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An LLC lookup means searching the register of the state where the LLC was formed. There is no federal list of LLCs. Each state, plus DC, keeps its own, and the record there is the one that counts.
Where to search
Start with the state named in the LLC's paperwork. A contract or invoice will often say "a Delaware limited liability company". If you only know where the business operates, search that state first. An LLC formed elsewhere usually has to register there as a foreign LLC, and its record often names the home state.
Some useful starting points:
- California business search, see our California guide
- Florida Sunbiz search, see the Florida guide
- Delaware entity search, see the Delaware guide
- Wyoming business search, see the Wyoming guide
For every other state, use the Secretary of State business search guide, which lists all 51 offices.
Search tips that save time
State searches are literal. Small changes give very different results.
- Drop the ending. Type "Cedar Ridge" rather than "Cedar Ridge, LLC". California's search, for example, ignores the word LLC and removes most punctuation, but other states do not.
- Start short. One or two distinctive words find more than the full name.
- Use the number once you have it. The entity or file number always returns the same record, even after a name change.
- Check old names. Many states list prior names in the filing history, so an LLC that renamed itself is still findable.
What an LLC record shows
Most records include the exact legal name, entity type, entity number, status, formation date, principal address and registered agent. Many states also show managers or members as listed in the articles or the latest annual report. The filing history often has free images of the articles of organization, amendments and reports.
What you usually will not find: the members' ownership shares, the operating agreement, bank details or the EIN. For those, see our guides on business owner lookup and EIN lookup.
Making sure it is the right LLC
Names repeat. "Cedar Ridge LLC" can exist in a dozen states with a dozen different owners, and "Cedar Ridge Holdings LLC" may sit in the same state as an unrelated company. To confirm a match:
- Compare the entity number with any number on the company's documents.
- Check the formation date against how long the company says it has traded.
- Match the principal address and the registered agent with its invoices or website.
- Read the status. An LLC that is dissolved or revoked may not be able to sign contracts until it is reinstated. Our status guide explains the terms.
When the LLC does not appear
Work through these in order:
- Search with fewer words and no punctuation, and try a "contains" match if the state offers one.
- Try the common formation states: Delaware, Wyoming and Nevada.
- Check whether the business is really an LLC. It may be a sole trader or partnership using a trade name, which is filed as a DBA. See the DBA search guide.
- Very new filings can take a few days to appear, depending on the state.
- Ask the business for its exact legal name, home state and entity number.
If you still find nothing, treat that as a warning sign before you sign or pay. A real LLC is on a public register somewhere.