Before forming an LLC or corporation, it’s essential to verify that your business name is available in your state’s official database.
Each Secretary of State maintains its own business entity search system, and names must meet state-specific rules to be approved.
Northwest Registered Agent vs. LegalZoom
| LLC + Registered Agent Service 1/yr | LLC + Registered Agent Service 1/yr |
| Northwest Registered Agent $39 + state fee | LegalZoom $249 + state fee |
This guide provides direct links to the official business name search pages for all 50 states, allowing you to quickly check name availability in the correct government database and move forward with confidence before filing your business registration.
Search Your State’s Business Name Database
To look up and find an existing business entity name in all 50 states, you can use your state’s search database below to see if your chosen LLC name is available for use in your state.
- Step 1: Find Your State
- Step 2: Visit and Search Your State’s Database (Link on the Rightside)
Name Search Guide for the 50 States
| State | Department | State’s Database Name Search Tool |
| Alabama | Secretary of State | Business Entity Search |
| Alaska | Alaska Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development | Corporations Database |
| Arizona | Arizona Corporations Commission | eCorp Business Entity Search |
| Arkansas | Secretary of State | Business Entity Search |
| California | Secretary of State | Business Search |
| Colorado | Secretary of State | Business Database Search |
| Connecticut | Secretary of State | Business Records Search |
| Delaware | Department of State: Division of Corporations | Business Entity Search Name Reservation |
| Florida | Department of State | Sunbiz Division of Corporations Entity Name Search |
| Georgia | Secretary of State | Business Search |
| Hawaii | Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs | Business Name Search |
| Idaho | Secretary of State | Business Search |
| Illinois | Secretary of State | Corporate and LLC Search |
| Indiana | Secretary of State | Business Search |
| Iowa | Secretary of State | Business Entities Search |
| Kansas | Secretary of State | Business Filing Center – Name Availability Status Search |
| Kentucky | Secretary of State | Name Availability Search |
| Louisiana | Secretary of State | Business Filings Search |
| Maine | Secretary of State | Corporate Name Search |
| Maryland | Department of Assessments and Taxation | Business Entity Search |
| Massachusetts | Secretary of the Commonwealth | Business Entity Search Search Name Reservations |
| Michigan | Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs | Business Entity Search |
| Minnesota | Secretary of State | Business Filings Search |
| Mississippi | Secretary of State | Business Search |
| Missouri | Secretary of State | Business Entity Search |
| Montana | Secretary of State | Business Search |
| Nebraska | Secretary of State | Corporate & Business Search |
| Nevada | Secretary of State | Business Entity Search |
| New Hampshire | Department of State | Business Search |
| New Jersey | Department of the Treasury, Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services | Business Entity Name Search |
| New Mexico | Secretary of State | Business Search |
| New York | Department of State | Corporation and Business Entity Database |
| North Carolina | Secretary of State | Business Entity Search |
| North Dakota | Secretary of State | Archived Business Records Search |
| Ohio | Secretary of State | Business Name Search |
| Oklahoma | Secretary of State | Business Entities Search |
| Oregon | Secretary of State | Business Name Search |
| Pennsylvania | Department of State | Business Entity Search |
| Rhode Island | Secretary of State | Business Entity Search |
| South Carolina | Secretary of State | Business Name Search |
| South Dakota | Secretary of State | Business Information Search |
| Tennessee | Secretary of State | Business Name Availability Search |
| Texas | Secretary of State or Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts | SOSDirect Name Search |
| Utah | Division of Corporations and Commercial Code | Business Name Search |
| Vermont | Secretary of State | Business Name Search |
| Virginia | State Corporation Commission | Business Entity Search |
| Washington | Secretary of State | Corporation Search |
| Washington DC | Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection | CorpOnline Business Search |
| West Virginia | Secretary of State | Business Organization Search |
| Wisconsin | Department of Financial Institutions | Corporate Records Search |
| Wyoming | Secretary of State | Business Entity Search |
Note: The content on this website is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice. It is not tailored to your specific business situation. For legal guidance, please consult a qualified attorney. Any rankings, reviews, or recommendations reflect the opinions of the authors and/or editors. When starting or operating a business, we encourage you to seek advice from a licensed attorney or accountant..
