Quick answer: how to look up and verify an LLC

1. Go to the state’s official business entity search. Use the state where the LLC was formed or registered to do business.
2. Search by the full name, a partial name, or the entity number.
3. Open the record and review status, formation date, state ID, registered agent, principal office, and filing history.
4. To verify the LLC, confirm active status and current good standing. Download a Certificate of Good Standing if available.
5. To look up owners, open linked filings like articles or annual reports. If owners are not listed, contact the registered agent, check local licenses, or review public filings.

Tip for name lookups. Remove punctuation and try common variations like LLC vs L.L.C. Try singular and plural. Try the core keyword without generic terms like company or services.

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What you can find in an LLC lookup

A standard state record usually shows the legal name, entity number, status, standing, formation date, jurisdiction, registered agent, registered office, principal office, and filing history. Many records link to PDFs. Those PDFs often include articles of organization, amendments, and annual reports. Some states also show managers or members for manager managed LLCs or list governors in annual reports.

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Step by step: how to look up an LLC

Step 1. Identify the correct state database

The official record lives in the state where the LLC was formed. If the company does business in another state, it may also appear there as a foreign LLC. When in doubt, start with the state you know and then check others where the company operates.

Step 2. Search by name, ID, or keyword

Use the exact name first. If that fails, loosen the search. Remove commas and periods. Try the root of the name to catch spelling differences. If you have an entity number or filing ID, use it. That is the fastest route to the correct record.

Step 3. Read the record like a pro

Status tells you whether the LLC exists. Good standing tells you whether it is current on reports and fees. An LLC can be active but not in good standing. That normally means a missed annual report or fee. Terms vary by state. You may see active, current, delinquent, inactive, dissolved, revoked, forfeited, or terminated. The record should also show the registered agent and the principal office.

Step 4. Open filings to uncover details

Owners rarely appear on the main summary page. Click into the filings. Articles of organization sometimes list organizers. Annual reports sometimes list members or managers. Statements of Information or initial lists may show governors or managing members. If PDFs are available, skim them. Names often appear there.

Step 5. Verify legitimacy

Verification is a three part check. Confirm the entity exists and is active. Confirm the registered agent matches what the business gave you. Confirm good standing by downloading a Certificate of Good Standing if the state offers one online. For large deals, you can also check tax status where a franchise tax account exists, confirm licenses with local agencies, and look for UCC liens.

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How to verify an LLC is legit

Verification means the LLC exists, is allowed to do business, and is the same company you think it is. Use the state record as your source of truth. Match the LLC’s legal name, entity number, and registered agent to the information you received on a contract, invoice, or website. If you need proof for a bank or vendor, get a Certificate of Good Standing from the state. For extra comfort, check that the business address and domain contact information line up with what you see in the record.

Red flags. No record in the claimed state. Status shows forfeited or revoked. The registered agent or address does not match what you were given. The company refuses to provide a Certificate of Good Standing.

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How to look up LLC owners

Owner information is public in some places and private in others. Many states publish managers for manager managed LLCs. Many do not publish members at all. The fastest path to owners is to open the filings linked in the record.

Where owners may appear:

• Articles of Organization
• Initial list, annual report, or Statement of Information
• DBA or assumed name filings
• Local business license records
• UCC filings and court records
• Public procurement documents and press releases

If owners are not listed:

• Use the registered agent to forward a message to the company
• Check city or county license portals for the business name and address
• Search for UCC liens using the business name and state
• Review the company website, team page, or news mentions
• Consider a professional public records search if the stakes are high

Note on federal filings. Beneficial ownership reports filed with FinCEN are not public. You cannot search those records.

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Name availability: how to check and reserve an LLC name

A name that looks available in Google can still be taken at the state. Run a formal LLC name search in the correct state. Review the rules for similarity. Most states block names that are deceptively similar, not just exact matches. Include the proper designator like LLC. Avoid restricted words like bank or insurance unless you qualify.

If the name appears clear, you can often reserve it for a short window or form the LLC right away. Tailor Brands includes a free name check inside our flow. If your name is taken, we will suggest close variations that still look professional.

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Check my LLC status and what to do next

If your status is active.

Download proof of status and consider ordering a Certificate of Good Standing if a bank or vendor will ask for it. Set reminders for your annual report and franchise tax deadlines. Confirm your registered agent is current and reachable.

If your status is inactive, revoked, or forfeited.

You can usually fix this with a simple reinstatement. File overdue annual reports and pay fees. If you changed your agent or address, update those fields. Tailor Brands can help you build a quick compliance plan and get reminders in place so this does not happen again.

