The California Secretary of State Business Search is your go-to tool. It’s simple, free, and packed with valuable info for anyone dealing with business entities in the state.
What Is the Business Search?
The Business Search is an online database that lets you look up companies registered in California. You can find corporations, LLCs, LPs, and more. It’s provided by the California Secretary of State https://www.uscorpdirectory.com/ and is updated regularly.
Whether you're an entrepreneur, a lawyer, or a curious customer, this tool gives you access to:
Legal status of a business
Registration details
Filing history
Agent for service of process
Who Should Use It?
This tool isn’t just for lawyers. It’s helpful for:
New business owners checking if a name is taken
Investors researching company legitimacy
Freelancers and contractors verifying clients
Everyday users wanting to make informed choices
Basically, if you’re doing business in California, you should know how to use it.
How to Perform a Search
Here’s a quick step-by-step:
Click on the “Business Search” section
Enter the business name or entity number
Browse the list of matching results
Click on the business name to view more details
You don’t need to create an account or pay anything—it's open to everyone.
What Kind of Info Will You See?
Once you click into a business entry, you’ll see details like:
Entity Name and Number
Status (e.g., Active, Suspended)
Date of Formation
Type (Corporation, LLC, etc.)
Jurisdiction (where it was formed)
Agent for Service of Process
Documents and filings you can download
This information is useful for everything from contract work to partnerships to name reservations.
Common Use Cases
People use the Business Search for all kinds of reasons, including:
Checking if a business is active and legally compliant
Finding out who owns or represents a business
Confirming information for court documents or licensing
Avoiding scams or dealing with suspicious companies
Can You Check If a Name Is Available?
Yes! While this tool isn't a formal name availability checker, it helps you see if a name is already in use. If it shows up in the results, you’ll likely need to pick a different one for your business.
For official name availability checks, you can use the Name Reservation Request through the same website.
