LLC & Business Entity Guides
Short, plain-English explanations of how US business records work and how to use them.
- How to Look Up an LLC in Any State Where each state keeps its business records, what a registry entry tells you, and how to find the company you mean. Read guide
- How to Check LLC Name Availability Search the state registry, follow the naming rules, and check trademarks before you file. Read guide
- What Is a Registered Agent? The person or company that accepts legal papers for a business, and why every LLC needs one. Read guide
- LLC vs. Corporation: Key Differences Ownership, management, taxes and paperwork compared, in plain English. Read guide
- How to Find Out Who Owns an LLC What public records can and cannot tell you about the people behind a company. Read guide
- What Is an EIN and Does Your Business Need One? The federal tax ID for businesses: who needs one and how to get it free from the IRS. Read guide
- What Is a Certificate of Good Standing? What the certificate proves, who asks for it, and how to restore good standing. Read guide
- DBA vs. LLC: What's the Difference? Why a trade name is not a company, and when you might want both. Read guide
- Company Not Found in a State Search: What to Check A checklist for missing business records: the right name, state, database, and next step. Read guide