How to search Washington records
- Search CCFS by business name or UBI number.
- Use the Department of Revenue business lookup for trade names and license status.
- The record lists governors (Washington's term for LLC managers or members) from the last annual report.
Open the official Washington search
Washington SOS, corporation and LLC search
Washington Secretary of State Business Search
The Washington Secretary of State business search is run by the Washington Secretary of State, Corporations and Charities Division through its CCFS Business Search. Related queries such as "Washington SOS business search" reach the same free database. Search by name first, then reopen the record by its UBI number so you are reading one exact entity. The step-by-step instructions above walk through the screens.
Washington Entity Search
An entity search of the Washington 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 Washington expects an annual report yearly, a lapsed filing usually shows up as a status change before the entity is dissolved.
Washington State Corporation Search
A corporation search uses the same index as LLCs, so filter by entity type if the name is common. Searches typed as "Washington 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.
Washington LLC Search
Run the Washington LLC search with the exact name, then note the UBI number. Forming a Washington LLC costs $200 and the annual report is $60. 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.
Washington Business Name Search
A Washington business name search shows names already on file, not names the state will accept. Washington lets you hold a name for 180 days for $30. The name claim guide lists the checks to run before you file, including trademarks and DBA names. Washington trade names are registered through the Department of Revenue Business Licensing Service, not the Secretary of State.
Washington State Business License Search
Washington issues business licenses through the Department of Revenue's Business Licensing Service, separate from the Secretary of State's CCFS entity record. Both use the same UBI number, so one number finds both records. For other checks, see the business verification checklist.
Washington UCC Search
UCC financing statements against Washington businesses are filed with the Department of Licensing, not 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.
Washington Tax ID Lookup
A Washington tax ID can mean the federal EIN from the IRS or a state account number from the Washington 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.
The UBI ties state agencies together
Washington identifies every business with a nine-digit UBI number shared across state agencies, including the Department of Revenue. The Secretary of State's CCFS system holds the entity record and lists governors, Washington's term for LLC managers or members, from the last annual report.
Washington filing facts
| Record number | UBI number |
|---|---|
| LLC formation fee | $200. Certificate of Formation. |
| Recurring filing | Annual report, $60, yearly |
| Due | Last day of the anniversary month |
| Name reservation | $30 for 180 days |
| Agency phone | 360-725-0377 |
What a Washington LLC costs in its first three years
First recurring filing assumed in year 2; state charges only.
| Year | Formation | Recurring filing | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $200 | $0 | $200 |
| Year 2 | $0 | $60 | $60 |
| Year 3 | $0 | $60 | $60 |
| Three-year state total | $320 | ||
Trade names and taxes live at Revenue
Trade names in Washington are registered through the Department of Revenue business licensing system, not the Secretary of State; see DBA. Washington has no income tax but levies a Business and Occupation tax on gross receipts. The free corporations data extract was retired in August 2024, and state law limits lists of individuals for commercial use; see data downloads by state.
Using the UBI across agencies
Because the UBI is shared, you can take it from the Secretary of State record and look up the same business's licenses and trade names at the Department of Revenue. That makes Washington one of the easier states for connecting a brand to its legal owner.
How Washington compares with its neighbors
| State | LLC filing | Yearly upkeep | Report cycle | Reservation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $200 | $60 | Yearly | $30 |
| Oregon | $100 | $100 | Yearly | $100 |
| Idaho | $100 | $0 | Yearly | $20 |
| Alaska | $250 | $100 | Every 2 years | $25 |
Before you rely on a Washington result
- Washington does not tax income but does levy a Business and Occupation tax on gross receipts.
- Trade names must be registered through the state business licensing system, not the Secretary of State.
Bulk Washington business data
Not offered. The free Corporations Data Extract was retired on August 30, 2024. RCW 42.56.070(8) bars lists of individuals for commercial use.
Searching beyond Washington
Registries next to Washington: Oregon business search, Idaho business search, Alaska business search.
Washington business search questions
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Washington?
The state filing fee is $200. Certificate of Formation. Keeping the LLC on file then averages $60 a year in state fees.
When is the Washington annual report due?
Washington calls it the annual report. It costs $60, it is filed yearly, and it is due last day of the anniversary month.
Can I reserve a business name in Washington?
Yes. A name reservation costs $30 and holds the name for 180 days.
What is a UBI number in Washington?
A nine-digit Unified Business Identifier used by the Secretary of State, Department of Revenue and other agencies for the same business.
Is the Washington business entity search free?
Yes. Searching the CCFS Business Search costs nothing. The Washington Secretary of State, Corporations and Charities Division charges only for certified copies and certificates of good standing.
Who keeps business records in Washington?
The Washington Secretary of State, Corporations and Charities Division. Its business line is 360-725-0377, and its free search is the CCFS Business Search.
What number identifies a business in Washington?
Washington assigns each entity an UBI 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 Washington businesses?
No bulk download is offered. The free Corporations Data Extract was retired on August 30, 2024. RCW 42.56.070(8) bars lists of individuals for commercial use. Individual records can still be searched for free.
Sources
Data Updated Recently