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
California Business Entity Search	Status, entity number, registered agent, filing history, Statement of Information	Open the Statement of Information to see managers or governors when listed
Delaware Business Entity Search	Status and limited public details. Agent is visible. Owners are not listed	Order a status certificate or copies if you need proof beyond status
Florida Business Entity Search	Status, principal address, registered agent, annual reports. Many filings list managers	Search by name root on Sunbiz to catch spelling variants
Texas Business Entity Search	Status and franchise tax account via taxable entity search. Agent and office visible	Managers often appear in filings. Check both the Secretary of State and the Comptroller search. Log in required
New York Business Entity Search	Status, DOS ID, service of process address. Owners rarely listed	Use the entity name exactly and review the filing history for amendments
Washington Business Entity Search	Status, registered agent, and governing persons in many annual reports	Open the most recent annual report to see governors
Arizona Business Entity Search	Status, statutory agent, and members or managers in many records	Look for the most recent amendment or annual report for current names
Nevada Business Entity Search	Status, registered agent, and managing members or managers in the initial or annual list	The initial list and annual list are your best bet for owner roles
Illinois Business Entity Search	Status, registered agent, and management type. Managers may appear in annual reports	If you see manager managed, open the annual report PDF
Georgia Business Entity Search	Status, registered agent, and principal office. Owners not always listed	Use the business search and then check annual registration details
North Carolina Business Entity Search	Status, registered agent, principal office, and filing history. Some filings list managers	Open each PDF. Names may appear in amendments or annual reports
New Jersey Business Entity Search	Status and registered agent. Owners rarely listed	Use the Business Records Service and check trade names separately
Ohio Business Entity Search	Status, agent, and filings. Some filings include governors	If the search returns many results, filter by active status
Pennsylvania Business Entity Search	Status, entity number, registered office, and filings. Owners usually not listed	The docketing statement can be useful for addresses

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.

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