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Stop hunting for state websites. Get direct access to all 50 state business entity databases.
U.S. Business Entity Search Finder - All 50 States
Free to use. Direct links to official sources. No registration required.
Takes 30 seconds to find any business. Saves hours of searching across state websites.
I've looked up business entities in 14 different states over the past three years. Every single state has a different website, different search interface, and different ways of displaying information.
Delaware's system is straightforward. California's is a maze. New York's requires accepting terms every single time.
It's frustrating when you just want to quickly verify if a company exists or check if a business name is available.
This tool solves that problem; all 50 states in one searchable directory.
Before you spend $100-500 filing an LLC, you need to know if your name is already taken.
My mistake: I fell in love with a name, designed a logo, bought the domain, then discovered someone in my state already had that exact LLC name.
Cost of that mistake:
Logo design: $150
Domain: $12
Time wasted: 8 hours
Frustration: Priceless
If I'd searched first, I would've known in 30 seconds.
Someone says they're "ABC Solutions LLC" and want to do business with you. Are they actually registered? Are they in good standing? Who's the registered agent?
Real example from a client:
A "vendor" reached out offering design services. Claimed to be an established LLC. My client was about to wire $5,000 as a deposit.
I searched the entity. Didn't exist. The company name they gave wasn't registered in any state.
Saved: $5,000 from a scam
Want to know when a competitor formed their business? Who their registered agent is? Whether they're in good standing?
Business entity searches show:
Formation date
Business type (LLC, Corp, etc.)
Registered agent name and address
Status (active, dissolved, suspended)
Sometimes owner names (varies by state)
I use this constantly when researching market competition or evaluating potential partners.
States can suspend or dissolve your LLC if you:
Don't file annual reports
Don't pay franchise taxes
Don't maintain a registered agent
My friend's experience:
He formed an LLC in Delaware, then forgot about the $300 annual franchise tax. Delaware suspended his LLC after two years of non-payment.
He didn't know until a client searched his business and said "Your company shows as suspended. We can't sign contracts with suspended entities."
Cost him a $50,000 contract.
Regular entity searches on your own business prevent this.
Thinking about forming in Delaware vs Wyoming vs your home state? Search some successful companies in your industry and see where they're registered.
I did this before forming my third LLC. Searched 20 competitors:
14 were in Wyoming
3 were in Delaware
2 were in their home states
1 was in Nevada
That pattern told me something. If experienced founders are choosing Wyoming, there's probably a good reason.
Every state runs its own business entity database. There's no national database that searches all states at once.
What this means:
If you want to search a business and don't know which state they're in, you have to check 50 different websites.
I've done this. It takes 2-3 hours to search all 50 states manually.
Let me show you what searching manually looks like:
Delaware:
Website: Division of Corporations
Search tool: Pretty good, fast results
Information shown: Detailed, includes formation date
Annoyance level: 2/10
California:
Website: Secretary of State Business Search
Search tool: Slow, sometimes crashes
Information shown: Basic, requires digging for details
Annoyance level: 7/10
New York:
Website: Department of State Entity Search
Search tool: Makes you accept terms every time
Information shown: Good once you get there
Annoyance level: 6/10
Wyoming:
Website: Secretary of State Business Search
Search tool: Fast, clean interface
Information shown: Complete, easy to read
Annoyance level: 1/10
I could list all 50, but you get the point. Each state is different, and finding the right search page takes time.
Instead of bookmarking 50 different state websites and remembering which one has which interface, this tool gives you:
U.S. Business Entity Search Finder
Click your state, go directly to that state's official business entity search. No hunting for the right page.
These aren't scraped databases or third-party copies. Every link goes straight to the official Secretary of State website.
Why this matters: Information is always current and legally accurate.
Some states require exact matches. Others allow partial searches. Some have advanced filters. Others are basic text search.
The tool tells you what works best for each state.
Want to check if "Acme Solutions LLC" is available in Wyoming, New Mexico, and Delaware? Three clicks instead of hunting through three different state websites.
Let me walk you through real use cases.
Scenario: You want to form "Bright Ideas Marketing LLC"
Step 1: Go to Business Entity Search Finder
Step 2: Click your formation state (let's say Wyoming)
Step 3: Search for "Bright Ideas Marketing"
Results:
If nothing found: Name is likely available (double-check with exact match)
If found: Name is taken, try variations
Step 4: Try variations:
"Bright Ideas Marketing Group LLC"
"Bright Ideas Media LLC"
"Bright Ideas Agency LLC"
Keep searching until you find an available name.
Time saved: 10-15 minutes vs manually navigating Wyoming's website
Scenario: "ABC Solutions LLC" wants you to sign a $10,000 contract. Are they legit?
Step 1: Ask what state they're registered in
Step 2: Use the finder to search that state
Step 3: Verify:
Does the LLC exist?
Is it in "good standing" or "active" status?
