LLC lookup: how to search and find an LLC

How to find an LLC by name

An LLC search, which some sites call an LLC finder or limited liability company lookup, runs in the register of the state where the LLC was formed, or where it registered to do business. If you do not know the state, the nationwide search guide shows how to find it.

LLC name lookup tips

• Leave out "LLC", "L.L.C." and "Limited Liability Company"; states store these endings differently.
• Search the most unusual word in the name first, then narrow the list.
• If a name you expected is missing, the business may be a corporation or partnership, so search without any ending at all.

LLC search by number or agent

Once you have the state ID from a contract, invoice or license, search by number to get exactly one record. A few states, including Florida, also let you search by registered agent or officer name.

How to check LLC status

The status field answers most questions on its own. Active or in existence means the LLC is on file and current; delinquent, forfeited or not in good standing means a report or tax payment is overdue; revoked, cancelled or dissolved means the LLC no longer exists as an active company. When you need proof for a bank or contract, order a certificate of good standing from the state rather than relying on a screenshot.

Five fields to read on any LLC record

1. Exact legal name. Compare it with the name on the contract or invoice. A one-word difference can be a different company.
2. Status. Active, delinquent, revoked or dissolved. Some states show standing separately from status.
3. Formation date and jurisdiction. A recently formed LLC claiming years of experience is worth questioning.
4. Registered agent. If it is a commercial agent service, the owners have chosen to keep their address private. See registered agent.
5. Last report filed. Shows whether anyone is maintaining the company.

How to see who owns an LLC

LLC owners are usually set out in the private operating agreement, not in state filings. Some states still collect names on their reports.

LLC owner lookup: legal ways to find members

• Read the organizer or authorized signer on the formation document image, which many states provide free.
• Check older annual reports. Owners sometimes listed themselves before switching to an agent service.
• Search county property and UCC lien records; lenders and deeds often name a member who signed.
• Look up any state or local business license, which can list a responsible person.
• In a lawsuit, ask for disclosure through discovery or the court's corporate disclosure rules.

The federal beneficial ownership database run by FinCEN is not open to the public, and U.S.-formed companies have been exempt from reporting to it since March 2025.

For corporations, public companies and nonprofits, the business owner lookup guide lists where owners are named. If the LLC is registered in several states, start with the home state; the nationwide search guide explains how to find it. To vet the company more fully, follow the business verification checklist.