How to Look Up an LLC in Any State

You can look up an LLC by searching the business entity database run by the state where it was formed or registered. Check the agency's access rules and fees before searching. In most states that database is maintained by the Secretary of State, and it shows the company's official name, status, formation date, and registered agent.

Where LLC records are kept

There is no single national registry of LLCs in the United States. LLCs are created under state law, so each state keeps its own records. When someone forms an LLC, they file a document with the state, usually called articles of organization (some states use a different name, such as a certificate of formation or certificate of organization). The state then adds the company to its public database.

Start with the state-by-state list to find the official filing office and business registry. Check both the formation state and any state where the company has registered to do business.

Step-by-step: how to search

1. Figure out which state to search. Start with the state where the business operates. If you know or suspect it was formed elsewhere, check that state too (more on this below).
2. Open the state's official business search. Use the official government site rather than a third-party page that may be out of date. You can find each one on our states page.
3. Search by name. Most states let you search by business name, and many also allow searches by entity ID (sometimes called a file number or control number), and in some cases by registered agent or officer name.
4. Open the matching record. Compare the details, such as the formation date and address, with what you already know to confirm you have the right company.
5. Review filing history if available. Many states show past filings such as annual reports, amendments, and name changes, and some let you view or order copies.

Entity or file number versus EIN

A state entity number identifies a record in that state's registry. An EIN is a federal tax ID issued by the IRS. They are separate numbers issued for different purposes. For example, California's search instructions describe searches by entity name or the number assigned by its Secretary of State. The IRS explains EINs separately.

If a registry offers only name and entity-number searches, you cannot search it by EIN. Its entity-number field searches state identifiers, not IRS tax identifiers. Some portals have a separate EIN option: Florida lists FEI/EIN searches. If all you have is an EIN, ask the business for its exact legal name, formation state, and state entity number. Use those details to find and compare the record. See what an EIN is for the distinction.

Search tips

• Leave off the designator. Search for "Example Bakery" rather than "Example Bakery, LLC". Punctuation and abbreviations like "L.L.C." are handled differently from state to state, and including them can hide a match.
• Use a partial name. If you aren't sure of the exact wording, search for the most distinctive word. Many search tools offer "starts with" and "contains" options; try both.
• Remember the trade name may differ. The name on a storefront or website may be a DBA (assumed or fictitious name) rather than the legal entity name. DBAs are often registered separately, sometimes at the county level. See DBA vs. LLC for more.
• Search more than one state. See the next section.

Why a company may show up in several states

An LLC is formed in one state, called its home or domestic state. If it does business in other states, it usually has to register there as a foreign LLC. "Foreign" here just means from another state, not from another country.

This means the same company may appear in several databases. For example, a business operating in one state might have been formed in a different state that is popular for formation. If you can't find a company where it operates, try likely formation states, and check whether the local record lists a different "jurisdiction of formation" or "home state".

What an LLC record usually shows

The exact fields vary by state, but a typical record includes:

• Legal name of the LLC, including its designator.
• Entity ID or file number assigned by the state.
• Entity type, such as domestic LLC or foreign LLC.
• Status, such as active or dissolved.
• Formation or registration date.
• Registered agent name and address. See What Is a Registered Agent?
• Principal office or mailing address, in many states.
• Members, managers, or authorized persons, in some states. Many states don't require owners to be listed at all.
• Filing history, such as annual reports and amendments.

If you are trying to learn who is behind a company, the state record may or may not answer that question. Our guide on how to find who owns an LLC covers other places to look.

Understanding entity status

Status labels are not standardized across states, but they generally fall into a few groups:

• Active, in good standing, or in existence: read the state's definition of the actual label. These labels are not interchangeable. California defines active status as formation or registration and authorization to do business, subject to other legal requirements. A search result is not an issued certificate of good standing.
• Inactive, delinquent, or not in good standing: the LLC still exists but has missed something, such as an annual report, a fee, or keeping a registered agent on file. It can usually fix the problem.
• Administratively dissolved, revoked, or forfeited: the state ended the LLC's active status because it didn't meet its obligations. Many states allow reinstatement within a certain period, and the rules vary.
• Dissolved or cancelled (voluntary): the owners chose to close the LLC and filed paperwork to end it.
• Merged or converted: the LLC became part of another entity or changed into a different entity type.

For a foreign LLC, the status in one state refers only to its registration there. A company can be active in its home state but revoked in another state where it used to do business.

If you can't find the company

If a search turns up nothing, the business may be operating under a trade name, may be formed in another state, may be a different entity type (such as a corporation or partnership), or may be a sole proprietorship that isn't registered with the state at all. Try searching all entity types rather than only LLCs, and check neighboring and common formation states. If you are checking whether a name is free for your own new business, see how to check LLC name availability.

For a systematic next step after an empty result, read company not found in a state search. Record your state, search terms, and filters before drawing a conclusion.