A big part of running a successful business in Wyoming is doing your due diligence. While you may be focused on this when it comes to operations and finances, you should also be thorough about knowing who to work with. Realistically, you may have to collaborate with other businesses and entities, so it’s best to ensure they’re reputable and in good standing.
The best way to do this is by utilizing the LLC lookup tool on the Wyoming Secretary of State’s website. Since all businesses must register with the Secretary of State to legally operate, this tool will provide essential details regarding their filing status, mailing address, standing, and more. This article outlines every step of the process so you can gather these details quickly and efficiently. Here’s everything you need to know.
Why you might need an LLC lookup in Wyoming
There are a few primary reasons why you may need to use an LLC lookup. First, to verify if a business exists and is in good standing. Wyoming shows both tax and registered agent status. You can also find out specific details about the business, such as whether it uses a fictitious name (DBA), where it was formed, and its official mailing address. Unlike other states, though, Wyoming doesn’t require businesses to list owners and managers when filing, so you can’t see that information.
Another reason to use this tool is to verify that your business is in good standing and that your information is up to date. You can also see if there are other businesses with nearly identical names to help you stand out.
What an LLC lookup is
An LLC lookup is a tool that accesses the Wyoming Secretary of State’s business database. Since all companies must register with the state, this is the easiest and most reliable way to find information about LLCs and other business types.
What an LLC lookup helps you confirm
The main details you can discover when looking up an LLC in Wyoming are whether the business is active, in good standing, where and when it was formed, and its official office and mailing addresses. Wyoming does not publicly list owners, managers, or registered agents for businesses.
Common reasons people run an LLC lookup in Wyoming
Some of the most common situations where you may use the Wyoming LLC lookup tool include:
- Verifying a Business – This is good to do before signing a contract with a new partner, vendor, or client.
- Check Business Standing – You can see whether a company is in good standing with the Secretary of State or if it has been dissolved by the state.
- Verify Your Own Details – It’s important to ensure your business information is accurate and up to date.
What you can find in a Wyoming LLC lookup
When looking up an LLC in Wyoming, you will see the following details listed:
- Company name
- ID number
- Filing status
- Tax standing
- Registered agent standing
- Filed on date
- Business type
- Location where the business was formed
- Any fictitious or DBA names the business uses
- Principal office
- Mailing address
You can also review a business’s filing documents, including LLC articles of organization or articles of incorporation for corporations. You can also view other documents, such as change-of-address or DBA name-change forms.
Conducting an LLC search in Wyoming: Step-by-step guide
Step 1: Go to the official Wyoming LLC search portal
If you go to the Wyoming Secretary of State website, you can find the business name availability check tool.
Step 2: Choose the best search method
There are three ways to search for an LLC through this tool. First, you can select the option “Starts With” if you know the first part of the name. Second, you can choose the option “Contains” if you only know part of the name. This also works if you’re using the company’s DBA or fictitious name, as it will be attached to the official business name.
Finally, if you have a company’s filing ID, you can enter that instead. This option is the fastest, especially if the company you’re searching for uses generic words or phrases that may apply to multiple businesses.
Also, you don’t need an exact match to find the name. Variations like plurals or hyphenated names will still work.
Step 3: Use quick search tips to get accurate results
If you’re struggling to find a business name, here are some tips that may help.
- Remove punctuations or special characters
- Write LLC as letters and not an acronym (L.L.C.)
- Use only the core keyword for the business.
- Try to obtain the filing ID number for precise accuracy.
Step 4: Open a result and read the key fields
Once a business pops up, it will list basic details, including the company name, ID number, filing status, and standing.
Once you click on an entity, you can see more information, including business type, formation date and location, principal office address, and mailing address.
Each listing will also have tabs on the bottom, which read:
- Additional Details – Here you can see the business’s registered agent and address.
- History – A rundown of filing documents, including the initial filing and annual reports.
- Public Notes – Any public notes regarding the business.
- Parties – Since Wyoming doesn’t require companies to list owners and managers, this will likely only include the registered agent.
Step 5: Check filings/PDFs for finer details
Within the History tab, you can access and download PDF versions of the company’s filing documents. The most common options are the initial filing documents, amendments to the registered agent or business name, and annual reports. Unless a company owner elects to act as their own registered agent, you won’t be able to verify owners and business managers via these documents.
How to verify an LLC is legit in Wyoming
Whether working with new vendors or business clients, it’s imperative to do your due diligence first to protect your company. Follow these steps to verify the legitimacy of any business in Wyoming.
- Confirm its Existence – Search the business database to ensure the company exists in Wyoming.
- Check the LLC’s status – In Wyoming, business statuses are either active or inactive and current or not current. An inactive status can mean the LLC was dissolved by the Secretary of State for several reasons, such as not filing an annual report, not maintaining a registered agent, or legal action against the company. The site will list the reason, if applicable.
- Match the registered agent and business details – Verify that any addresses (office or mailing) provided to you by the company match what is listed online.
- Confirm good standing – Wyoming lists standing for taxes, registered agents, and “other.” If there are any issues with these, the listing will read “delinquent.” You can also generate or validate a certificate of good standing by going to the View Certificate page of the SOS website.
Red flags to watch out for
As you review a business listing, pay attention to these details:
- Delinquent – Even if the business hasn’t been dissolved, it may indicate disorganization or subpar operational standards.
- Inactive – If a company is dissolved by the Secretary of State for any reason, it can no longer conduct business in Wyoming.
- Details don’t match – If any details, such as addresses or the registered agent, don’t match what you’ve been given by the business, it could indicate fraud, such as someone posing as a business.
- No certificate – Obtaining a certificate of good standing is easy to do, so any reputable business should be able to provide it when asked. If they don’t, that could be a bad sign.
What to do after your Wyoming LLC lookup
The next steps after using the Wyoming LLC lookup tool will depend on the reason you’re using it. Either you’re trying to vet an existing business or start your own LLC.
If you’re vetting a business in Wyoming
First, save any documents or relevant details provided by the listing. You may also want to request a certificate of good standing to have on file.
Next, use the company’s filing ID to verify other details such as licensing or permitting (i.e., if you’re working with a contractor). You can also use it to check for liens or legal actions against the business.
If you’re starting an LLC in Wyoming
In this case, use the LLC lookup tool to verify if your desired company name (or DBA name) is available. Then, choose a Wyoming registered agent to represent your business. Finally, file your articles of organization with the Secretary of State.
Your Wyoming LLC annual report is due yearly on the first day of the anniversary month of filing your business. So, if you filed on September 15th, your annual report is due by September 1st the following year.
Conclusion
As you can see, looking up LLCs in Wyoming is simple and straightforward, and you can discover valuable information about any potential clients, partners, or vendors. It’s up to you to do the due diligence, and now you know how.
This tool is also valuable for forming your own LLC, as you can see what names are available and find out if other companies share similar names.
FAQ
No, the system recognizes common variations like plurals and hyphens. For example, if a business is named My Company, other variations like My-Company or My Companies would also work.
Since Wyoming doesn’t require new companies to list owners and managers, you cannot use that information in your search.
Yes, this database shows information for all businesses in Wyoming, including corporations, LLCs, sole proprietorships, and partnerships.