How to Look Up a Business Entity
The definitive guide to searching corporation and LLC records in any US state. Find registered agents, verify entity status, look up officers, and use Corporate.AI as the single search interface for all 50 states.
What Is a Business Entity Lookup?
A business entity lookup is the process of searching official state Secretary of State (SOS) records to find information about a registered company. In the United States, any business that formally incorporates (LLC, Corporation, LP, Non-Profit, etc.) must register with the state in which it operates. That registration creates a public record.
These public records contain: the entity's legal name, entity type (LLC vs. Corp), current status (Active, Inactive, Dissolved), formation date, principal business address, registered agent, officer and director information, and filing history.
Historically, you had to visit each state's SOS portal separately — 50 different websites with 50 different search interfaces. Corporate.AI aggregates official SOS data across states into a single, AI-native search interface covering 27.5 million entities.
4 Ways to Search Business Entities
Search by Entity Name
The most common lookup. Enter the full or partial company name. For common names like "Smith Holdings," add the state to narrow results.
- ·Use the registered legal name, not trade/DBA names
- ·Try partial name if full name returns no results
- ·LLC, Corp, Inc suffixes are often optional in search
- ·Corporate.AI normalizes name variations automatically
Search by Filing Number
Every registered entity has a state-assigned filing number (sometimes called entity number, registration number, or charter number). This is the most precise lookup method.
- ·Filing numbers are unique per state — not nationally
- ·Found on official state correspondence, annual reports
- ·Format varies by state (FL: L or P prefix, NY: 7-digit number)
- ·Corporate.AI URL includes the filing number for bookmarking
Search by Registered Agent
A registered agent is the official contact for legal service of process. Searching by agent name reveals all entities they serve — useful for identifying related companies or shell company clusters.
- ·Large registered agent firms (CT Corp, Incorp) appear on thousands of entities
- ·Small/individual agents are more distinctive for research
- ·Registered agent must be in the same state as filing
- ·Agent changes are filed with the state — Corporate.AI tracks current agent
Search by State / Jurisdiction
Each entity is registered in at least one state (its home state). Foreign qualification filings in other states create additional records. Search by state to understand where a company operates.
- ·A Delaware LLC doing business in Texas has records in both states
- ·Foreign qualification ≠ foreign company — it's just out-of-state
- ·The home state record is primary; foreign filings are secondary
- ·Corporate.AI shows state jurisdiction prominently on each profile
Step-by-Step: How to Search on Corporate.AI
Go to corporate.ai/search
The public registry search requires no account, no login, and no fee. You can search the full 27.5M entity database immediately.
Open Registry SearchEnter your search terms
Type the company name, filing number, or registered agent name. Select a state filter if you know the jurisdiction. Corporate.AI normalizes name variations, so "Acme Corp" and "ACME CORPORATION" will both match.
Review search results
Results show entity name, state, entity type, and status (Active/Inactive). Each row links to the full entity profile. Look for the green Active badge to confirm good standing.
Open the entity profile
The entity page shows all available data: formation date, principal address, registered agent, officers/directors, and filing history. The page URL includes the state and filing number for bookmarking or sharing.
Verify against official SOS (optional)
For compliance purposes, the entity profile links to the official Secretary of State portal. Corporate.AI sources directly from SOS, but you can always cross-reference the original government record.
What Information is in a Business Entity Record?
Identity
- Legal name
- DBA / fictitious names
- Entity type (LLC, Corp, etc.)
- State filing number
- Status (Active/Inactive/Dissolved)
Dates
- Formation / incorporation date
- Registration date
- Last annual report filed
- Dissolution date (if applicable)
- Date of last status change
Addresses
- Principal business address
- Mailing address
- Registered agent address
- State of registration
- Foreign qualification states
People
- Registered agent name
- Officers (President, CEO, Manager)
- Directors
- Members (for LLCs)
- Authorized representative
Compliance
- Good standing / not in good standing
- Annual report status
- Administrative dissolution flag
- Revocation history
- Reinstatement history
Source Data
- Official SOS filing number
- Data source (which SOS)
- Last updated from SOS
- EIN (where available)
- Original filing documents
State-by-State Business Entity Lookup Guide
Corporate.AI provides unified search for the states below. For states not yet in Corporate.AI, the official SOS portal is listed.
