Secretary of State Business Search: Links to All Official States
Business Entity Search Across All 50 States - Look up any LLC, corporation, or registered partnership in the U.S.
Look up any LLC, corporation, or registered partnership in the U.S. — directly through each state's official government portal. Free, no account required in most states.
Every state in the U.S. requires businesses — LLCs, corporations, partnerships, and nonprofits — to register with a state agency before legally operating. That registration data is a matter of public record. Whether you're verifying a contractor, checking if a business is in good standing before signing a contract, or doing due diligence on a potential partner, you can access this information for free.
Below are direct links to every state's official business entity search portal, organized alphabetically. No third-party databases, no fees — just the primary source.
Legal tip: Always verify a business through the official state portal before entering any significant contract or financial arrangement. Third-party databases can be outdated. The Secretary of State's database is the authoritative, real-time source.
What These Searches Reveal
State business registries are designed for transparency. Here's what you can typically find — and what you generally can't.
Usually public: Business name and any DBAs, entity type, formation date, registered agent, status (active/dissolved), and principal office address.
Varies by state: Officer and director names, annual report history, and amendment records. Some states publish detailed filings; others show very little beyond name and status.
Not typically public: Ownership percentages, financial records, personal home addresses, and beneficial ownership (tracked federally by FinCEN, not state registries).
All 50 States: Official Business Entity Search Links
A
State | Agency | Search Portal |
|---|---|---|
Alabama | Alabama Secretary of State — Business Entity Records | |
Alaska | Division of Corporations, Business & Professional Licensing | |
Arizona | Arizona Corporation Commission — Arizona Business Center | |
Arkansas | Arkansas Secretary of State — Business & Commercial Services |
C
State | Agency | Search Portal |
|---|---|---|
California | California Secretary of State — Business Entities | |
Colorado | Colorado Secretary of State — Business Organizations | |
Connecticut | Connecticut Secretary of State — Business Services |
D
State | Agency | Search Portal |
|---|---|---|
Delaware | Delaware Division of Corporations — Entity Search | |
Washington D.C. | Government of the District of Columbia Corporations Division — Business Entity Search |
F
State | Agency | Search Portal |
|---|---|---|
Florida | Florida Department of State — Sunbiz |
G
State | Agency | Search Portal |
|---|---|---|
Georgia | Georgia Secretary of State — Corporations Division |
H
State | Agency | Search Portal |
|---|---|---|
Hawaii | Hawaii DCCA — Business Registration Division |
I
State | Agency | Search Portal |
|---|---|---|
Idaho | Idaho Secretary of State — Business Entities | |
Illinois | Illinois Secretary of State — Corporation & LLC Search | |
Indiana | Indiana Secretary of State — INBiz Public Search | |
Iowa | Iowa Secretary of State — Business Entities Search |
K
State | Agency | Search Portal |
|---|---|---|
Kansas | Kansas Secretary of State — Business Entity Search Station | |
Kentucky | Kentucky Secretary of State — Business Entity Search |
L
State | Agency | Search Portal |
|---|---|---|
Louisiana | Louisiana Secretary of State — Commercial Search |
M
State | Agency | Search Portal |
|---|---|---|
Maine | Maine Secretary of State — Corporate Name Search | |
Maryland | Maryland Dept. of Assessments & Taxation — Business Express | |
Massachusetts | Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth — Corporations Division | |
Michigan | Michigan LARA — Business Registry | |
Minnesota | Minnesota Secretary of State — Business Filing Search | |
Mississippi | Mississippi Secretary of State — Business Search | |
Missouri | Missouri Secretary of State — Business Entity Search | |
Montana | Montana Secretary of State — Business Entities Search |
N
State | Agency | Search Portal |
|---|---|---|
Nebraska | Nebraska Secretary of State — Corporation Search | |
Nevada | Nevada Secretary of State — Online Entity Search | |
New Hampshire | NH Secretary of State — QuickStart Business Search (use Firefox or Edge) | |
New Jersey | NJ Dept. of Treasury — Business Entity Name Search | |
New Mexico | New Mexico Secretary of State — Business Search | |
New York | New York Department of State — Corporation & Business Search | |
North Carolina | NC Secretary of State — Business Registration Search | |
North Dakota | North Dakota Secretary of State — FirstStop Business Search |
O
State | Agency | Search Portal |
|---|---|---|
Ohio | Ohio Secretary of State — Business Search | |
Oklahoma | Oklahoma Secretary of State — Business Entities Search | |
Oregon | Oregon Secretary of State — Business Registry Search |
P
State | Agency | Search Portal |
|---|---|---|
Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania Department of State — Corporation Search |
R
State | Agency | Search Portal |
|---|---|---|
Rhode Island | Rhode Island Secretary of State — Corp Search |
S
State | Agency | Search Portal |
|---|---|---|
South Carolina | South Carolina Secretary of State — Business Filing Entity Search | |
South Dakota | South Dakota Secretary of State — Business Services Filing Search |
T
State | Agency | Search Portal |
|---|---|---|
Tennessee | Tennessee Secretary of State — TNBear Filing Search | |
Texas | Texas Comptroller — Taxable Entity Search |
U
State | Agency | Search Portal |
|---|---|---|
Utah | Utah Division of Corporations — Business Entity Search |
V
State | Agency | Search Portal |
|---|---|---|
Vermont | Vermont Secretary of State — Business Filings Inquiry | |
Virginia | Virginia State Corporation Commission — CIS |
W
State | Agency | Search Portal |
|---|---|---|
Washington | Washington Secretary of State — Corporation & Charities Filing System | |
West Virginia | West Virginia Secretary of State — Business Entity Search | |
Wisconsin | Wisconsin DFI — Corporate Records Search | |
Wyoming | Wyoming Secretary of State — Business Center Entity Search |
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All content published by Legal.com is provided for general informational purposes only. It is not legal advice, does not constitute a legal opinion, and should not be relied upon as a substitute for consultation with a qualified attorney. No attorney-client relationship is created by reading this article, using Legal.com templates, or contacting Legal.com. Legal.com disclaims all liability for actions taken or not taken based on this publication.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Links were verified as of March 2026; individual state portals may update their URLs periodically. For guidance specific to your situation, consult a licensed attorney.
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