California Business Entity Search Explained by a Legal Pro

Every business in California leaves a paper trail—and the California Business Entity Search is where that trail begins.
Whether you’re a private investigator, journalist, business owner, legal professional, or simply a curious individual, the California Secretary of State’s BizFile Online search tool offers free, immediate access to a wealth of public business data. This article walks you through what the database is, how to use it effectively (including Advanced Search tips), and how to make sense of the information it provides.

What Is the California Business Entity Search?

The California Business Entity Search is an official online database maintained by the California Secretary of State. It contains essential registration and filing data for over 17 million business entities operating or registered in California, including:

• Corporations (e.g., C-Corps, S-Corps)
• Limited Liability Companies (LLCs)
• Limited Partnerships (LPs)

It includes digital access to scanned official filings, such as the latest Statements of Information, and allows users to request status certificates directly through the interface.

What You Won’t Find

Currently, the system does not include:

• General Partnerships (GPs)
• Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs) (such as law firms, architecture firms, CPAs)

For these, you must file a Business Entities Order Request manually (paper form only).

How to Perform a Basic Search in the California Business Entity Search

The easiest way to begin is with the Basic Search function:

• Go to bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov
• Enter either the entity name or the entity/file number (without the “C” prefix for corporations)

This type of search returns only active entities. It’s useful when looking up current operational status, addresses, or checking if a business name is in use. By default, it searches for entities whose names contain your keyword(s).

Example Use Case:

You’re hiring a small construction firm called “Sunrise Builders” and want to verify its legitimacy. A Basic Search for “Sunrise Builders” shows you active LLCs and corporations with similar names, their formation dates, and agent information.

Advanced Search in the California Business Entity Search: Unlocking More Powerful Filtering

To explore beyond just active entities—say, to find suspended companies, nonprofits, or out-of-state associations—you’ll need to use the Advanced Search.

Advanced Search Filters Explained

As shown in the user interface, the following filters are available:

1. Search Filter

• Contains (Keywords): The default mode, useful when you’re not sure of the exact name
• Starts with: Helpful when tracking a group of related entities or franchises

2. Search Type

• Entity Information Search (default)
• Publicly Traded Disclosure Search (for transparency filings)

3. Entity Type

Choose from:

• All Corporations
• Domestic Nonprofits
• Foreign LLCs
• Mutual Benefit Corporations
  …and others

4. Status

Includes Active, Dissolved, Canceled, Suspended, and Merged statuses

5. Initial Filing Date Range

Useful for research on trends, waves of incorporation, or due diligence in mergers/acquisitions

Practical Tip

Search results are capped at 500 results. If your entity isn’t showing up, narrow your search criteria using Advanced Search.

Understanding the Search Results in the California Business Entity Search

Once you’ve entered your query, you’ll receive a list of matching entities, each with:

• Entity Name (clickable)
• Entity Type (e.g., LLC, Corporation)
• Status (Active, Suspended, etc.)
• Formed In (e.g., CA or another state)
• Agent for Service of Process

Clicking on an entity name reveals detailed information, including:

Entity Details Panel

• Initial Filing Date
• Formation State
• SOS Status
• FTB (Franchise Tax Board) Standing
• Agent & Agent Standing
• VCFCF Standing (Victims of Corporate Fraud Compensation Fund)
• Statement of Information due date
• Principal and Mailing Address
• Registered (1505) Agent Employee(s), if applicable
• Option to Request Certificate (PDF or mailed)
• Access to Filing History and Request Access options

Common Use Cases for the California Business Entity Search

1. Legal & Compliance Checks

Attorneys verifying the standing of opposing or client companies before litigation

2. Business Due Diligence

Investors reviewing entity structure, formation history, and state compliance

3. Media Investigations

Journalists tracing ownership through agent names and filing history

4. Brand or Trademark Clearance

Entrepreneurs checking name availability or conflicting registrations (though this tool is not for official name reservations)

Limitations and Disclaimers

• The database is updated as filings are approved but is not a real-time or certified record
• Results are limited to the 500 closest matches
• Name reservation must be done separately via the Secretary of State’s “Entity Name Reservation” form “All information is provided ‘as is’ without warranty,” as clearly stated in the database disclaimer.

If you need certified copies or a Certificate of Status:

1. Locate the entity
2. Click “Request Certificate”
3. Complete the online form

Expert Tips for Navigating the Interface

• Use “Starts With” if you know the beginning of an entity’s name to narrow down results
• Always verify Standing – FTB to check tax compliance
• If researching out-of-state companies registered in CA, filter by Formed In
• Check “Statement of Information Due Date” to see if a company is in good administrative standing

Final Thoughts

The California Business Entity Search is a powerful public access tool that helps maintain transparency in the state’s business environment. While it may not cover every type of business structure (like LLPs or GPs), it serves as an invaluable resource for verifying legitimacy, checking compliance, and conducting deeper due diligence.

References

• California Secretary of State Business Search: https://bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov/search/business
• UCC Online Help Guide (PDF): https://bpd.cdn.sos.ca.gov/ucc/ucc-online-help.pdf

Explore Other U.S. State Business Entity Databases (A–Z)

Below you can access detailed guides to official business entity search portals for each U.S. state and territory. Use the drop-down list to explore step-by-step instructions for accessing each database.