New York Business Entity Search: DOS Database Guide (2026)

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

You run a New York business entity search for free in the Corporation and Business Entity Database maintained by the New York Department of State at apps.dos.ny.gov/publicInquiry. It returns each entity’s name, DOS ID number, status, date of formation, and county. A clear search is not a name reservation - that costs $20 for 60 days.

Quick Answer

Tool
Corporation and Business Entity Database
Agency
New York Department of State, Division of Corporations
Where
apps.dos.ny.gov/publicInquiry
Cost
Free to search
Returns
Name, DOS ID, status, formation date, county, service-of-process address
Name reservation
$20 for 60 days (separate filing)

What the New York Business Entity Search Is

The New York business entity search is the public window into the Corporation and Business Entity Database, the official register the New York Department of State, Division of Corporations keeps of every business entity formed in or authorized to do business in New York. It includes domestic and foreign LLCs, business and not-for-profit corporations, limited partnerships, and limited liability partnerships. Because filing the Articles of Organization or a certificate of incorporation is what creates an entity, the database is the authoritative record that the entity exists.

People use the search for several reasons: to confirm a company is really registered before doing business with it, to check whether a desired name is already taken before filing, to find the address the Secretary of State uses to forward legal process, and to look up an entity’s DOS ID number for a filing. The tool is a lookup, not a filing system - you cannot form an entity through it. For the national overview of these registries, see how to form an LLC.

The database is maintained under the Department of State’s recordkeeping duties for the documents it accepts, and it is the same underlying data the Department uses when it decides whether a proposed name is distinguishable. That is why a search here is the practical first step before nearly every corporate filing in New York: forming an entity, reserving a name, registering a foreign LLC to do business in the state, or ordering a certified copy for a closing. Lawyers, lenders, title companies, and vendors all rely on it to confirm that the party they are dealing with is a real, currently existing entity and to capture the exact legal name and DOS ID for their paperwork.

How to Search the Corporation and Business Entity Database

The search is straightforward and requires no account:

  1. Open the database at the Department of State’s public inquiry site, apps.dos.ny.gov/publicInquiry.
  2. Choose a search type. You can search by entity name or by DOS ID number. For names, you can match the exact name, a partial name, or names that begin with your term.
  3. Enter your term and, for a name search, pick whether to search active entities only or all entities including inactive ones.
  4. Review the results list and click an entity to open its detail record.
  5. Read the entity detail for status, formation date, county, and the address for service of process. Order a filed document or certificate if you need one.

Because New York’s name distinguishability rule under section 204 of the LLC Law is strict, search broadly - try partial matches and alternate spellings - before you commit to a name on your Articles of Organization.

What Information the Search Returns

Each entity detail page shows a consistent set of public fields. The exact fields depend on the entity type, but for an LLC or corporation you can expect:

FieldWhat it tells you
Entity nameThe exact registered legal name
DOS ID numberThe Department of State identifier used on filings
StatusActive or inactive (and the reason, such as dissolved)
Entity typeDomestic LLC, foreign corporation, LP, and so on
Date of initial filingWhen the entity was formed or authorized
County and jurisdictionNew York county of the office; home state for foreign entities
Service of process addressWhere the Secretary of State forwards legal papers
Registered agentListed only if the entity designated one (optional in New York)

The record does not show ownership or member names, because New York does not require those in the Articles of Organization. Member information lives in the private operating agreement, which is not filed with the state.

Checking Name Availability Before You File

A common use of the search is to test a proposed name. The database will tell you if an identical or closely similar name already exists, but three cautions apply. First, a clear result is not a reservation and not a guarantee of approval - the Department of State makes the final distinguishability call when you file. Second, the standard is distinguishability on the record, so small differences like punctuation or entity designators may not be enough to make two names distinguishable. Third, availability in the state register says nothing about federal trademark rights.

