Business Entity Search, State by State

Every state maintains a free corporate registry search, almost always under the Secretary of State — and it's the single fastest way to verify a business is real, find its registered agent for service of process, or trace its officers. There is no national registry: a company is searched in each state where it's registered or foreign-qualified.

All 51 jurisdiction guides linked below are maintained individually. Content reviewed July 30, 2026 by the SearchSystems editorial team.

How the States Differ

The office varies in a handful of states: Arizona uses the Corporation Commission, Michigan runs LARA, Wisconsin the Department of Financial Institutions, Maryland SDAT, Hawaii DCCA, and Virginia the State Corporation Commission. Several states also brand the portal — Florida's Sunbiz, Nevada's SilverFlume, Tennessee's TNBear, Louisiana's geauxBIZ, Wyoming's WyoBiz — which is why a Google search sometimes beats guessing the agency name.

Coverage differs too: some registries show full filing images and officer histories free, others show status only and charge for documents. The state guides note what's free where.

Pick Your State

Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find who owns an LLC?

The registry lists the registered agent and often organizers or officers; true ownership may require the filing images or, in anonymity-friendly states, isn't public at all.

The company isn't in my state's registry — is it fake?

Not necessarily. It may be registered in another state (Delaware and Wyoming are common) and simply unregistered locally. Search the formation state.

Is the search free everywhere?

Basic entity search is free in every state; some charge for certified copies or full filing images.

Related National Directories

Cross-check with professional licenses, court records for litigation, and unclaimed property for dormant business funds.