How to search Kentucky records
- Search by name or organization number; the "Assumed Names" link on each record lists DBAs used by that entity.
- Read "Standing" alongside "Status". Kentucky can show Active status while standing is bad for a missed report.
- Click "Images" to see filed annual reports with the officers listed.
Open the official Kentucky search
Kentucky SOS, corporation and LLC search
Kentucky Secretary of State Business Search
The Kentucky Secretary of State business search is run by the Kentucky Secretary of State, Division of Business Filings through its Business Entity Search. Related queries such as "KY SOS business search" reach the same free database. Search by name first, then reopen the record by its organization number so you are reading one exact entity. The step-by-step instructions above walk through the screens.
Kentucky Entity Search
An entity search of the Kentucky 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 Kentucky expects an annual report yearly, a lapsed filing usually shows up as a status change before the entity is dissolved.
Kentucky Corporation Search
A corporation search uses the same index as LLCs, so filter by entity type if the name is common. Searches typed as "Kentucky company 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.
Kentucky LLC Search
Run the Kentucky LLC search with the exact name, then note the organization number. Forming a Kentucky LLC costs $40 and the annual report is $15. 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.
KY Business Name Search
A KY business name search shows names already on file, not names the state will accept. Kentucky lets you hold a name for 120 days for $15. The name claim guide lists the checks to run before you file, including trademarks and DBA names.
Kentucky Business License Search
A Kentucky 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.
Kentucky UCC Search
UCC financing statements against Kentucky businesses are filed with the Secretary of 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.
Status and standing are separate lines
Kentucky records show status and standing on two separate lines. An entity can be Active while its standing is Bad because of a missed annual report, so read both before relying on a result. Annual reports cost $15 and are due between January 1 and June 30, a long and forgiving window.
Kentucky filing facts
| Record number | Organization number |
|---|---|
| LLC formation fee | $40. Articles of Organization. |
| Recurring filing | Annual report, $15, yearly |
| Due | Between January 1 and June 30 |
| Name reservation | $15 for 120 days |
| Agency phone | 502-564-3490 |
What a Kentucky LLC costs in its first three years
First recurring filing assumed in year 2; state charges only.
| Year | Formation | Recurring filing | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $40 | $0 | $40 |
| Year 2 | $0 | $15 | $15 |
| Year 3 | $0 | $15 | $15 |
| Three-year state total | $70 | ||
A second tax most owners miss
Kentucky LLCs and corporations also owe the limited liability entity tax to the Department of Revenue, with a $175 minimum, separate from anything paid to the Secretary of State. The entity search will not show it. The record does link assumed names used by each entity and images of annual reports listing officers, which makes Kentucky useful for finding who runs a company. For a fuller check of a Kentucky company, follow how to verify a business.
Confirming a Kentucky company is current
Search the organization, then compare the Status and Standing lines. If standing is bad, open the images to see which annual report is missing. For a full picture, also ask the company for a Department of Revenue tax clearance, because the limited liability entity tax is not shown on the Secretary of State record.
How Kentucky compares with its neighbors
| State | LLC filing | Yearly upkeep | Report cycle | Reservation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | $40 | $15 | Yearly | $15 |
| Tennessee | $300 | $300 | Yearly | $20 |
| Ohio | $99 | $0 | None | $39 |
| Indiana | $95 | $15.50 | Every 2 years | $10 |
Before you rely on a Kentucky result
- Annual reports are due by June 30, and administrative dissolution follows if they are missed.
- Kentucky LLCs also register with the Department of Revenue for the limited liability entity tax.
Bulk Kentucky business data
Sold by the state.
Searching beyond Kentucky
Registries next to Kentucky: Tennessee business search, Ohio business search, Indiana business search.
Kentucky business search questions
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Kentucky?
The state filing fee is $40. Articles of Organization. Keeping the LLC on file then averages $15 a year in state fees.
When is the Kentucky annual report due?
Kentucky calls it the annual report. It costs $15, it is filed yearly, and it is due between January 1 and June 30.
Can I reserve a business name in Kentucky?
Yes. A name reservation costs $15 and holds the name for 120 days.
What is the Kentucky limited liability entity tax?
A Department of Revenue tax on LLCs and corporations with a $175 minimum, separate from the $15 annual report filed with the Secretary of State.
Is the Kentucky business entity search free?
Yes. Searching the Business Entity Search costs nothing. The Kentucky Secretary of State, Division of Business Filings charges only for certified copies and certificates of good standing.
Who keeps business records in Kentucky?
The Kentucky Secretary of State, Division of Business Filings. Its business line is 502-564-3490, and its free search is the Business Entity Search.
What number identifies a business in Kentucky?
Kentucky assigns each entity an organization 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 Kentucky businesses?
Only by buying it.
Sources
Data Updated Recently