Secretary of State | Business Entity Search

Business Entity Search

Lookup an existing business entity or use as a name availability checker.

Check Business Name Availability

Searching all states

~36M
Registered Entities
U.S. Census Bureau / IRS SOI
21.6M
Active LLCs
U.S. Census Bureau / IRS SOI, 2024
~1.5M
Entities Filed Q1 2026
U.S. Census Bureau BFS, Q1 2026
+25.2%
YoY Entity Growth
FRED BUSAPPWNSAUSYY, Q1 2026

Secretary of State Directory

State Office Title Current Officeholder Official Website Business Entity Search Est. Entities
Alabama AL Secretary of State Wes Allen Rep www.sos.alabama.gov Business Search ↗ ~320,000
0.89% of U.S. total
Alaska AK Lt. Governor (no SoS office) Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom ALT ltgov.alaska.gov Business Search ↗ ~100,000
0.28% of U.S. total
Arizona AZ Secretary of State Adrian Fontes Dem azsos.gov Business Search ↗ ~700,000
1.94% of U.S. total
Arkansas AR Secretary of State Cole Jester Rep www.sos.arkansas.gov Business Search ↗ ~230,000
0.64% of U.S. total
California CA Secretary of State Shirley Weber Dem www.sos.ca.gov Business Search ↗ ~5,500,000
15.28% of U.S. total
Colorado CO Secretary of State Jena Griswold Dem www.coloradosos.gov Business Search ↗ ~800,000
2.22% of U.S. total
Connecticut CT Secretary of State Stephanie Thomas Dem portal.ct.gov/sots Business Search ↗ ~380,000
1.06% of U.S. total
Delaware DE Secretary of State Charuni Patibanda-Sanchez Dem sos.delaware.gov Business Search ↗ ~2,100,000
5.83% of U.S. total
Florida FL Secretary of State Cord Byrd Rep dos.fl.gov Business Search ↗ ~2,500,000
6.94% of U.S. total
Georgia GA Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger Rep sos.ga.gov Business Search ↗ ~1,100,000
3.06% of U.S. total
Hawaii HI Dept. of Commerce & Consumer Affairs DCCA (no SoS office) ALT cca.hawaii.gov Business Search ↗ ~130,000
0.36% of U.S. total
Idaho ID Secretary of State Phil McGrane Rep sos.idaho.gov Business Search ↗ ~240,000
0.67% of U.S. total
Illinois IL Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias Dem www.ilsos.gov Business Search ↗ ~900,000
2.50% of U.S. total
Indiana IN Secretary of State Diego Morales Rep www.in.gov/sos Business Search ↗ ~600,000
1.67% of U.S. total
Iowa IA Secretary of State Paul Pate Rep sos.iowa.gov Business Search ↗ ~320,000
0.89% of U.S. total
Kansas KS Secretary of State Scott Schwab Rep www.sos.ks.gov Business Search ↗ ~270,000
0.75% of U.S. total
Kentucky KY Secretary of State Michael Adams Rep www.sos.ky.gov Business Search ↗ ~420,000
1.17% of U.S. total
Louisiana LA Secretary of State Nancy Landry Rep www.sos.la.gov Business Search ↗ ~380,000
1.06% of U.S. total
Maine ME Secretary of State Shenna Bellows Dem www.maine.gov/sos Business Search ↗ ~175,000
0.49% of U.S. total
Maryland MD Secretary of State Susan Lee Dem sos.maryland.gov Business Search ↗ ~600,000
1.67% of U.S. total
Massachusetts MA Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin Dem www.sec.state.ma.us Business Search ↗ ~800,000
2.22% of U.S. total
Michigan MI Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson Dem www.michigan.gov/sos Business Search ↗ ~900,000
2.50% of U.S. total
Minnesota MN Secretary of State Steve Simon Dem www.sos.state.mn.us Business Search ↗ ~560,000
1.56% of U.S. total
Mississippi MS Secretary of State Michael Watson Jr. Rep www.sos.ms.gov Business Search ↗ ~180,000
0.50% of U.S. total
Missouri MO Secretary of State Denny Hoskins Rep www.sos.mo.gov Business Search ↗ ~530,000
