How to Look Up Business Registration Records in Any U.S. State (Free)
Whether you're vetting a vendor, researching a competitor, verifying a contractor, or checking if your desired business name is taken — business registration records are public and free in all 50 states. Here's the fastest way to find them.
Quick Answer: How to Look Up a Business Registration
- Use Corporate.AI — search 27.5M+ entities across 10 states at corporate.ai/search
- Or go to the state Secretary of State website for the state where the business is registered (list below)
- Search by business name, owner name, or registered agent name
- Verify the status is "Active" and the details match what you were given
1. Why Look Up Business Registration Records
Business registration records are one of the most reliable, free sources of verified business information available. Here are the most common reasons to look them up:
Vendor due diligence
Before signing a contract, verify the vendor's business actually exists, is in good standing, and the contact matches the registered officer.
Competitor research
Find out when a competitor incorporated, who their registered agent is, their official address, and any name changes.
Business name search
Before forming your own LLC or corporation, check whether your desired name is already taken in the state.
Fraud prevention
Scammers frequently impersonate legitimate businesses. Verify the business is real and the person claiming to represent it is listed as an officer.
Hiring / contractor verification
Confirm a contractor's business entity status before payment. An 'inactive' or 'dissolved' entity is a red flag.
Legal / collections
Attorneys and collections professionals use business registrations to identify registered agents for proper service of process.
Investment research
Investors use business registration data to map company networks, ownership chains, and common-address clusters.
Journalism / public accountability
Reporters use business registration data to investigate shell companies, financial flows, and corporate structures.
2. The Fastest Method: Unified Multi-State Search
The United States has no single national business registration database. Each of the 50 states (plus D.C.) maintains its own registry, each with a different interface, URL, search syntax, and data format. If you're trying to find a business but aren't sure which state it's registered in, you'd normally have to check each state individually.
Corporate.AI solves this. Our platform aggregates business entity data from 10 states — Florida, New York, Texas, California, Illinois, Colorado, Washington, Oregon, and more — into a single searchable index of 27.5 million+ entities. One search, multiple states, instant results.
To search Corporate.AI:
- Go to corporate.ai/search
- Enter the business name, owner name, or registered agent name
- Filter by state if needed
- Click any result to see full registration details, filing status, and officers
For states not yet in the Corporate.AI index, use the official Secretary of State websites listed below.
3. Official State Secretary of State Portals (All 50 States)
The following table lists the official state business entity search portal for all 50 states. All are free to search.
| State | Official Search Portal | Database Name |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | sos.alabama.gov | Alabama Secretary of State Business Entity Search |
| Alaska | corporations.alaska.gov | CBPL Business License Search |
| Arizona | azcc.gov | Arizona Corporation Commission eCorp |
| Arkansas | www.sos.arkansas.gov/corps | Business & Commercial Services |
| California | bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov | California Business Search |
| Colorado | sos.colorado.gov | Colorado Business Database |
| Connecticut | businessct.gov | Connecticut Business Registry Search |
| Delaware | sos.delaware.gov | Delaware Division of Corporations Entity Search |
| Florida | search.sunbiz.org | Florida Division of Corporations (Sunbiz) |
| Georgia | ecorp.sos.ga.gov | Georgia Corporations Division |
| Hawaii | businessregistration.hawaii.gov | BREG Business Registration |
| Idaho | sosbiz.idaho.gov | Idaho Secretary of State Business Search |
| Illinois | apps.ilsos.gov | Illinois Corporations Search |
| Indiana | bsd.sos.in.gov | INBiz Business Entity Search |
| Iowa | sos.iowa.gov | Iowa Business Entities Search |
| Kansas | www.sos.ks.gov/business | Kansas Business Entity Search |
| Kentucky | web.sos.ky.gov | Kentucky Business Entity Search |
| Louisiana | geauxbiz.com | Louisiana Geaux Biz |
| Maine | icrs.informe.org | Maine Corporate Search |
| Maryland | dat.maryland.gov | Maryland SDAT Business Entity Search |
| Massachusetts | corp.sec.state.ma.us | Massachusetts Corporations Division |
| Michigan | cofs.lara.michigan.gov | LARA Corporations Online Filing System |
