Secretary of State Business Search: Links to All Official States

Q: Is it really free to search a state's business registry?

Yes — in every state, basic entity searches are free and publicly accessible without creating an account. Some states charge for certified copies of filed documents or for more detailed historical records, but the search itself costs nothing. Washington D.C. is the one notable exception that requires a free account login even for basic searches.

Q: What does "active" vs. "dissolved" status mean?

"Active" means the business is in good standing with the state — it has filed required annual reports and paid any necessary fees. "Dissolved" or "revoked" typically means the entity was either voluntarily shut down or had its registration canceled by the state (often for failure to file or pay fees). A dissolved business may still owe obligations; its legal capacity to enter new contracts is limited or eliminated. Always check status before signing anything.

Q: Can I find out who owns an LLC through a state registry?

It depends on the state. Some states (like California and New York) require manager or member names in filed documents. Others — most notoriously Delaware and Wyoming — do not require disclosure of member names, making true ownership nearly impossible to determine from the registry alone. As of 2024, FinCEN's Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) rule requires most LLCs to report owners federally, but that data is not yet publicly accessible.

Q: Why would I use a state registry instead of a third-party service?

State registries are the authoritative, real-time source. Third-party aggregators (like OpenCorporates or paid data services) pull from state databases but may be days, weeks, or even months behind. For due diligence, litigation research, or anything legally consequential, you should always verify directly with the official state portal. Third-party tools are useful for searching across multiple states at once, but should always be confirmed through the primary source.

Q: What if the business isn't in any state registry?

Sole proprietorships operating under the owner's legal name don't require state registration. However, if a business is operating under a trade name, representing itself as an LLC or corporation, and no record exists — that is a significant red flag. Some businesses may be registered in a different state than where they operate (Delaware is a common incorporation state for companies operating elsewhere). Try searching the state where the business claims to be incorporated, not just where it does business.

Written byLegal.com

Last Updated: Aug 11, 2026

Disclaimer:

This article provides general information for educational purposes only. It is not legal advice, does not create an attorney-client relationship, and should not be relied upon as a substitute for consultation with a qualified attorney. Laws vary by state, and individualized guidance is recommended.

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).

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All 50 States: Official Business Entity Search Links

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State	Agency	Search Portal
Alabama	Alabama Secretary of State — Business Entity Records	Search →
Alaska	Division of Corporations, Business & Professional Licensing	Search →
Arizona	Arizona Corporation Commission — Arizona Business Center	Search →
Arkansas	Arkansas Secretary of State — Business & Commercial Services	Search →

Alabama

Agency

Alabama Secretary of State — Business Entity Records

Search Portal

State	Agency	Search Portal
California	California Secretary of State — Business Entities	Search →
Colorado	Colorado Secretary of State — Business Organizations	Search →
Connecticut	Connecticut Secretary of State — Business Services	Search →

State	Agency	Search Portal
Delaware	Delaware Division of Corporations — Entity Search	Search →
Washington D.C.	Government of the District of Columbia Corporations Division — Business Entity Search	Search →

State	Agency	Search Portal
Idaho	Idaho Secretary of State — Business Entities	Search →
Illinois	Illinois Secretary of State — Corporation & LLC Search	Search →
Indiana	Indiana Secretary of State — INBiz Public Search	Search →
Iowa	Iowa Secretary of State — Business Entities Search	Search →

State	Agency	Search Portal
Kansas	Kansas Secretary of State — Business Entity Search Station	Search →
Kentucky	Kentucky Secretary of State — Business Entity Search	Search →

State	Agency	Search Portal
Maine	Maine Secretary of State — Corporate Name Search	Search →
Maryland	Maryland Dept. of Assessments & Taxation — Business Express	Search →
Massachusetts	Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth — Corporations Division	Search →
Michigan	Michigan LARA — Business Registry	Search →
Minnesota	Minnesota Secretary of State — Business Filing Search	Search →
Mississippi	Mississippi Secretary of State — Business Search	Search →
Missouri	Missouri Secretary of State — Business Entity Search	Search →
Montana	Montana Secretary of State — Business Entities Search	Search →

State	Agency	Search Portal
Nebraska	Nebraska Secretary of State — Corporation Search	Search →
Nevada	Nevada Secretary of State — Online Entity Search	Search →
New Hampshire	NH Secretary of State — QuickStart Business Search (use Firefox or Edge)	Search →
New Jersey	NJ Dept. of Treasury — Business Entity Name Search	Search →
New Mexico	New Mexico Secretary of State — Business Search	Search →
New York	New York Department of State — Corporation & Business Search	Search →
North Carolina	NC Secretary of State — Business Registration Search	Search →
North Dakota	North Dakota Secretary of State — FirstStop Business Search	Search →

State	Agency	Search Portal
Ohio	Ohio Secretary of State — Business Search	Search →
Oklahoma	Oklahoma Secretary of State — Business Entities Search	Search →
Oregon	Oregon Secretary of State — Business Registry Search	Search →

State	Agency	Search Portal
South Carolina	South Carolina Secretary of State — Business Filing Entity Search	Search →
South Dakota	South Dakota Secretary of State — Business Services Filing Search	Search →

State	Agency	Search Portal
Tennessee	Tennessee Secretary of State — TNBear Filing Search	Search →
Texas	Texas Comptroller — Taxable Entity Search	Search →

State	Agency	Search Portal
Vermont	Vermont Secretary of State — Business Filings Inquiry	Search →
Virginia	Virginia State Corporation Commission — CIS	Search →

State	Agency	Search Portal
Washington	Washington Secretary of State — Corporation & Charities Filing System	Search →
West Virginia	West Virginia Secretary of State — Business Entity Search	Search →
Wisconsin	Wisconsin DFI — Corporate Records Search	Search →
Wyoming	Wyoming Secretary of State — Business Center Entity Search	Search →

Secretary of State Business Search: Links to All Official States

What These Searches Reveal

All 50 States: Official Business Entity Search Links

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