LLC guide · Set it up
How to look up an LLC in any state.
Every state keeps a public database of the businesses registered there. Knowing how to search it helps you check a name, vet a vendor, and keep an eye on your own LLC.
5 minute read Reviewed
The short version
- There is no single national LLC database; each state has its own.
- Searches show status, formation date, registered agent, and filings.
- Check your own LLC's status after each annual report.
- There is no public EIN lookup.
Where to search
LLC records are kept state by state, usually by the Secretary of State, sometimes by a corporation commission or department of commerce. Search the state where the LLC was formed, and any state where it is registered as a foreign LLC.
How to search
- 1
Open the state's business search
Find it on the Secretary of State's website.
- 2
Search by name
Start with one or two key words; extra words and punctuation can hide matches.
- 3
Try other fields
Many states also search by entity number, registered agent, or officer name.
- 4
Open the record
Review the details and filing history.
What a record shows
- Legal name and entity type.
- Status, such as active, in good standing, delinquent, or administratively dissolved.
- Formation date and the state where it was formed.
- Registered agent and address.
- Principal address, and in some states the members or managers.
- Filing history: articles, amendments, and annual reports.
Good reasons to look one up
- Checking whether your name is available before you file.
- Confirming a vendor, client, or landlord is a real, active business.
- Finding a registered agent to send legal papers to.
- Making sure your own annual report posted and your status is current.
- Ordering a certificate of good standing for a bank, lender, or another state.
Other records worth knowing
Trade names and DBAs may be filed with the state or the county, so check both. Trademarks are searched in the federal trademark database. There is no public lookup for a business's EIN; the business itself has to provide it.
This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice. Rules differ by state and change over time, so check your state's official website or a licensed professional before you act. YaH Brands is not a law firm or an accounting firm.
Rather hand the paperwork to someone? We file, track, and keep you on schedule, and a real person answers when you call.
Services for this step
Every service is available on its own. Add only what your business needs.
Keep reading
All LLC guides- Set it up6 min read
Naming your LLC
LLC naming rules, restricted words, how to check availability, reserving a name, DBAs, and why a state filing is not a trademark.
Read the guide - Keep it running5 min read
Annual report
What an LLC annual report is, what it asks for, how often it is due, and what happens if you miss it, including late fees and administrative dissolution.
Read the guide - Change or close5 min read
Reinstating an LLC
Why states dissolve LLCs, what the statuses mean, and the steps to reinstate an LLC and get back in good standing.
Read the guide
From the blog
All articles
Common questions
The state ended the LLC's active status, usually for missed annual reports, unpaid fees, or no registered agent. Most states allow reinstatement. See reinstating an LLC.
Sometimes. Some states list members or managers in public records and others do not.
No. A state lookup shows registered businesses in that state. A trademark search shows brand names protected for goods and services.