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State by state LLC search directory

Records vary by state. Here is what you can typically see and a tip for each. Use it as a quick guide. You will still search on the state’s official portal.

State	What you typically see	Practical tip
Alabama Business Entity Search	Status, formation date, entity ID, registered agent, principal office, filings	Open the PDFs. Organizers and amendments sometimes reveal names.
Alaska Business Entity Search	Status, home state, registered agent, officials for many LLCs, filings	The Officials section often lists members or managers.
Arizona Business Entity Search	Status, statutory agent, principal address, filings. Many records show members or managers	Check the latest amendment or annual report for current roles.
Arkansas Business Entity Search	Status, registered agent, principal office, filing history	Use the partial name search to catch punctuation variations.
California Business Entity Search	Status, entity number, registered agent, filing history, Statement of Information	The Statement of Information often lists managers or governors.
Colorado Business Entity Search	Status, registered agent, principal office, history and documents	Use History and Documents to view PDFs for organizers or managers.
Connecticut Business Entity Search	Status, business ID, registered agent, principal office, annual reports	Principals often appear inside the annual report PDF.
Delaware Business Entity Search	Public status is limited. Registered agent is visible. Owners are not listed	Order a status certificate or document copies for official proof.
District of Columbia (Washington DC) Business Entity Search	Status, registered agent, principal office, filings	Use the filings tab. Articles and amendments can list governors.
Florida Business Entity Search	Status, registered agent, principal address, annual reports, managers for many LLCs	Search by the root of the name on Sunbiz to catch close matches.
Georgia Business Entity Search	Status, registered agent, principal office, annual registration details	The annual registration sometimes shows managers. Use exact name.
Hawaii Business Entity Search	Status, registered agent, principal office, filings. Many LLCs list managers	Open the most recent annual report for names and roles.
Idaho Business Entity Search	Status, registered agent, mailing and principal addresses, filings	Articles and amendments may list governors. Use entity number if known.
Illinois Business Entity Search	Status, registered agent, management type, filing history	If it says manager managed, open the annual report or latest filing.
Indiana Business Entity Search	Status, registered agent, principal office, filing history	The INBiz documents often include organizer or manager details.
Iowa Business Entity Search	Status, registered agent, office addresses, filings	Owners rarely appear. Check articles and amendments for clues.
Kansas Business Entity Search	Status, registered agent, principal office, annual report link	The annual report sometimes lists managers. Search both name and ID.
Kentucky Business Entity Search	Status, registered agent, principal office, current officers for many entities	Look for the current officers panel for members or managers.
Louisiana Business Entity Search	Status, registered agent, principal office, members or managers in many records	Use geauxBIZ filings for the latest member or manager list.
Maine Business Entity Search	Status, registered agent or clerk, principal office, filings	Owners are uncommon. Check the original articles for organizers.
Maryland Business Entity Search	Status, SDAT ID, resident agent, principal office, documents list	Good Standing status and resident agent are reliable. Owners rarely show.
Massachusetts Business Entity Search	Status, address, registered agent, filings. Managers sometimes appear in reports	Use the Filing History to open the latest annual report PDF.
Michigan Business Entity Search	Status, registered agent, principal office, filings. Some LLCs list managers	Annual statements may include member or manager names.
Minnesota Business Entity Search	Status, registered office, registered agent, filing history	Owners are limited. Articles or amendments may include governors.
Mississippi Business Entity Search	Status, registered agent, principal office, filings	Members or managers may appear in annual reports for some LLCs.
Missouri Business Entity Search	Status, registered agent, principal office, filings	Missouri LLCs do not file annual reports. Owner data is rare. Use articles.
Montana Business Entity Search	Status, registered agent, mailing and principal addresses, filings	Members or managers often appear in the most recent annual report.
Nebraska Business Entity Search	Status, registered agent, designated office, filing history	Use broad search terms. Names can appear in initial filings.
Nevada Business Entity Search	Status, registered agent, managing members or managers, officer list, filings	The Initial List or Annual List is the best place for owners.
New Hampshire Business Entity Search	Status, registered agent, principal office, filing history	Open the annual report for governors when available.
New Jersey Business Entity Search	Status and registered agent are visible. Owners rarely listed	Use Business Records Service for the record, then check trade names separately.
New Mexico Business Entity Search	Status, registered agent, principal office, filings	Owners are typically not public. Articles may list organizers only.
New York Business Entity Search	Status, DOS ID, service of process address, filing history	Owners rarely listed. Use exact legal name and check amendments.
North Carolina Business Entity Search	Status, registered agent, principal office, filing history	PDFs can include managers or members in amendments or annual reports.
North Dakota Business Entity Search	Status, registered agent, principal office, governing persons in many records	The annual report often lists governors.
Ohio Business Entity Search	Status, agent, filing history, document images	Names sometimes appear in articles or amendments. Use filtering for Active.
Oklahoma Business Entity Search	Status, registered agent, principal office, filings	Owners are limited. The annual certificate may show managers.
Oregon Business Entity Search	Status, registry number, registered agent, principal office, filings	Governing persons often appear. Open the most recent annual report.
Pennsylvania Business Entity Search	Status, entity number, registered office, filings	Owners usually not listed. The docketing statement can help with addresses.
Rhode Island Business Entity Search	Status, registered agent, principal office, annual report history	Annual reports often list managers or managing members.
South Carolina Business Entity Search	Status, registered agent, designated office, filings	LLCs usually do not file annual reports. Owner data is rare. Check articles.
South Dakota Business Entity Search	Status, registered agent, principal office, filings	Owners seldom listed. Use the articles and amendments for names.
Tennessee Business Entity Search	Status, control number, registered agent, principal address, filing history	The annual report may include members or managers.
Texas Business Entity Search	Status via Comptroller taxable entity search. SOS record has filings and agent	Use the Comptroller for status, then open SOS filings for details.
Utah Business Entity Search	Status, registered agent, principal office, management type, filings	Members or managers often appear in the management section or report.
Vermont Business Entity Search	Status, registered agent, principal office, filing history	Officers or managers sometimes appear in annual reports.
Virginia Business Entity Search	Status, SCC ID, registered agent, principal office, filing history	Managers are not always listed. Check the articles for organizers.
Washington Business Entity Search	Status, registered agent, principal office, governing persons in many reports	Open the latest annual report to view governing persons.
West Virginia Business Entity Search	Status, registered agent, principal office, officer tab for many LLCs	Use the Officers tab. It often lists members or managers.
Wisconsin Business Entity Search	Status, registered agent, principal office, filing history	Owners are limited. Articles and amendments may include organizers.
Wyoming Business Entity Search	Status, registered agent, principal office, filing history	Owner names are rare. Initial filings may list an organizer only.