1.47% of U.S. total
Montana MT Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen Rep sosmt.gov Business Search ↗ ~135,000
0.38% of U.S. total
Nebraska NE Secretary of State Bob Evnen Rep sos.nebraska.gov Business Search ↗ ~220,000
0.61% of U.S. total
Nevada NV Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar Dem nvsos.gov Business Search ↗ ~620,000
1.72% of U.S. total
New Hampshire NH Secretary of State David Scanlan Rep www.sos.nh.gov Business Search ↗ ~180,000
0.50% of U.S. total
New Jersey NJ Secretary of State Dale Caldwell Dem www.nj.gov/state Business Search ↗ ~700,000
1.94% of U.S. total
New Mexico NM Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver Dem www.sos.nm.gov Business Search ↗ ~200,000
0.56% of U.S. total
New York NY Secretary of State Walter Mosley Dem dos.ny.gov Business Search ↗ ~2,400,000
6.67% of U.S. total
North Carolina NC Secretary of State Elaine Marshall Dem www.sosnc.gov Business Search ↗ ~1,050,000
2.92% of U.S. total
North Dakota ND Secretary of State Michael Howe Rep sos.nd.gov Business Search ↗ ~85,000
0.24% of U.S. total
Ohio OH Secretary of State Frank LaRose Rep www.ohiosos.gov Business Search ↗ ~900,000
2.50% of U.S. total
Oklahoma OK Secretary of State Benjamin Lepak Rep www.sos.ok.gov Business Search ↗ ~350,000
0.97% of U.S. total
Oregon OR Secretary of State Tobias Read Dem sos.oregon.gov Business Search ↗ ~450,000
1.25% of U.S. total
Pennsylvania PA Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt Rep www.dos.pa.gov Business Search ↗ ~1,200,000
3.33% of U.S. total
Rhode Island RI Secretary of State Gregg Amore Dem www.sos.ri.gov Business Search ↗ ~130,000
0.36% of U.S. total
South Carolina SC Secretary of State Mark Hammond Rep sos.sc.gov Business Search ↗ ~430,000
1.19% of U.S. total
South Dakota SD Secretary of State Monae Johnson Rep sdsos.gov Business Search ↗ ~100,000
0.28% of U.S. total
Tennessee TN Secretary of State Tre Hargett Rep sos.tn.gov Business Search ↗ ~750,000
2.08% of U.S. total
Texas TX Secretary of State Jane Nelson Rep www.sos.state.tx.us Business Search ↗ ~2,930,000
8.14% of U.S. total
Utah UT Lt. Governor (no SoS office) Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson ALT businessregistration.utah.gov/EntitySearch/OnlineEntitySearch Business Search ↗ ~400,000
1.11% of U.S. total
Vermont VT Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas Dem sos.vermont.gov Business Search ↗ ~90,000
0.25% of U.S. total
Virginia VA Secretary of the Commonwealth Candi King Dem www.commonwealth.virginia.gov Business Search ↗ ~900,000
2.50% of U.S. total
Washington WA Secretary of State Steve Hobbs Dem www.sos.wa.gov/ Business Search ↗ ~650,000
1.81% of U.S. total
Washington D.C. DC Dept. of Licensing & Consumer Protection Lindsey Parker (DLCP) ALT os.dc.gov/page/office-secretary Business Search ↗ ~105,000
0.29% of U.S. total
West Virginia WV Secretary of State Kris Warner Rep sos.wv.gov Business Search ↗ ~155,000
0.43% of U.S. total
Wisconsin WI Secretary of State Sarah Godlewski Dem sos.wi.gov/Pages/Home.aspx Business Search ↗ ~480,000
1.33% of U.S. total
Wyoming WY Secretary of State Chuck Gray Rep sos.wyo.gov Business Search ↗ ~600,000
1.67% of U.S. total
* Entity counts are estimates from official state reports, IRS data, U.S. Census Bureau BFS, and published SoS annual reports. Alaska, Hawaii, and Utah have no Secretary of State; business registrations are handled by alternative offices.

