How to search Massachusetts records
- Choose "Entity Name", "Identification Number", or "Individual Name" from the search page.
- Open "Filings" on the record to view and download each annual report.
- Check the "Merged into" or "Converted into" line before assuming an inactive name is free.
Open the official Massachusetts search
Massachusetts SOS, corporation and LLC search
Massachusetts Secretary of State Business Search
The Massachusetts Secretary of State business search is run by the Secretary of the Commonwealth, Corporations Division through its Corporations Division Business Entity Search. Related queries such as "MA SOS business search" reach the same free database. Search by name first, then reopen the record by its identification number so you are reading one exact entity. The step-by-step instructions above walk through the screens.
Massachusetts Entity Search
An entity search of the Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts expects an annual report yearly, a lapsed filing usually shows up as a status change before the entity is dissolved.
Massachusetts Corporation Search
A corporation search uses the same index as LLCs, so filter by entity type if the name is common. Searches typed as "mass corp 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.
Massachusetts LLC Lookup
Run the Massachusetts LLC lookup with the exact name, then note the identification number. Forming a Massachusetts LLC costs $500 and the annual report is $500. 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.
Massachusetts Business Name Search
A Massachusetts business name search shows names already on file, not names the state will accept. Massachusetts lets you hold a name for 60 days for $30. The name claim guide lists the checks to run before you file, including trademarks and DBA names. Massachusetts DBA certificates are filed with the city or town clerk where the business operates, not with the Corporations Division.
Massachusetts Business License Search
A Massachusetts 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.
Massachusetts UCC Search
UCC financing statements against Massachusetts businesses are filed with the Secretary of the Commonwealth. 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.
Massachusetts Tax ID Lookup
A Massachusetts tax ID can mean the federal EIN from the IRS or a state account number from the Massachusetts tax agency for sales or payroll tax. Neither appears in the business entity record. The EIN lookup covers the federal number; the state tax agency confirms its own accounts.
Among the most expensive states for small LLCs
Massachusetts charges $500 to form an LLC and $500 every year for the annual report, due on the formation anniversary. Corporations pay $125 for their annual report, much less than LLCs, which is one reason some small Massachusetts businesses choose to incorporate.
Massachusetts filing facts
| Record number | Identification number |
|---|---|
| LLC formation fee | $500. Certificate of Organization. |
| Recurring filing | Annual report, $500, yearly |
| Due | Anniversary date of organization |
| Name reservation | $30 for 60 days |
| Agency phone | 617-727-9640 |
What a Massachusetts LLC costs in its first three years
First recurring filing assumed in year 2; state charges only.
| Year | Formation | Recurring filing | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $500 | $0 | $500 |
| Year 2 | $0 | $500 | $500 |
| Year 3 | $0 | $500 | $500 |
| Three-year state total | $1,500 | ||
Search by person, and city-level DBAs
The Corporations Division search lets you look up records by individual name as well as entity name and ID number, useful when you know an owner and not the company. Check for merged into or converted into lines before assuming an inactive name is free. Trade names are not filed with the state at all: they go to the clerk of the city or town where the business operates, so a Massachusetts brand can be invisible in the state search; see DBA. The filed annual reports list managers, which helps any LLC lookup.
Is a Massachusetts LLC worth the cost?
At $500 a year, a Massachusetts LLC costs about $1,500 in state fees over three years. Some owners form elsewhere to save money, but a company operating in Massachusetts must still register as a foreign LLC and pay Massachusetts fees, so forming elsewhere usually adds cost instead of saving it. The savings only exist if the company truly does not do business in Massachusetts.
How Massachusetts compares with its neighbors
| State | LLC filing | Yearly upkeep | Report cycle | Reservation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $500 | $500 | Yearly | $30 |
| New Hampshire | $100 | $100 | Yearly | $15 |
| Rhode Island | $150 | $450 | Yearly | $50 |
| Connecticut | $120 | $80 | Yearly | $60 |
Before you rely on a Massachusetts result
- Massachusetts DBAs are filed with the city or town clerk where the business operates.
- Corporations pay $125 for their annual report, much less than LLCs.
Bulk Massachusetts business data
Not offered.
Searching beyond Massachusetts
Registries next to Massachusetts: New Hampshire business search, Rhode Island business search, Connecticut business search.
Massachusetts business search questions
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Massachusetts?
The state filing fee is $500. Certificate of Organization. Keeping the LLC on file then averages $500 a year in state fees.
When is the Massachusetts annual report due?
Massachusetts calls it the annual report. It costs $500, it is filed yearly, and it is due anniversary date of organization.
Can I reserve a business name in Massachusetts?
Yes. A name reservation costs $30 and holds the name for 60 days.
Why is a Massachusetts LLC so expensive?
Both the formation filing and the annual report cost $500, so an LLC pays $500 every year to stay on file.
Is the Massachusetts business entity search free?
Yes. Searching the Corporations Division Business Entity Search costs nothing. The Secretary of the Commonwealth, Corporations Division charges only for certified copies and certificates of good standing.
Who keeps business records in Massachusetts?
The Secretary of the Commonwealth, Corporations Division. Its business line is 617-727-9640, and its free search is the Corporations Division Business Entity Search.
What number identifies a business in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts assigns each entity an identification 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 Massachusetts businesses?
No bulk download is offered. Individual records can still be searched for free.
Sources
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