How to search Connecticut records
- Search by business name, ALEI, or principal or agent name in the online business search.
- Check the "Annual Report Due Date" field and the filing history for the last report filed.
- Use the "Business Details" tab to confirm the mailing address the state uses for notices.
Open the official Connecticut search
Connecticut SOS, corporation and LLC search
Connecticut Secretary of State Business Search
The Connecticut Secretary of State business search is run by the Connecticut Secretary of the State, Business Services through its Business Records Search (business.ct.gov). Related queries such as "Secretary of State CT business search" reach the same free database. Search by name first, then reopen the record by its business ALEI so you are reading one exact entity. The step-by-step instructions above walk through the screens.
Connecticut Entity Search
An entity search of the Connecticut business registry returns every registered type at once: domestic and foreign LLCs, corporations, partnerships and nonprofits. Read the status first, then the formation date and the registered agent. Because Connecticut expects an annual report yearly, a lapsed filing usually shows up as a status change before the entity is dissolved.
Connecticut Corporation Search
A corporation search uses the same index as LLCs, so filter by entity type if the name is common. Searches typed as "Secretary of State CT corporation search" land here too. The record shows whether it is a for-profit corporation or a nonprofit, and the entity types guide explains how each one appears. Corporations are formed by filing articles of incorporation, so the formation date on the record is the date those articles took effect.
Connecticut LLC Search
Run the Connecticut LLC search with the exact name, then note the business ALEI. Forming a Connecticut LLC costs $120 and the annual report is $80. Whether members appear depends on the filings; our LLC lookup guide covers what the state shows, and the business owner lookup covers what it does not. A state record never shows an EIN; use the EIN lookup for that.
Connecticut Business Name Search
A Connecticut business name search shows names already on file, not names the state will accept. Connecticut lets you hold a name for 120 days for $60. The name claim guide lists the checks to run before you file, including trademarks and DBA names.
Connecticut Business License Search
A Connecticut entity record is not a business license. Licenses come from the state board for a regulated trade or from the city or county where the business operates, so check those separately. The business verification checklist lists which official records to pull and in what order.
Connecticut UCC Search
UCC financing statements against Connecticut businesses are filed with the Secretary of the State. A filing shows a lender's claim on the company's assets, and it must be searched under the exact legal name on the entity record. The UCC lien search guide explains how to read one.
The ALEI and the move to business.ct.gov
Connecticut identifies every business with an ALEI, a state-specific identifier that appears on all filings made through the business.ct.gov portal, which replaced the older CONCORD system. Some legacy records also show the older business ID number. When a lender or a state agency asks for your Connecticut number, the ALEI is usually the one they mean.
Connecticut filing facts
| Record number | Business ALEI |
|---|---|
| LLC formation fee | $120. Certificate of Organization. |
| Recurring filing | Annual report, $80, yearly |
| Due | Between January 1 and March 31 for LLCs |
| Name reservation | $60 for 120 days |
| Agency phone | 860-509-6002 |
What a Connecticut LLC costs in its first three years
First recurring filing assumed in year 2; state charges only.
| Year | Formation | Recurring filing | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $120 | $0 | $120 |
| Year 2 | $0 | $80 | $80 |
| Year 3 | $0 | $80 | $80 |
| Three-year state total | $280 | ||
One annual report window for every LLC
Connecticut moved LLC annual reports to a single statewide window from January 1 to March 31, instead of each company's anniversary. That makes spring the season when Connecticut records change most, and a report filed in March covers the current year. Entities that miss reports are forfeited; they can reinstate, but by then the name may have gone to someone else, so do not count on a forfeited name staying free. The name-conflict rules are stricter than many states, distinguishing names that differ only slightly. Connecticut publishes its full business register as open data, which powers the live name check here and is listed in data downloads by state. Before filing, run through claiming a business name.
Name conflicts and consent
Connecticut compares new names with existing ones closely. When a name is too similar, the law provides consent procedures in some cases and, in others, a route through a court judgment, depending on how the names differ. In practice most people simply choose a more distinct name. Search the core words of your name, then the name without articles and punctuation, before you file, since Connecticut will reject a name that differs from an existing one only in those details.
How Connecticut compares with its neighbors
| State | LLC filing | Yearly upkeep | Report cycle | Reservation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | $120 | $80 | Yearly | $60 |
| New York | $200 | $4.50 | Every 2 years | $20 |
| Massachusetts | $500 | $500 | Yearly | $30 |
| Rhode Island | $150 | $450 | Yearly | $50 |
Before you rely on a Connecticut result
- Connecticut moved LLC annual reports to a single calendar window, so a report filed in March covers the current year.
- Forfeited entities can reinstate, but the name may have been taken by someone else in the meantime.
Bulk Connecticut business data
Free full register. Format: Socrata API/CSV, daily. About 1.3 million rows. Official source
Searching beyond Connecticut
Registries next to Connecticut: New York business search, Massachusetts business search, Rhode Island business search.
Connecticut business search questions
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Connecticut?
The state filing fee is $120. Certificate of Organization. Keeping the LLC on file then averages $80 a year in state fees.
When is the Connecticut annual report due?
Connecticut calls it the annual report. It costs $80, it is filed yearly, and it is due between January 1 and March 31 for LLCs.
Can I reserve a business name in Connecticut?
Yes. A name reservation costs $60 and holds the name for 120 days.
When is the Connecticut LLC annual report due?
Between January 1 and March 31 each year, for every LLC. The fee is $80.
Is the Connecticut business entity search free?
Yes. Searching the Business Records Search (business.ct.gov) costs nothing. The Connecticut Secretary of the State, Business Services charges only for certified copies and certificates of good standing.
Who keeps business records in Connecticut?
The Connecticut Secretary of the State, Business Services. Its business line is 860-509-6002, and its free search is the Business Records Search (business.ct.gov).
What number identifies a business in Connecticut?
Connecticut assigns each entity a business ALEI. It is different from the federal EIN and from the number the same company holds in any other state, and searching by it returns exactly one record.
Can I download a list of all Connecticut businesses?
Yes. Connecticut publishes its full business register free (Socrata API/CSV, daily). About 1.3 million rows.
Sources
- Connecticut business services portal
- Connecticut online business search
- Connecticut Secretary of the State, Business Registry dataset (data.ct.gov)
Data Updated Recently