Key Facts

Business Formation & Secretary of State by the Numbers

Real data from official sources - the Census Bureau, FRED, the IRS, and individual state offices - on the scale of business formation and SoS oversight in the United States.

~6.7M

Annual Business Applications - Current Run Rate

With approximately 1.5 million applications filed in Q1 2026 (Jan-Mar) and quarterly counts running well above pre-pandemic levels, the current annual run rate for U.S. business applications has reached approximately 6.0 million per year.

FRED / U.S. Census Bureau, BUSAPPWNSAUS - Feb 2026
+150%

Business Formation Growth Since 2019

Quarterly business applications averaged roughly 675,000 in 2019. Q1 2026 saw an estimated 1.5 million applications - more than double the pre-pandemic baseline. The surge began in mid-2020 and has never fully retreated to pre-pandemic levels.

FRED / U.S. Census Bureau, BUSAPPWNSAUS
5.4M

Record: 2021 Was the Peak Year

2021 set the all-time annual record for U.S. business applications - approximately 5.4 million. A direct result of pandemic-era entrepreneurship fueled by remote work, e-commerce, and stimulus capital. Formation has stayed elevated ever since.

FRED / U.S. Census Bureau BFS, BUSAPPWNSAUS
47/50

States Have a Secretary of State

Alaska, Hawaii, and Utah do not have a Secretary of State. Business filings are handled by the Lt. Governor in Alaska and Hawaii, and by Utah's Lt. Governor's office.

Ballotpedia / NASS
35

Elected by Popular Vote

In 35 states the Secretary of State is directly elected by citizens on 4-year terms. In the remaining 12 states the position is appointed by the governor or legislature.

National Association of Secretaries of State
#1

Delaware - The Corporate Capital

Delaware is home to more than 2.1 million active business entities, including 68% of Fortune 500 companies and 81% of all U.S.-based IPOs in 2024.

Delaware Division of Corporations, 2024 Annual Report
21.6M

Active LLCs in the U.S.

As of 2024, there are approximately 21.6 million active LLCs nationwide - making the LLC the most common business structure, surpassing both S-Corps and C-Corps combined.

U.S. Census Bureau / IRS SOI Data, 2024
4.4M

Commissioned Notaries in the U.S.

There are approximately 4.4 million active commissioned notaries public in the United States. All are licensed through state Secretary of State offices, making notary commissioning one of the most common SoS transactions processed each year.

National Notary Association

FRED Data - BUSAPPWNSAUS · U.S. Census Bureau

Annual Business Applications, U.S.

Total business applications per year (EIN applications tracked by the Census Bureau's Business Formation Statistics), via FRED.

2018
~2.6M
Pre-pandemic
2019
~2.7M
Baseline
2020
~3.9M
Surge begins
2021
~5.4M ▲ record
2022
~5.1M
2023
~5.3M
2024
~5.2M
2026
~6.7M current pace
+25.2% YoY

What This Means for Secretary of State Offices

~1.5M
Business entity applications filed in Q1 2026 (January-March) - tracked as EIN applications through the U.S. Census Bureau's Business Formation Statistics.
+25.2%
Year-over-year growth in quarterly business applications in Q1 2026 - continuing a trend of elevated formation well above pre-pandemic baselines, per FRED series BUSAPPWNSAUSYY.
2.5×
Increase in weekly business application volume compared to 2019. Every new application that results in a formal entity must register with a Secretary of State office.
Sources: FRED BUSAPPWNSAUS · FRED BUSAPPWNSAUSYY · U.S. Census Bureau Weekly Business Formation Statistics

Core Responsibilities

What the Office Oversees

While no two states have identical SoS duties, most offices share these core functions across business, elections, and public records.

01

Business Entity Registration

Filing, amending, and dissolving LLCs, corporations, partnerships, and nonprofits.

02

Elections Administration

Voter registration, election certification, absentee ballot rules, and campaign finance oversight.

03

Official Records & Archives

Custodian of the state seal, legislative acts, gubernatorial proclamations, and historical archives.

