How to Check if a Business is Registered

A business that is not legally registered is a business you should not trust with your money. Checking business registration is one of the most definitive verification steps available — if a company claims to be an established LLC or corporation but has no state registration, they are either lying or operating illegally. This check takes minutes using free government databases.

How to Search Business Registration by State

In the United States, businesses register with their state's Secretary of State office. Every state maintains a free online database:

1. Identify the state where the business claims to be incorporated or registered
2. Go to that state's Secretary of State website
3. Find the "Business Search" or "Entity Search" tool (usually on the homepage)
4. Search by business name or filing number

Common state search portals:

• California: bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov
• Texas: mycpa.cpa.state.tx.us/coa
• New York: appext20.dos.ny.gov/corp_public/CORPSEARCH.ENTITY_SEARCH_ENTRY
• Florida: search.sunbiz.org
• Delaware: icis.corp.delaware.gov/ecorp/entitysearch

For a complete list, search "[state name] Secretary of State business search."

What the Registration Records Show

A business registration filing typically includes:

• Entity name: The legal name as registered (may differ from a DBA/trade name)
• Entity type: LLC, Corporation, Partnership, Sole Proprietorship, etc.
• Filing date: When the entity was formed — compare with the company's claimed history
• Status: Active, Inactive, Dissolved, Revoked, Suspended
• Registered agent: The person or service designated to receive legal documents
• Principal address: The business's official address on file
• Officers/Members: Names of directors, officers, or managing members (varies by state)

Red Flags in Registration Records

No Registration Found

If a company claims to be an LLC or corporation but has no state registration, they either do not exist as a legal entity or are misrepresenting their structure. Note: sole proprietorships and some partnerships may not require state registration, but any company presenting itself as an LLC, Inc., or Corp. should have filings.

Inactive or Dissolved Status

A company whose registration shows "Dissolved" or "Inactive" is no longer a legal entity. They may have failed to file annual reports, been administratively dissolved for non-compliance, or voluntarily dissolved. Doing business with a dissolved entity provides you with less legal recourse.

Very Recent Filing

A company claiming 10 years of experience but registered 3 months ago is misrepresenting its history. Compare the filing date with the company's claimed founding date.

Registered Agent is a Mailbox Service

Using a registered agent service is legitimate and common. But if the only address associated with the business is a UPS Store, virtual office, or registered agent service, and no other business presence can be verified, that is a concern for a company claiming to have physical operations.

Federal Verification: EIN and IRS Records

The IRS assigns Employer Identification Numbers (EINs) to businesses. While there is no public EIN lookup for all businesses, you can:

• Ask the business directly for their EIN. Legitimate businesses share this freely — it is not sensitive information (it is on every W-9 they file).
• Check the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search if the business claims nonprofit status (see verifying charities).
• Search SEC EDGAR for publicly traded companies or registered investment entities.

Additional Verification Sources

Better Business Bureau (BBB)

bbb.org provides business profiles including accreditation status, complaint history, customer reviews, and an overall letter grade. Not all legitimate businesses are BBB-accredited, but a business with an F rating or numerous unresolved complaints should give you pause.

Google Business Profile

Search the business on Google Maps. Does it have a verified business listing with a real address, photos, and reviews? Google verifies business addresses through mailed postcards, so a verified listing confirms physical presence.

Industry-Specific Licenses

Many businesses require professional licenses beyond basic registration:

• Contractors: State contractor license board
• Financial services: FINRA BrokerCheck, SEC registration (see verifying investments)
• Healthcare: State medical board, nursing board
• Legal: State bar association
• Real estate: State real estate commission

Dun & Bradstreet

dnb.com assigns D-U-N-S numbers to businesses worldwide. A D-U-N-S number lookup can verify a company's existence, size, and basic financial data. Many government contracts require D-U-N-S registration, so its presence indicates a certain level of legitimacy.

International Business Verification

For businesses outside the U.S.:

• UK: Companies House (gov.uk/government/organisations/companies-house) — free company search
• Canada: Corporations Canada (ised-isde.canada.ca/cc/lgcy/fdrlCrpSrch.html)
• EU: European Business Register (ebr.org)
• Australia: ASIC Business Names Register (asic.gov.au)

Run the company's website through IsThisAScam's 6-layer analysis alongside these manual checks for maximum confidence.