This table is a snapshot. Always rely on the specific fields shown in the state’s record for final answers.

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How to get a Certificate of Good Standing

A Certificate of Good Standing is an official document from the state that confirms the LLC exists and is current on filings and fees. Banks, marketplaces, and larger vendors ask for it during onboarding. You order it from the state. Many states let you download it instantly after you find the record. Some mail or email it. Fees vary by state. If your status shows delinquent or not in good standing, file the overdue report first, then order the certificate.

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Common roadblocks and quick workarounds

• The name has punctuation or special characters. Remove punctuation and search the core words.
• The company uses a trade name. Search for assumed names or DBAs in the same state and county.
• Recently formed LLC is missing. Wait a few days and try again or search by filing number if you have it.
• The record shows only the registered agent. Use the agent to forward your inquiry or check linked PDFs.
• Parent and subsidiary names look similar. Confirm the exact entity number and formation date.
• Series LLCs or conversions. Read the filings. You may need to open the series registration or conversion document to see the full picture.

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What to do after your search

If you are vetting a company. Gather the state record, the Certificate of Good Standing, and a W‑9. Verify any required licenses with the city or county. If you will pay large invoices, consider checking for UCC liens.

If you are starting a company. Run an LLC name search. Choose a registered agent. Form your LLC. Get an EIN. Open a business bank account. Create an operating agreement. Set reminders for your annual report. Tailor Brands walks you through each step inside one dashboard.

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Tools, forms, and records you may see

• Articles of Organization. The document that created the LLC.
• Amendment. A change to the articles or the name or managers.
• Annual report or Statement of Information. A yearly update to the state.
• Certificate of Good Standing. Proof the LLC exists and is current.
• Registered agent. The official contact for legal notices.
• Principal office. The company’s main address on record.
• UCC lien. A filing that shows a secured creditor.
• DBA or assumed name. A trade name the company uses publicly.

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Disclaimers and when to get legal help

This guide is educational. It does not replace legal advice. State records change and fields vary by state. If you are creating an LLC and need to confirm ownership for a high stakes contract or acquisition, consult an attorney or a professional due diligence service.

FAQ