04

Notary Public Commissioning

Licensing and regulating notaries public - a function carried out in nearly every SoS office nationwide.

05

UCC Filings

Recording and maintaining Uniform Commercial Code financing statements and liens for secured transactions.

06

Trademark Registration

State-level trademark and service mark registration, separate from USPTO federal registration.

07

Apostille & Authentication

Certifying documents for use in foreign countries via the Apostille Convention under the Hague Treaty.

08

Annual Reports & Compliance

Collecting annual reports from registered entities to maintain active good-standing status.

STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE

How to Search Business Entities

Most states provide a free online database for looking up any registered business. Here’s how to use them effectively.

  1. Find Your State's Search Portal

    Use the directory table above to find the direct business entity search link for any state. Each link goes to the state's official database - no intermediaries.

  2. Search by Name, Number, or Agent

    Most portals allow searches by entity name, entity ID/filing number, registered agent, or officer/director. Partial name searches typically yield the best results.

  3. Review the Entity Record

    A typical record shows entity type, status (active/dissolved/revoked), formation date, registered agent, principal office address, and full filing history.

  4. Access Filed Documents

    Many states allow viewing or downloading Articles of Organization/Incorporation, amendments, annual reports, and other official filings directly from the database.

What You Can Do Through a SoS Office

Most state Secretary of State offices handle these business services online:

  • Form a new LLC, Corporation, or Nonprofit
  • Register a foreign entity doing business in-state
  • File annual reports and pay fees
  • Update registered agent information
  • Change your principal office address
  • Amend Articles of Organization or Incorporation
  • Obtain a Certificate of Good Standing
  • Dissolve, withdraw, or cancel a business entity
  • File UCC financing statements and lien searches
  • Register state trademarks and service marks
  • Commission a notary public
  • Request an Apostille or document authentication

Start a Business

Ready to Form a Business Entity?

Whether you're forming an LLC, corporation, or nonprofit, the process begins with your state's Secretary of State office.

Form an LLC

The most popular business structure in America. Personal liability protection with flexible tax treatment and minimal compliance requirements.

Start Your LLC →

Form a Corporation

Ideal for businesses seeking investors or issuing stock. C-Corps and S-Corps offer different tax advantages for different goals.

Incorporate Now →

Form a Non-Profit

Start a 501(c)(3) or other non-profit. Requires state incorporation followed by a separate IRS tax-exempt status application.

Start a Non-Profit →

Further Reading & Tools

Additional Resources

Authoritative sources, databases, and tools to help you navigate U.S. business entity filings, state law, and compliance.

FRED - Business Applications (BUSAPPWNSAUS)

Weekly business application data for the U.S. tracked by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, sourced from the Census Bureau's Business Formation Statistics. Updated weekly.

→ fred.stlouisfed.org

National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS)

The official membership organization of all U.S. Secretaries of State. Publishes policy positions, statistics, and a current roster of all officeholders.

→ nass.org

U.S. Census Bureau – Business Formation Statistics

Real-time data on new business applications and formation trends by state and industry. The primary source behind FRED's BUSAPPWNSAUS series. Updated weekly.

→ census.gov/econ/bfs

IRS – Business Structures Guide

Official IRS guidance on how different business structures - LLC, S-Corp, C-Corp, Sole Proprietorship - are taxed at the federal level.

→ irs.gov

Ballotpedia – Secretary of State

Comprehensive encyclopedia entries on every SoS office including election history, officeholder bios, duties comparisons, and term limit data.

→ ballotpedia.org

USPTO – Federal Trademark Search

Search the USPTO's TESS database for federally registered trademarks. State-level trademark registration is handled separately by each SoS office.

→ uspto.gov

Delaware Division of Corporations

Delaware's official corporate filing portal - the most-used business entity registry in the world. Publishes comprehensive annual statistics.

→ corp.delaware.gov

eForms.com – Free Legal Documents

Download free LLC Operating Agreements, Corporate Bylaws, Partnership Agreements, and other state-specific business formation documents.

→ eforms.com