Business Entity Search FAQ: Common Questions Answered

Question 1

What is a business entity search?

Accepted Answer

A business entity search is the process of looking up information about a company, LLC, corporation, or other business structure in official government databases. This includes checking the entity's legal status, registration details, officers, and compliance standing with state authorities.

Question 2

Why do I need to search business entities?

Accepted Answer

Business entity searches are essential for verifying a company exists and is legitimate, checking if a business is in good standing, finding contact information and registered agents, due diligence for loans, partnerships, or investments, compliance verification for regulatory requirements, and legal research and litigation support.

Question 3

Where do I search for business entities?

Accepted Answer

The primary place to search for business entities is your state's Secretary of State (SOS) database. Each state maintains its own database of registered businesses. You can access these databases online for free through the official state government websites.

Question 4

Are business entity searches free?

Accepted Answer

Most basic business entity searches are completely free through official state Secretary of State websites. However, some states charge fees for detailed reports, certified copies, or expedited services. A few states may require registration or have limited free searches per day.

Question 5

How do I verify a business is legitimate?

Accepted Answer

To verify a business is legitimate: 1) Search the state Secretary of State database, 2) Verify the business status is 'Active' or 'Good Standing', 3) Check the registered agent and address, 4) Cross-reference with federal databases if applicable, 5) Verify professional licenses if required, 6) Check for UCC filings or liens.

Question 6

What does 'Good Standing' mean?

Accepted Answer

'Good Standing' means the business has met all state requirements, including filing annual reports, paying required fees, and maintaining a registered agent. A business in good standing can legally conduct business in that state. If not in good standing, the business may face penalties, lose certain privileges, or be administratively dissolved.

Question 7

Why can't I access the Secretary of State database?

Accepted Answer

Common access issues include browser problems (try clearing cache, using incognito mode, or switching to Chrome/Firefox), disabled ad blockers, site maintenance or temporary downtime, incorrect URLs, or registration requirements for certain states.

Question 8

What if I can't find a business in the database?

Accepted Answer

If you can't find a business, try variations of the business name, search by registered agent or officer names, check if it's registered in a different state, verify it's not a DBA/trade name instead, consider if it's a sole proprietorship (not required to register), or check if the business was recently dissolved.

Business Entity Search FAQ

Quick Navigation

Getting Started

Advanced Topics

Basic Search Questions

What is a business entity search?

Why do I need to search business entities?

Where do I search for business entities?

Can I search business entities in all 50 states?

What information can I find in a business entity search?

Database Access Questions

Are business entity searches free?

Do I need to create an account to search?

Why can't I access some state databases?

How often are the databases updated?

Can I search historical or dissolved companies?

Costs & Fees Questions

How much does a business entity search cost?

What's the difference between free and paid search tools?

Are commercial databases worth the cost?

Verification & Compliance Questions

How do I verify a business is legitimate?

What does 'Good Standing' mean?

How do I get a Certificate of Good Standing?

What if I can't find a business in the database?

Common Problems & Solutions

Why are search results different between databases?

The website says the business is dissolved, but they're still operating. Why?

How do I search for businesses with similar names?

Why do some states have better search tools than others?

Professional Tools Questions

What are professional business entity search tools?

Who should use professional search tools?

How much time do professional tools save?

Are professional tools secure and compliant?

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