| Minnesota | mblsportal.sos.state.mn.us | Minnesota Business Search |
| Mississippi | www.sos.ms.gov/corporations | Mississippi Secretary of State Business Services |
| Missouri | bsd.sos.mo.gov | Missouri Business Entity Search |
| Montana | biz.sosmt.gov | Montana Business Search |
| Nebraska | nbos.sos.nebraska.gov | Nebraska Business Services Search |
| Nevada | esos.nv.gov | Nevada Business Search |
| New Hampshire | quickstart.sos.nh.gov | NH QuickStart Business Lookup |
| New Jersey | njportal.com/DOR/BusinessNameSearch | NJ Business Name Search |
| New Mexico | portal.sos.state.nm.us | New Mexico Business Services |
| New York | apps.dos.ny.gov/gtas | NY Division of Corporations Entity Search |
| North Carolina | www.sosnc.gov/online_services | NC Secretary of State Corporate Search |
| North Dakota | firststop.nd.gov | North Dakota First Stop Business Center |
| Ohio | businesssearch.ohiosos.gov | Ohio Secretary of State Business Search |
| Oklahoma | www.sos.ok.gov/corp | Oklahoma Secretary of State Business Filings |
| Oregon | egov.sos.state.or.us/br | Oregon Business Registry |
| Pennsylvania | file.dos.pa.gov | Pennsylvania Business Filing Services |
| Rhode Island | business.sos.ri.gov | Rhode Island Business Services |
| South Carolina | businessfilings.sc.gov | SC Secretary of State Business Filings |
| South Dakota | sosenterprise.sd.gov | South Dakota Business Search |
| Tennessee | tnbear.tn.gov | Tennessee Business Information Search |
| Texas | mycpa.cpa.state.tx.us/COASearch | Texas Comptroller Taxable Entity Search |
| Utah | secure.utah.gov/bes | Utah Business Entity Search |
| Vermont | bizfilings.vermont.gov | Vermont Biznexus Business Entity Search |
| Virginia | cis.scc.virginia.gov | Virginia SCC Business Entity Search |
| Washington | ccfs.sos.wa.gov | Washington Corporations Search |
| West Virginia | apps.wv.gov/sos/businessentitysearch | WV Business Entity Search |
| Wisconsin | www.wdfi.org/apps/CorpSearch | Wisconsin Corporate Search |
| Wyoming | wyobiz.wyo.gov | Wyoming Business Center |
4. How to Search Major States Step-by-Step
How to look up a business registration in Florida
- Go to search.sunbiz.org (Florida Division of Corporations)
- Click "Entity Name" search and enter the business name
- Review results — active entities show green "Active" status
- Click any result to see the full filing: registered agent, principal address, officers, and annual report history
- Download the filed Articles of Organization as a PDF if needed
Sunbiz.org is one of the best-designed state SOS portals in the country — fast, free, and comprehensive. Florida also provides officer/director search and registered agent search. Search Florida businesses on Corporate.AI →
How to look up a business registration in New York
- Go to apps.dos.ny.gov/gtas/ (NY Division of Corporations)
- Enter the entity name and click "Search"
- Results include entity type, status, DOS ID number, and county
- Click the entity name for full details including registered agent and filing history
New York's DOS portal can be slow during peak hours. For faster results, use Corporate.AI's New York business search. Search New York businesses on Corporate.AI →
How to look up a business registration in Texas
- Go to mycpa.cpa.state.tx.us/COASearch/index.do (Texas Comptroller Taxable Entity Search)
- Also check direct.sos.state.tx.us for the Texas SOS business search (SOSDirect)
- Search by legal entity name or taxpayer number
- Note: SOSDirect charges $1/search for full filing details; the Comptroller search is free for basic status
Texas splits business data between the Secretary of State (SOS) and the Comptroller. Use the Comptroller's free search for basic status, or Corporate.AI for free full details. Search Texas businesses on Corporate.AI →
How to look up a business registration in California
- Go to bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov/search/business
- Search by entity name or entity number
- Results show entity type, status, formation date, and registered agent
- Download the Certificate of Status or Status History if needed
California's business search is clean and fast. Note that California distinguishes between "Active" (current), "Suspended" (failed to file or pay taxes), and "Dissolved" statuses. Search California businesses on Corporate.AI →
How to look up a business registration in Illinois
- Go to apps.ilsos.gov/corporatellc/
- Select "Corporation/LLC Search" and enter the entity name
- Results include file number, status, and agent of record
- Click "Details" for full officer list and filing history
5. What Information Is in a Business Registration Record
A standard business registration record includes the following fields, though coverage varies by state:
Legal Business Name
The official registered name of the entity, exactly as filed with the state.
