Does the California business entity search include DBAs?

No. Fictitious business names (DBAs) are filed and searched at the county level with the county clerk, not the Secretary of State. The bizfile Online search covers LLCs, corporations, and limited partnerships registered with the state.

California Business Entity Search: Free SOS Lookup (2026)

Q: How do I search California business entities?

Use the California Secretary of State's bizfile Online business search. Enter a business name or 7-digit entity number to see the entity's status, formation date, jurisdiction, and agent for service of process. The search is free.

Q: Is the California business entity search free?

Yes. Searching and viewing basic entity records on bizfile Online is free. Ordering certified copies or a Certificate of Status carries a fee, such as $5 for a Certificate of Status from the Secretary of State.

Q: What does an entity status of Active, Suspended, or FTB Suspended mean?

Active means the entity is in good standing with the Secretary of State. Suspended or FTB Suspended means the entity lost its powers, usually for unfiled Statements of Information or unpaid franchise tax, and it must be revived before it can legally operate.

Q: Can I check if a business name is available in California?

The business search helps you see whether a name is already in use, but the Secretary of State makes the final distinguishability determination when you file. You can also reserve an available name for 60 days for a $10 fee.

Fact-checked by the LegalGlass editorial team against primary sources · Published Aug 6, 2026 · Last updated Aug 6, 2026

You search California business entities for free on the Secretary of State's bizfile Online business search. Enter a business name or the 7-digit entity number to see an LLC or corporation's status, formation date, jurisdiction, and agent for service of process. Viewing records is free; a Certificate of Status costs $5.

Quick Answer

Tool: bizfile Online business search (California Secretary of State)
Cost: Free to search and view basic records
Search by: Entity name or 7-digit entity number
Shows: Status, formation date, jurisdiction, agent for service of process
Certificate of Status: $5, ordered from the Secretary of State
Not included: County DBAs and fictitious business names

What the California Business Entity Search Is

The California business entity search is the free public lookup tool the California Secretary of State runs on its bizfile Online portal. It lets anyone confirm that an LLC, corporation, or limited partnership is registered with the state, check its current standing, and view basic public filing information. It is the authoritative record for entities registered at the state level, and it is the same database the Secretary of State uses to decide whether a proposed name is available when you file Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1).

The search covers entities that register with the state - domestic and foreign LLCs, corporations, and limited partnerships. It does not cover sole proprietorships, general partnerships, or fictitious business names (DBAs), which are handled by county clerks rather than the state.

How to Run the Search Step by Step

Using the tool takes about a minute:

Open bizfile Online. Go to the Secretary of State's business search page.
Choose your search type. Search by entity name, entity number, or keyword. A name search is best when you do not know the exact number.
Enter the term. For a name, partial matches work; for a number, use the 7-digit entity number (corporations often begin with "C" and LLCs with a numeric string).
Open the entity record. Click the matching result to view status, entity type, formation or registration date, jurisdiction, and the agent for service of process.
View or order documents. You can view many imaged filings, and order certified copies or a Certificate of Status for a fee.

If your business does not appear, confirm the exact spelling, try the entity number, and make sure the filing has finished processing - newly filed entities appear once the Secretary of State completes review. See the Statement of Information for how to keep your record current.

What the Search Results Show

Each entity record on bizfile Online includes several public data fields:

Field	What it tells you
Entity name	The exact legal name on file with the state
Entity number	The unique 7-digit identifier assigned at registration
Status	Active, Suspended, FTB Suspended, Canceled, Dissolved, or Forfeited
Entity type	LLC, corporation, or limited partnership; domestic or foreign
Formation / registration date	When the entity was created or qualified in California
Jurisdiction	California or the home state/country of a foreign entity
Agent for service of process	Who accepts legal service for the entity

Home and mailing addresses and the roster of managers or officers come from the entity's most recent Statement of Information, so they are only as current as the last filing.

Reading Entity Status: Active vs Suspended

Status is the field most people care about. Active means the entity is properly registered and has not been suspended. Suspended or FTB Suspended means the entity has lost its powers, rights, and privileges - most often because it failed to file a required Statement of Information with the Secretary of State or failed to pay franchise tax to the Franchise Tax Board. A suspended entity cannot legally sue, defend a lawsuit, or enter enforceable contracts until it is revived.

