct.sos.state.tx.us | SOSDirect - Texas Business Organizations | No | Yes |
| Utah | entityregistry.utah.gov | Utah Entity Registry | Yes (principals listed) | Yes |
| Vermont | bizfilings.vermont.gov | Vermont Biz Filings Business Search | Yes | Yes |
| Virginia | cis.scc.virginia.gov | SCC Clerk's Information System | Yes (registered agent; varies) | Yes (SCC, not SOS) |
| Washington | ccfs.sos.wa.gov | Corporations and Charities Filing System | No (not required in formation) | Yes |
| West Virginia | apps.wv.gov | WV SOS Business Entity Search | Yes | Yes |
| Wisconsin | apps.dfi.wi.gov | WI Corporate Records Search (DFI) | No (order documents separately) | Yes |
| Wyoming | wyobiz.wyo.gov | Wyoming WyoBiz Business Entity Search | No | Yes |
How to look up an LLC (5 steps)
Researching an LLC gives you insight into its legitimacy, ownership, and overall standing, all useful for business decisions and due diligence.
Step 1 - Find the right state's SOS website
The Secretary of State's office maintains business records at the state level [1].
Visit the official website of the Secretary of State for the state where the LLC is registered. Look for a dedicated section or search function to access the business entity database.
Note: Virginia is the exception, its business filings are maintained by the State Corporation Commission (SCC) at scc.virginia.gov, not a Secretary of State.
Step 2 - Search the business entity database
Navigate to the search function on the website and perform a business search. Enter the LLC name you're looking up and choose the appropriate search parameters (entity name, registration number, or registered agent are the most common).
The database typically shows:
- LLC's legal name
- Registration (formation) date
- Status (Active, Inactive, Dissolved, Suspended, etc.)
- Registered agent name and address
- Principal office address
- Member / manager names (varies by state - not all show this publicly)
- Annual report filing history
- Amendment history (name changes, registered agent changes)
- Filing documents (Articles of Organization, often downloadable as PDF)
Which of these are visible depends on the state. California, Delaware, and New York generally show the most detail; states like Wyoming and New Mexico show the least (those are popular precisely because filings can be more anonymous).
Step 3 - Understand the LLC status
LLC status is the single most important data point on the lookup page. The common values you'll see:
- Active / In Good Standing - currently operating and current on filings.
- Not in Good Standing - exists but is behind on annual reports, fees, or other obligations. Lenders and counterparties may refuse to do business until this is cleared.
- Inactive / Dissolved - formally closed. The LLC no longer has authority to do business.
- Suspended - temporarily blocked from operating, usually for failure to comply with state requirements.
- Delinquent - some states use this for LLCs that have missed annual reports but aren't yet dissolved.
- Revoked - some states use this when the state has revoked the LLC's authority to do business (different from dissolved).
If you're checking your OWN LLC and the status is wrong, for instance, it shows Inactive or Suspended when it should be Active, start with: (1) check the annual report history for missed filings, (2) pay any outstanding fees or franchise tax, (3) submit a reinstatement filing if your state requires one, and (4) contact your SOS office to confirm what they need to restore good standing.
Step 4 - Check what else the database shows
Beyond the basic LLC record, many state databases also show:
- Principal office address
- Mailing address
- Member or manager names (where the state collects and discloses them)
- Filing history and downloadable filed documents
- Annual report history
- Any past or pending administrative actions (e.g., administrative dissolution proceedings)
Some states (notably California, Delaware, and New York) offer the most detailed databases. Smaller states often show less.
Step 5 - Supplement with additional sources
If you've checked the SOS database and need more context, useful next steps are:
- For your own LLC formation: check (1) domain availability for your preferred .com, (2) USPTO trademark search, (3) social media handle availability. These aren't part of the lookup process itself - they're the next step if you're checking name availability to register your own LLC.
- For due diligence on another LLC: check news coverage, BBB listings, LinkedIn profiles of executives, and court record databases for the state(s) the LLC operates in.
Where to Look Up an LLC
Beyond the SOS database, several sources offer different angles on a business, each useful for different reasons.