Does the registered agent match what they told you?
When were they formed? (Brand new might be riskier)
Red flags:
Company doesn't exist in the state they claim
Status shows "suspended" or "dissolved"
Formed very recently (less than 3 months)
Registered agent is a residential address (could be a one-person operation)
What I found doing this:
Searched a "consultant" who claimed to be an established firm. Entity search showed:
Formed 3 weeks ago
Residential address as registered agent
No track record
Not necessarily a scam, but not the "established firm" they claimed. We negotiated a smaller initial project instead of the $25,000 engagement they wanted.
Saved: $25,000 risk on unproven vendor
Scenario: You're analyzing competitors in your industry
Step 1: List 10-20 competitor companies
Step 2: Search each one using the entity finder
Step 3: Record:
Formation date (how long they've been around)
State registered (where they chose to form)
Business type (LLC, Corp, etc.)
Registered agent (some use fancy services, some DIY)
What this tells you:
If most competitors are:
Formed in Wyoming: Low-cost state preferred in your industry
Using same registered agent service: That service probably specializes in your industry
Structured as LLCs: Industry standard for your space
Been around 5+ years: Market is established, not brand new
I did this research before launching my second business. Discovered that every successful competitor was in Wyoming, not Delaware. Saved me $600 over two years by forming in Wyoming instead.
Scenario: Make sure your LLC hasn't been suspended or dissolved
Step 1: Search your own business name monthly
Step 2: Verify status shows "Active" or "Good Standing"
Step 3: Check registered agent is still correct
Red flags to catch early:
Status changes to "Suspended" (usually means missed filing or payment)
Status changes to "Dissolved" (serious problem)
Registered agent address is wrong (you won't receive legal documents)
My quarterly routine:
I search all three of my LLCs every quarter. Takes 5 minutes total. Has saved me twice:
First time: Registered agent service changed their address and didn't update my account. I caught it by searching my entity, seeing the old address, and updating it before any legal mail was sent.
Second time: Delaware showed I had an overdue franchise tax. I thought I'd paid it, but their system didn't process it. Caught it with 2 weeks to spare before suspension.
Scenario: You need to send legal documents to a company (maybe you're suing them, maybe it's a formal notice)
Step 1: Search the company in their registered state
Step 2: Find registered agent name and address
Step 3: Send legal documents to that address
Legal requirement: Service of process must go to registered agent, not the business address.
If you send legal documents to the wrong address, they might not count as properly served.
The entity search gives you the legally correct address.
Every state's entity search shows different information. Here's what you can typically find:
Business name: Official legal name
Entity type: LLC, Corporation, LP, etc.
Status: Active, Suspended, Dissolved
Formation date: When entity was created
State file number: Unique ID for that entity
Agent name: Person or company receiving legal documents
Agent address: Where legal documents should be sent
Principal office address: Main business location
Member/manager names: Who owns or runs the LLC (some states)
Annual report history: When reports were filed
Franchise tax status: Whether taxes are current
Purpose of business: What the company does
Wyoming: Doesn't require member names in public records (strong privacy)
Florida: Shows member names publicly (less privacy)
Delaware: Moderate privacy, some info public, some private
If privacy matters to you, Wyoming and New Mexico are best for protecting owner identity.
Wyoming: Fast, clean, easy to use Delaware: Detailed information, good interface Colorado: Modern search with good filters Nevada: Quick results, well-organized
California: Slow, sometimes crashes, limited filters New York: Makes you accept terms every time Illinois: Confusing navigation New Jersey: Outdated interface
Some states need exact business name including "LLC" or "Inc."
Wrong: "Acme Solutions" Right: "Acme Solutions LLC"
The finder tool notes which states require this.
Other states let you search part of the name.
Search: "Acme" Results: Shows "Acme Solutions LLC", "Acme Corp", "Acme Holdings Inc."
Much easier when you don't know the exact name.
You assume a company is registered in California because they operate there. They're actually registered in Delaware.
The fix: Ask the company what state they're registered in, or search major formation states (Delaware, Wyoming, Nevada) first.
Searching "Acme Solutions" when the legal name is "Acme Solutions LLC"
The fix: Try multiple variations:
With LLC
Without LLC
With Inc.
With Corp
Just because you don't find a business doesn't mean the name is available. Could be:
Registered in different state
Registered with slightly different name
Recently filed but not yet processed
The fix: Search multiple states, check trademark databases, and verify with the state before filing.
Finding a company in search results doesn't mean they're active. They might be dissolved or suspended.
The fix: Always check the "Status" field. Only "Active" or "Good Standing" means they're operating legally.
The registered agent is just who receives legal mail. They're often a service company, not the actual owner.
The fix: Look for "Members" or "Officers" section for actual ownership (if your state shows this publicly).
I got tired of bookmarking 50 state websites and forgetting which one had what interface.
