How to search District of Columbia records
- CorpOnline requires a free Access DC account before you can search, so create one first.
- Search by entity name or file number, then open the record to see registered agent and report history.
- Run the separate DLCP business license verification if you need to know whether the company can legally trade in DC.
Open the official District of Columbia search
DC SOS, corporation and LLC search
DC Secretary of State Business Search
DC does not keep its business register in a Secretary of State office. People who type "DC Secretary of State business search" are looking for the DC Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection, Corporations Division and its CorpOnline. It is free to search by name or file number, and the step-by-step instructions above walk through it.
DC Business Entity Search
An entity search of the DC 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 DC expects a biennial report every 2 years, a lapsed filing usually shows up as a status change before the entity is dissolved.
DC Corporation Search
A corporation search uses the same index as LLCs, so filter by entity type if the name is common. Searches typed as "District of Columbia 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.
DC LLC Search
Run the DC LLC search with the exact name, then note the file number. Forming a DC LLC costs $99 and the biennial report is $300. 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.
District of Columbia Business Name Search
A District of Columbia business name search shows names already on file, not names the state will accept. DC lets you hold a name for 60 days for $50. The name claim guide lists the checks to run before you file, including trademarks and DBA names.
DC Business License Lookup
DC issues Basic Business Licenses through the same Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection that keeps the corporate register, so both checks happen in one agency. For other checks, see the business verification checklist.
No Secretary of State in the District
Business filings in Washington, D.C. are handled by the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection, which took over from the old Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs when that agency was split in 2022. Its CorpOnline system needs a free account before you can search, a step that stops many first-time visitors. Searches return the file number, status, type, registered agent and report history.
District of Columbia filing facts
| Record number | File number |
|---|---|
| LLC formation fee | $99. Articles of Organization. |
| Recurring filing | Biennial report, $300, every 2 years |
| Due | April 1 every two years |
| Name reservation | $50 for 60 days |
| Agency phone | 202-442-4400 |
What a District of Columbia LLC costs in its first three years
First recurring filing assumed in year 3; state charges only.
| Year | Formation | Recurring filing | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $99 | $0 | $99 |
| Year 2 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Year 3 | $0 | $300 | $300 |
| Three-year state total | $399 | ||
Licensing and registration are separate
A D.C. company usually needs two things: an entity registration and a basic business license, and many activities also need a certificate of occupancy or a home occupation permit. The biennial report costs $300 and is due April 1, among the highest recurring fees in the country. D.C. is also one of the few jurisdictions that publishes its corporate register as open data with a CC BY 4.0 license, updated daily; see data downloads by state. If you are comparing D.C. with forming in neighboring Maryland or Virginia, remember a D.C.-based company formed elsewhere still registers in the District as a foreign entity.
Opening a business in the District
A typical new D.C. business forms or registers the entity in CorpOnline, then applies for a basic business license, which may require a certificate of occupancy for the space or a home occupation permit. The $300 biennial report is due April 1 every two years, so set a reminder at formation. If you are checking a D.C. company, the open dataset lets you see its file number, status, entity type and the years its reports were filed without logging in.
How District of Columbia compares with its neighbors
| State | LLC filing | Yearly upkeep | Report cycle | Reservation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $99 | $150 | Every 2 years | $50 |
| Maryland | $100 | $300 | Yearly | $25 |
| Virginia | $100 | $50 | Yearly | $10 |
| Delaware | $110 | $300 | Yearly | $75 |
Before you rely on a District of Columbia result
- Biennial reports cost $300 and are due April 1; the penalty for late filing is significant.
- A DC basic business license is separate from entity registration and requires a Certificate of Occupancy or home occupation permit for many activities.
Bulk District of Columbia business data
Free full register. Format: CSV, ArcGIS REST API, daily. DLCP Corporate Registration dataset, CC BY 4.0: file number, status, type, name, address, effective date, report years. No officers. Official source
Searching beyond District of Columbia
Registries next to District of Columbia: Maryland business search, Virginia business search, Delaware business search.
District of Columbia business search questions
How much does it cost to form an LLC in District of Columbia?
The state filing fee is $99. Articles of Organization. Keeping the LLC on file then averages $150 a year in state fees.
When is the District of Columbia annual report due?
District of Columbia calls it the biennial report. It costs $300, it is filed every 2 years, and it is due April 1 every two years.
Can I reserve a business name in District of Columbia?
Yes. A name reservation costs $50 and holds the name for 60 days.
Do I need an account to search D.C. businesses?
Yes, CorpOnline requires a free account. The District also publishes its corporate registration data as a free open dataset.
Is the District of Columbia business entity search free?
Yes. Searching the CorpOnline costs nothing. The DC Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection, Corporations Division charges only for certified copies and certificates of good standing.
Who keeps business records in District of Columbia?
The DC Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection, Corporations Division. Its business line is 202-442-4400, and its free search is the CorpOnline.
What number identifies a business in District of Columbia?
District of Columbia assigns each entity a file number. 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 District of Columbia businesses?
Yes. District of Columbia publishes its full business register free (CSV, ArcGIS REST API, daily). DLCP Corporate Registration dataset, CC BY 4.0: file number, status, type, name, address, effective date, report years. No officers.
Sources
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