Canceled, Dissolved, and Forfeited mean the entity has ended or lost its registration. If you are entering a contract or lending money, an "Active" status plus a current Statement of Information is the baseline check. To confirm official good standing you can order a Certificate of Status; to confirm tax standing separately, the Franchise Tax Board issues a business entity status letter.

Why People Use the Entity Search

The tool serves several practical purposes:

Name checking before you file Articles of Organization or reserve a name.
Due diligence on a vendor, customer, landlord, or acquisition target.
Finding an agent for service of process to serve a lawsuit on a company.
Confirming your own entity is Active and your agent for service of process is correct.
Verifying a foreign entity has properly qualified to do business in California.

Because it is free and authoritative, it is a better first stop than commercial data brokers, which often show stale information and sometimes charge for records that the state provides at no cost. Lenders, title companies, and counterparties routinely pull the state record before signing, and it is common to attach a screenshot or a Certificate of Status to a contract file. For the broader formation picture, see how to form an LLC in California, and remember that an entity being registered says nothing about whether it holds the local licenses its industry requires.

Certificates and Certified Copies

Viewing records is free, but official documents cost money. A Certificate of Status (also called a certificate of good standing) confirms the entity exists and is in good standing; the Secretary of State charges $5 for it. Certified copies of filed documents, such as your Articles of Organization, carry a certification fee plus per-page copy charges. Banks, lenders, and other states often require a Certificate of Status when you open accounts or register your California LLC to do business elsewhere. Order these through the Secretary of State's business records request process, and confirm current amounts on the fee schedule.

What the Search Does Not Cover

The state entity search has real limits. It does not include fictitious business names (DBAs), which are filed with county clerks - see California DBA filing. It does not show local business licenses, seller's permits issued by the CDTFA, or professional licenses issued by state licensing boards. It also is not a substitute for a trademark search: an available entity name does not mean the name is free of trademark conflicts. For unregistered businesses like sole proprietorships, no state entity record exists at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I search California business entities?

Use the Secretary of State's bizfile Online business search. Enter a business name or 7-digit entity number to see status, formation date, jurisdiction, and agent for service of process. The search is free.

Is the California business entity search free?

Yes. Searching and viewing basic records is free. Ordering a Certificate of Status ($5) or certified copies carries a fee.

What does Active, Suspended, or FTB Suspended mean?

Active means good standing with the Secretary of State. Suspended or FTB Suspended means the entity lost its powers, usually for unfiled Statements of Information or unpaid franchise tax, and must be revived before it can operate.

Can I check if a business name is available in California?

The search helps you see whether a name is in use, but the Secretary of State makes the final distinguishability call when you file. You can also reserve a name for 60 days for $10.

Does the entity search include DBAs?

No. Fictitious business names are filed and searched at the county level, not with the Secretary of State. See California DBA filing.

Sources

California Secretary of State - bizfile Online Business Search (search by name or entity number; view status and agent).
California Secretary of State - Business Entities Records Request (certified copies; Certificate of Status).
California Secretary of State - Business Entity Orders (order copies and certificates).
California Secretary of State - Business Entities Fee Schedule ($5 Certificate of Status).
California Secretary of State - Business Entity Name Availability (distinguishable name rule; 60-day, $10 reservation).
California Secretary of State - Statements of Information (source of address and management data).
California Secretary of State - Business Programs Division Processing Times (when new filings appear).
California Franchise Tax Board - Business Entity Status Letter (confirm tax standing).
California Franchise Tax Board - Limited Liability Company (suspension for unpaid franchise tax).
California Legislative Information - Corporations Code § 17701.08 (distinguishable-on-the-record name requirement).
California Legislative Information - Corporations Code § 17701.13 (agent for service of process).
California Legislative Information - Corporations Code § 17713.09 (suspension and revivor of powers).
IRS - Limited Liability Company (LLC) (federal tax treatment overview).

LegalGlass provides general information for educational purposes and is not a law firm or a substitute for advice from a licensed attorney or tax professional. Laws, fees, and thresholds change; verify current requirements with the California Secretary of State and Franchise Tax Board before acting.