Before this tool, my process:
Google "[State] Secretary of State business search"
Click through 2-3 pages to find right department
Find the actual search tool
Figure out that state's search syntax
Run search
Repeat for every state
Time per state: 3-5 minutes Time for all 50 states: 2.5-4 hours
With this tool:
Click state
Search
Time per state: 30 seconds Time for 10 states: 5 minutes
That's an 85% time savings for something I do weekly.
"Vendor" emailed offering services, claimed to be established LLC. Entity search showed they didn't exist in any state.
Saved: $5,000
Loved a business name, entity search showed it was taken in my state. Found this before buying domain and designing logo.
Saved: $500 + time
Potential business partner claimed "10 years in business." Entity search showed they formed 14 months ago.
Not a deal-breaker, but changed our negotiation approach. They were newer than they claimed.
Saved: Signing unfavorable terms based on false track record
Researched 30 competitors. 23 were in Wyoming. That pattern convinced me to form there instead of Delaware.
Saved: $600 over two years (Delaware franchise tax vs Wyoming's $60 annual fee)
Quarterly search of my own LLC showed Delaware had suspended it for unpaid franchise tax. I thought I'd paid, but payment didn't process.
Caught it with 2 weeks to spare, fixed it immediately.
Saved: Lost contract due to suspended status + reinstatement fees
U.S. Business Entity Search Finder
All 50 states listed alphabetically. Click the state you want to search.
Not sure which state? Start with:
Delaware (most corporations)
Wyoming (many LLCs)
Nevada (some privacy-focused entities)
The state where the business operates
Each state page shows:
Direct link to official search
Search tips for that state
What information that state shows
Privacy notes
Click through to the official state website and search for:
Business name
Owner name (if allowed)
File number (if you have it)
Check:
✓ Entity exists
✓ Status is "Active" or "Good Standing"
✓ Formation date makes sense
✓ Registered agent looks legitimate
✓ Any other details relevant to your search
If you're verifying a vendor or researching competitors, save the search results. You might need them later.
No. This is a directory of links to official state databases. It doesn't scrape or copy data; it helps you access official sources quickly.
Google shows businesses that might not be registered entities. Entity search shows only officially registered businesses in that state.
Plus, Google might show businesses in other states or with similar names. Entity search is specific to legal registration.
No. There's no federal database of all business entities. Each state maintains its own database separately.
This tool makes it faster to search multiple states one by one.
You're searching official state databases directly, so information is as current as that state's system. Most states update within 24-48 hours of any changes.
Could mean:
Business isn't registered in that state
Name is slightly different than what you searched
Business is registered as DBA (doing business as) under different name
Business operates as sole proprietorship (no formal registration)
Search was too specific (try partial name)
Try multiple states and name variations.
Some states include DBA searches, others don't. DBA registration is often county-level, not state-level.
If you don't find an LLC/Corp, check county clerk records for DBA registrations.
No. All state business entity searches are free public records. This tool just organizes the links to make them easier to find.
Name search: Good when you know business name but not their file number
File number search: More precise, useful if you have their official state ID from documents
Most people search by name.
Depends on the state. Some states (Florida, Arizona) show member names publicly. Other states (Wyoming, New Mexico) protect owner privacy.
Search the exact name you want. If nothing comes up, it's likely available. But also:
Search variations and similar names
Check trademark database (USPTO.gov)
Contact state directly to confirm before filing
✓ Confirm they exist in the state they claim ✓ Check status is active ✓ Verify formation date matches what they told you ✓ Look for registered agent (professional service = more established) ✓ Cross-reference with other info they've provided
✓ Search exact name in formation state ✓ Search similar variations ✓ Check trademark database ✓ Google the name for web presence ✓ Check domain availability ✓ Search in multiple states if planning multi-state operation
✓ Record formation dates (market maturity) ✓ Note which states they chose (pattern analysis) ✓ Check business structure (LLC vs Corp) ✓ Look at registered agents (industry specialists) ✓ Monitor status changes over time
✓ Search quarterly to verify active status ✓ Confirm registered agent is current ✓ Check for any status changes ✓ Verify annual reports filed on time ✓ Screenshot for your records
Every founder, entrepreneur, and business owner should know how to search business entities.
It takes 2 minutes to learn and saves you from:
Choosing unavailable names
Getting scammed by fake companies
Missing your own business problems
Operating with wrong information
The entity search finder just makes it faster.
Instead of hunting through 50 different state websites, you have direct links to all of them in one place.
I use this tool 3-5 times per week:
Checking competitor information
Verifying potential partners
Monitoring my own businesses
Helping clients research entities
It's not magic. It's just organized links. But those organized links save me 10+ hours per month.
Stop hunting for state websites. Get direct access to all 50 state business entity databases.
U.S. Business Entity Search Finder - All 50 States
Free to use. Direct links to official sources. No registration required.
Takes 30 seconds to find any business. Saves hours of searching across state websites.