Entity Type
LLC, corporation (domestic or foreign), limited partnership, non-profit, etc.
Formation / Filing Date
When the entity was originally registered with the state.
Status
Active, inactive, dissolved, suspended, or revoked — critical for due diligence.
Registered Agent
The individual or company designated to receive legal notices. Name and address are public.
Principal Business Address
The main office address on file. May be a registered agent address for privacy.
Officers / Directors / Members
Names and titles of officers, directors (for corporations), or managers/members (for LLCs). Not all states list all members.
Annual Report History
Whether the entity has filed required annual reports. Missed filings can lead to dissolution.
Document Number / Entity ID
A unique identifier assigned by the state, useful for cross-referencing.
SIC / NAICS Code
Industry classification code (not available in all states).
⚠️ What's NOT in public business registration records
- • Social Security Numbers or EINs (these are not public record)
- • Bank account information
- • Revenue or financial data (unless the entity files public financial statements)
- • Personal home addresses (registered agents' addresses are listed, not necessarily personal residences)
- • Beneficial ownership in all states (though the federal Corporate Transparency Act now requires FinCEN reporting)
6. Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to find a business registration record?
Using Corporate.AI or a well-designed state portal like Florida's Sunbiz, you can find a registration record in under 30 seconds. For states with slower portals (New York, Texas SOSDirect), allow 1–3 minutes.
What does "good standing" mean for a business?
A business in "good standing" has met all state requirements: annual reports filed, fees paid, and no compliance violations. A business not in good standing may have its authority to do business suspended or be at risk of administrative dissolution. Always verify "good standing" status before entering a significant contract.
Can I find the owner of an LLC?
It depends on the state. Some states (Florida, California) require LLCs to list their managers and/or members in public filings. Other states (Wyoming, New Mexico, Delaware) allow LLCs to maintain member anonymity, listing only the registered agent. For these "anonymous" LLCs, the registered agent address is public but the actual owners may not be disclosed in state records.
What if I can't find a business in the state registry?
If a business claims to be registered but doesn't appear in the state registry: (1) Try alternate spellings or abbreviations. (2) Check if it's registered as a foreign entity (formed in another state but operating locally). (3) Search other states where it might be registered. (4) If you still can't find it, the business may be operating illegally without proper registration, or it may have been dissolved. Contact the state Secretary of State directly if needed.
What is the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA)?
The Corporate Transparency Act (effective January 2024) requires most U.S. companies to report their beneficial owners to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). This is a federal requirement separate from state registration. FinCEN's beneficial ownership database is not currently public, but the CTA has increased transparency requirements for shell companies and holding companies.
Search 27.5 Million+ Business Registrations on Corporate.AI
Stop clicking through 50 different state websites. Corporate.AI gives you a single search across 10 states, with real-time entity status, officer details, and filing history.
Coverage: Florida, New York, Texas, California, Illinois, Colorado, Washington, Oregon, and more. Free to search.
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