To actually hold a name, file an Application for Reservation of Name with the Department of State for a $20 fee, which reserves the name for 60 days and is renewable. If you also want brand protection, that is a separate trademark question, and you may still want a DBA (assumed name) if you will trade under a different name.

Getting Certified Copies and Certificates of Status

The free search is a lookup, not a certified record. When a bank, court, or counterparty requires official proof, the Department of State sells two documents. A certified copy of a filed document, such as the Articles of Organization, costs $10. A Certificate of Status - New York’s certificate of good standing, confirming the entity exists and is active - costs $25. You order both from the Department of State, and expedited handling is available for an added fee.

These certificates are often needed to register the entity as a foreign LLC in another state, to open certain bank accounts, or to close a financing. Keep your Biennial Statement current so the entity shows as active when you order a Certificate of Status.

Reading an Entity’s Status and History

The single most useful field on an entity detail page is the status, but it rewards careful reading. An Active status means the entity has not been dissolved, merged out of existence, or had its authority revoked - it does not, by itself, mean the entity has filed every Biennial Statement or paid its taxes. An Inactive status is followed by a reason code such as dissolution by proclamation (often for unpaid taxes), voluntary dissolution, merger, or surrender of authority by a foreign entity. Knowing the reason tells you whether the entity simply closed, was shut down by the state, or was absorbed into another company.

The record also carries a short filing history: the date of the initial filing, any name changes, and the most recent Biennial Statement or amendment. When you are vetting a counterparty, cross-check the initial filing date against how long they claim to have been in business, and confirm the exact legal name - not just the trade name - so contracts and invoices name the right party. If the entity trades under a different brand, that brand should appear as a separate assumed name filing, which corporations record with the county clerk or the Department of State depending on entity type. For a New York LLC, ownership still will not appear, because members are governed only by the private operating agreement.

Limits of the Free Search

Understanding what the database does not do prevents costly mistakes. It is not proof of good standing on its own, does not show tax status with the New York Tax Department, does not list members or owners, and does not confirm that a name is legally clear to use as a brand. It also reflects only what has been filed and processed, so a very recent formation may not appear immediately. For anything that needs to be relied on in a transaction, order the certified document rather than a screenshot of the search. Compare New York’s register with another state’s at Florida business entity search.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do I search for a New York business entity?

In the Department of State’s Corporation and Business Entity Database at apps.dos.ny.gov/publicInquiry. It is free and covers corporations, LLCs, LPs, and LLPs.

Is the New York business entity search free?

Yes. Searching is free. You pay only for a certified copy ($10) or a Certificate of Status ($25) from the Department of State.

What information does the New York entity search show?

Entity name, DOS ID, status, type, formation date, county, jurisdiction, any registered agent, and the service-of-process address. It does not list owners or members.

Can I check if a business name is available in New York?

The search shows whether a name is in use, but it is not a reservation or a guarantee. File an Application for Reservation of Name ($20) to hold a name for 60 days.

Does the search prove a company is in good standing?

No. It shows active or inactive status. For proof of good standing, order a Certificate of Status for $25 from the Department of State.

Related

Sources

  1. New York Department of State - Corporation and Business Entity Database (free search).
  2. New York Department of State - About the entity database.
  3. New York Department of State - Name availability (reservation not guaranteed).
  4. New York Department of State - Certificate of Status ($25).
  5. New York Department of State - Copies of documents ($10 certified copy).
  6. New York Department of State - Biennial Statement ($9).
  7. NY Limited Liability Company Law - § 204, Name; distinguishability.
  8. NY Limited Liability Company Law - § 203, Articles of Organization.
  9. NY Business Corporation Law - § 301, Corporate name requirements.
  10. Justia - New York LLC Law § 204.
  11. New York State Tax Department - Businesses (tax status is separate).
  12. IRS - Get an Employer Identification Number (free EIN).
  13. Cornell Legal Information Institute - Limited liability company (LLC).

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 database features change; verify current details with the New York Department of State before acting.