Florida
✓ On Corporate.AIOfficial SOS: Division of Corporations (sunbiz.org)
FL has one of the most complete online records going back to the 1800s. SUNBIZ is the official portal.
New York
✓ On Corporate.AIOfficial SOS: DOS Division of Corporations
NY requires a search fee for certified copies but the basic search is free.
Texas
✓ On Corporate.AIOfficial SOS: Texas Secretary of State (SOSDirect)
TX filings are on SOSDirect; search by entity name or file number.
Illinois
✓ On Corporate.AIOfficial SOS: IL SOS Corporations Division
Illinois shows Good Standing status directly in search results.
Colorado
✓ On Corporate.AIOfficial SOS: Colorado SOS (sos.state.co.us)
Colorado has a well-organized portal with PDF filings available.
Washington
✓ On Corporate.AIOfficial SOS: WA SOS Corporations & Charities
WA shows UBI number alongside entity number — both searchable.
Oregon
✓ On Corporate.AIOfficial SOS: Oregon SOS Business Registry
OR uses a registry number system; name search + registry number both work.
Alaska
✓ On Corporate.AIOfficial SOS: Alaska SOS Corporations Section
AK entities include biennial report status in the record.
California
Coming soonOfficial SOS: CA SOS (bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov)
CA has tens of millions of registered entities. Use exact name search for best results.
Delaware
Coming soonOfficial SOS: DE Division of Corporations
DE is the incorporation capital; the state portal charges for detailed information but name search is free.
Nevada
Coming soonOfficial SOS: NV SOS (esos.nv.gov)
NV is popular for privacy; registered agent info is often a nominee agent.
Georgia
Coming soonOfficial SOS: GA SOS Corporations Division
Georgia uses the SOS Corporations search at sos.ga.gov.
Corporate.AI is expanding to all 50 states. View full coverage map →
Who Looks Up Business Entities and Why
Compliance & KYB Teams
Verify that a counterparty is a legitimately registered, active business before onboarding. Confirm registered agent and address match the entity's claims.
Lawyers & Legal Teams
Locate a company's registered agent for valid service of process. Verify the correct legal entity name for court filings. Confirm the entity hasn't been dissolved.
Investors & M&A Analysts
During due diligence, verify the target's formation date, confirm corporate structure, identify subsidiaries, and check for administrative dissolution history.
Journalists & Researchers
Trace beneficial ownership, identify related entities through officer/registered agent cross-reference, and verify public records for investigative reporting.
Sales & Business Development
Identify newly registered businesses in target industries and geographies. A fresh entity filing signals new budget authority and purchasing power.
Fraud Prevention & FinCrime
Detect shell companies by cross-referencing officer addresses, identify clusters of entities with the same registered agent at residential addresses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it free to look up a business entity on Corporate.AI?
Yes. The public registry search is completely free. No account required. You can search all 27.5M entities and view entity profiles at no cost. API access for developers starts at $499/year.
What is a registered agent?
A registered agent (also called a statutory agent or agent for service of process) is the official contact designated to receive legal documents and government notices on behalf of a business entity. Every US business entity must have a registered agent in the state where it's registered. The registered agent's name and address are public record.
What does "Active" vs "Inactive" entity status mean?
An Active entity is currently in good standing with the state — annual reports filed, fees paid. An Inactive entity may have been dissolved (voluntarily or administratively), revoked (for non-compliance), or suspended. Only Active entities can legally conduct business in that state.
What's the difference between a Corporation and an LLC?
Both are separate legal entities that limit owner liability. A Corporation (Inc., Corp.) has shareholders, a board of directors, and formal governance requirements. An LLC (Limited Liability Company) has members, more flexible management structure, and pass-through taxation by default. Delaware and Nevada are the most popular states for incorporation due to favorable business law.
Can I look up a company by EIN (Employer Identification Number)?
EIN lookup is limited — the IRS does not publish EIN-to-entity mappings publicly. Corporate.AI includes EIN where available from state SOS filings, but state filings are the primary authoritative record. For EIN verification, Form W-9 from the entity itself is the standard approach.
How often is Corporate.AI data updated?
Corporate.AI refreshes data continuously from official Secretary of State sources. Entity status changes (dissolution, reinstatement), address updates, and officer changes are reflected within days of official filing.
Ready to Search America's Corporate Registry?
27.5M entities, 10 states, official SOS data. Free public search, no account required.