To find LLC information, such as the owner of a company, you can search the Secretary of State (SoS) business database in the state where the company was formed.

How To Find LLC Information

Limited liability companies are hybrid entities that feature characteristics of corporations and partnerships. Just like traditional corporations, LLCs are required to register in every state where the company wishes to engage in business activities.

When searching for LLC information, there are several details that you may wish to discover:

  • The address of the LLC.
  • The address of the LLC's registered agent.
  • The legal status of the company.

Fortunately, you can easily find this information by performing a quick search online.

The first thing you will need to do to find LLC information is to determine the company's actual name. Many LLCs use a fictitious business name for different business branches or lines.

Next, you need to know in which state the LLC was formed. Because LLCs are often interstate business, there is no guarantee that the state where the LLC is operating is the same state where its formation occurred. Searching multiple states may be required to discover where the LLC was formed.

Once you know the LLCs actual name and its formation state, you can visit the Secretary of State website to perform a business search. This search should provide you with information about the LLC that is publicly available. In states like California, you can search the registry of corporation, which provides information about the LLCs in the state.

Information you may find in this registry includes:

  • The LLC's status and its origin.
  • Information about how the LLC was formed.
  • The date when the LLC was registered or converted.
  • Full information about the registered agent of the LLC.

Before you can perform your search, you will need to find the Secretary of State's business search page. Then, you will need to find the option of searching for LLC names. Once you've found the correct page, you can enter the name of the LLC and then click the Search button. Depending on the terms that you searched, you may see one or multiple results.

If the state where you are searching does not offer free online information about LLCs, you may need to submit a written public documents request. Generally, a small fee will be charged when you are requesting physical LLC documents.

After you've found information on the LLC, you should make sure that the information is valid. LLCs are typically registered by attorneys, which can mean that the contact information you see may not be for the owners of the LLC. In these circumstances, contacting the person listed as the LLC's legal contact is your best solution. Some states may only provide limited contact information, such as the filing or managing LLC member. If this is the case, you can get more information by getting in touch with the available contact.

Search Tips for LLC Information

When searching for LLC information, it's best to perform a name search instead of a number search. This will generally provide you with fuller results. Avoid using punctuation when entering the LLC name into the search field. Using punctuation such as commas or periods can limit your search results.

If the LLC you are searching uses initials, they should be grouped together in your search. The exception is when there are spaces between the initials. For example, if the company is called “R.T.A. Technology,” you would need to search “R T A Technology” instead of “RTA Technology.”

Using plurals can also affect the results. When you are performing your search, common abbreviations and words will be ignored. Contrary to what you might believe, the more words you use in your search, the more limited your results. Try to use unique search terms to make your results narrower. On the Business Search page, you will likely find tips that should help you search more successfully.

Getting Copies of Documents

After you've found the LLC information for which you were searching, you may want to request physical documents related to this information. For instance, you could request a Certificate of Status, which proves the legal status of the LLC. You may also want a Certificate of Filing of All Documents. This certificate verifies that the LLC has submitted required documentation and will also list the dates when these documents were filed.

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