1. State SOS databases (the authoritative source)
In every state, LLCs must register with the Secretary of State (or, in Virginia, the State Corporation Commission) [2, 3]. These databases are the only place to confirm an LLC's official legal status, registration date, registered agent, and good standing.
Access is free in every state. Some states charge for certified copies of filed documents, but the basic online business name search is always free.
If you need certified copies or specific filed documents not available online, contact the state's Department of Corporations or the Secretary of State's office directly.
2. Credit Bureaus
Credit bureaus like Dun & Bradstreet, Experian Business, and Equifax Business maintain financial records on businesses, including payment history and credit scores [4]. These are different from SOS registration records, you'd use them to check a company's creditworthiness, not its formation status.
Detailed credit reports cost money. Use them when you need to assess financial reliability for vendor terms or loans, not for verifying that an LLC exists.
3. Search Engines
A Google search for "[company name] LLC [state]" will often surface news coverage, reviews, LinkedIn profiles, and Better Business Bureau listings. This context supplements the official SOS data, you might find complaints, court records, or news that doesn't appear in the state database.
4. Social Media
LinkedIn is useful for finding who works at the company and what the business actually does day-to-day, information the SOS database won't show. Check the company's LinkedIn page and its executives' profiles to get a fuller picture of the operation behind the legal entity.
5. Business Associations
Chambers of commerce and trade associations maintain member directories, useful if you want to find LLCs in a specific industry or region. These are not registration records, so they don't tell you whether an LLC is in good standing with the state.
Reasons to look up an LLC
Looking up an LLC isn't just procedural, common reasons include:
- Due diligence: Before entering a business deal or investment, verify the legitimacy and standing of the LLC. This mitigates risk and supports an informed decision.
- Legal matters: In disputes, lawsuits, or other legal matters, the SOS record provides registration details, status, and registered agent information that may be needed for legal proceedings.
- Partnership opportunities: Before partnering or collaborating with an LLC, look up its formation date, registered agent, and standing to understand who you're working with.
- Competitive analysis: Look up competitors' LLC records to understand their structure, registered agents, and any history of name changes or related entities.
- Employment verification: If you're offered a job by an "LLC" that doesn't appear in the state database, treat it as a warning sign. Many employment scams operate under fake business names.
FAQs
How Do I Know if My LLC Is Active?
You know if your LLC is active by searching the official business registry in the state where it is registered. The status field will show Active, Not in Good Standing, Suspended, or another state-specific status.
How Do I Check to See if an LLC Name Is Available?
You check to see if an LLC name is available by searching your state's business name database. If the same or a closely similar name is already registered, the name usually is not available.
Are LLC Owners Public Records?
LLC owners are public records in some states, including California, Florida, and Georgia, where member or manager names may appear in the database. Other states allow more privacy and list only the registered agent.
What if I Can't Find the LLC I'm Looking For?
If you can't find the LLC you're looking for, it may use a DBA, different legal name, or another state registration. Try removing "LLC," searching by registered agent, or checking neighboring states.
Is the LLC Lookup the Same as Verifying a Business License?
An LLC lookup is not the same as verifying a business license. The state registry confirms entity existence and status, while business licenses are issued separately by city, county, or state agencies.
Can I Look Up Who Owns an LLC?
You can look up who owns an LLC only in states that publish member or manager names. In privacy-friendly states, the public record may show only the registered agent.
Does Looking Up an LLC Cost Money?
Looking up an LLC usually does not cost money because basic Secretary of State business searches are free. Certified copies, filing histories, detailed reports, and credit bureau reports may cost extra.
References:
- https://www.nass.org/business-services
- https://www.sba.gov/business-guide/launch-your-business/register-your-business
- https://cis.scc.virginia.gov/
- https://www.sba.gov/business-guide/plan-your-business/establish-business-credit
This guide is super helpful. I was totally lost trying to figure out how to verify an LLC’s legitimacy. Now I feel more confident about checking out LLCs for my next investment.
Amazing write-up! The step-by-step guide was excellent.