Key Takeaways

  • Corporation names often include terms like "Inc." or "Corp.," but this isn't definitive.
  • You can confirm incorporation by checking the Secretary of State website or business registry.
  • Articles of Incorporation and Certificates of Good Standing are key documents for verification.
  • Online business lookup tools can reveal incorporation status, business standing, and registered agents.
  • Incorporation status matters for legal, tax, and compliance reasons—especially for contracts or KYB (Know Your Business) processes.

How do I know if a company is a corporation? If you need to know if a company is a corporation, there are a few indicators. Start with a basic search for the company's official name. Names of corporations must end with either the identifier "Incorporated" or "Corp." If one of these identifiers is present, then the company is most likely a corporation.

Other Ways to Determine if a Business is a Corporation

There are a few other ways to find out if a business is a corporation, including:

  • Talk to the manager or owner to find out if the business has a board of directors or was formed by the filing of articles of incorporation. These are both indicators that a business is a corporation.
  • Use your state's corporations registry to look it up. It's common for states to maintain records that list all corporations residing within their borders.
  • Visit your state's business division office or website.

The business division in your state can tell you if a business is or isn't a corporation, and when it was originally formed if it is a corporation.

Use State-Level Business Entity Lookup Tools

Each U.S. state provides a searchable online database through the Secretary of State’s website or business division. These tools allow users to search by business name or registered agent to verify if a business is incorporated. Information typically available includes:

  • Legal name and entity type (e.g., corporation, LLC, nonprofit)
  • Business status (active, suspended, dissolved)
  • Date of incorporation
  • Registered agent’s name and address
  • Business entity number or control number

Many states also provide downloadable copies of business filings, including the Articles of Incorporation. These documents are a reliable way to confirm that the company has formally registered as a corporation with the state.

How to Find Articles of Incorporation

To verify incorporation, locating the company’s Articles of Incorporation is key. This document is filed with the Secretary of State when a corporation is formed and is public record in most states. Here's how you can find them:

  1. Visit the Secretary of State’s business search portal for the state where the business is registered.
  2. Search by business name or registration number.
  3. Look for the link to view or request Articles of Incorporation, typically listed under the business filing history.
  4. Some states may charge a small fee for certified copies or detailed filings.

These documents serve as foundational proof that a company is legally incorporated and include details such as the business purpose, incorporators, and stock structure (if applicable).

Check for a Certificate of Good Standing

A Certificate of Good Standing is another reliable way to confirm that a business is incorporated and compliant with state requirements. It indicates that the corporation:

  • Has paid required fees and taxes
  • Has filed all necessary documents
  • Is legally authorized to operate in its home state

You can usually request this certificate directly from the state’s business division or online portal. While not always free, it’s often a required document when a company is entering into contracts, applying for financing, or expanding into new states.

What a Corporation Is

A corporation is a legal entity, and it has the same set of responsibilities and rights that an individual has. A corporation has to pay tax on income that is earned, and it's able to enter into a contract. It can file a lawsuit, and it can be sued by someone else. All actions of a corporation must come through a board of directors, and every corporation has to have a board of directors. As a business entity, a corporation leads a separate existence from that of its owner or owners.

Ownership of a Corporation

The people who own a corporation are called shareholders. The amount of the business each shareholder owns is represented in the form of shares, called corporate stocks. Shareholders have the option of choosing a board of directors to handle the operations of the business. Or, if they prefer, they can form a shareholders agreement that allows them handle the business operations. A corporation is more complicated to form and run than an unincorporated business.

Corporate Taxation

If you own shares in a corporation, the taxes for the corporation need to be filed separately, not as part of your personal taxes. Most states do not hold shareholders responsible on a personal level for corporate debt. There are two different types of tax treatments for corporations.

The Difference Between C Corp and S Corp Taxation

The types are the treatment for a C corporation or an S corporation. C-corporation taxation means the business gets taxed using the corporate income tax rate. Then when shareholders receive dividends from the corporation, those dividends are also taxed a second time as individual income for the shareholders. When the corporation is taxed as an S corporation, and it elects to be taxed as an S corporation by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), only income that's earned passively and the amount of profit that gets distributed to shareholders will be further taxed.

Business Structures

A company is described as an entity that performs a business activity. It can be a corporation, a partnership, or a sole proprietorship. Choosing the business structure is one of the first things to do when starting a business, and it's one of the most important steps to do when you're getting ready to start your business.

To make a wise choice about your business structure, it helps to know how each of the three business structures works and the advantages and disadvantages of each. Seeking the advice of an attorney is usually your best approach when choosing your business structure.

Some other ways to search for a business entity's status as a corporation or company include searching by the owner's name using the "last name, first name, middle initial" format. If you're searching online, it isn't usually necessary to have the full name. Most company records are also indexed with states in alphabetical order to simplify searching.

Why It Matters to Know If a Company Is Incorporated

Understanding how to find out if a company is incorporated is important for several reasons:

  • Legal Protection: Only corporations and LLCs offer limited liability protection to their owners.
  • Taxation: Knowing the entity type helps clarify how the company is taxed and whether double taxation may apply.
  • Contracts and Compliance: When entering into agreements or conducting due diligence, confirming incorporation ensures you're working with a legitimate entity.
  • KYB (Know Your Business): For financial institutions and vendors, verifying corporate status is part of compliance and fraud prevention protocols.

If you're unsure how to conduct these checks, consulting a business attorney can ensure you gather accurate and complete information. You can find experienced attorneys for this purpose on UpCounsel.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the quickest way to check if a company is incorporated?
    Use your state’s Secretary of State business entity search portal. It’s usually free and offers real-time information.
  • Can a company operate without being incorporated?
    Yes, but it would operate as a sole proprietorship or partnership and wouldn’t receive the legal protections and tax benefits of a corporation.
  • What documents prove a company is incorporated?
    Key documents include Articles of Incorporation and a Certificate of Good Standing.
  • Is a business license proof of incorporation?
    No. A business license only grants permission to operate in a specific location—it doesn’t indicate entity type or incorporation status.
  • Can I search for a business using the owner's name?
    Yes. Many state databases allow searches by individual names, which is helpful if the business name is unknown or ambiguous.

If you need help with knowing if a company is a corporation, you can post your legal need on UpCounsel's marketplace. UpCounsel accepts only the top 5 percent of lawyers to its site. Lawyers on UpCounsel come from law schools such as Harvard Law and Yale Law and average 14 years of legal experience, including work with or on behalf of companies like Google, Menlo Ventures, and Airbnb.