Many people are questioning who owns a Delaware LLC, or if a name is even available. What you already know is that Delaware is a known corporate haven all over the world, but identifying who owns a company and identifying what is legally active can often feel like a black box, fortunately, the Delaware Business Entity Search tool will help to provide insight behind the curtain and inside the black box. In this guide, I will show you how to use the Delaware Business Entity Search tool, what data you can (and cannot) access, and the things to be careful about.
Why Delaware?
Prior to engaging with the search tool, you need to understand why Delaware is significant. Delaware is home to over 1 million business entities, more than 66% of which are Fortune 500 companies. This is due to Delaware’s:
- Business-friendly legal environment
- Strong corporate privacy protections
- Specialized Court of Chancery for business disputes
But with privacy comes opacity. Most Delaware entities, especially LLCs, do not publicly disclose ownership information. Still, you can find a surprising amount of useful data using the official search tool—if you know what you’re looking for.
What Is the Delaware Business Entity Search?
The Delaware Business Entity Search is an online database from the Delaware Division of Corporations that allows you to look up basic public information about any Delaware registered business entity.
🔗 Official site: icis.corp.delaware.gov
You can search using either:
- The Entity Name, or
- The File Number (assigned when the company registers)
When you conduct a search, you will see a results list that includes both active and inactive entities. Here’s the important part: just because a business is listed doesn’t mean it is currently active or in good standing.
What Information Can You Get for Free in the Delaware Business Entity Search?
When you click on a specific business name in the search results, you’re taken to a detail page that includes the following:
- Entity Name
- File Number
- Entity Type (LLC, Corporation, LP, etc.)
- Entity Kind (Domestic/Foreign)
- Residency
- Incorporation/Formation Date
- State of Jurisdiction
- Registered Agent Info:
- Name
- Address
- City, State, Zip
- Phone Number
- County (if available)
These data points can be invaluable for verifying business legitimacy, checking registration dates, and identifying the registered agent.
What’s Behind the Paywall?
Some crucial information is only available for a fee:
- Entity Status: $10.00
- More Detailed Reports (including franchise tax data, current filing history): $20.00
If you’re conducting due diligence or legal research, this additional info can be worth the price.
A Step-by-Step Delaware Business Entity Search Example
Let’s say you’re trying to verify “Blue Harbor Technologies LLC.”
- Visit icis.corp.delaware.gov
- Enter “Blue Harbor Technologies” in the Entity Name field
- Click “Search”
- Review the results. Let’s say you see one matching entity with a unique File Number.
- Click the entity name for more details, such as:
- Formation Date: 05/14/2019
- Entity Type: LLC
- Registered Agent: Harvard Business Services, Inc.
At this point, you’ve confirmed that the business exists, when it was formed, and who handles their legal notices.
What You Won’t Find
Here’s what the Delaware tool doesn’t show you for free:
- Business owners or members (especially in LLCs)
- Tax filings or compliance details
- Operating agreements or bylaws
If you’re trying to find the true owner of a Delaware LLC, you’ll likely hit a wall. That’s by design. Delaware law allows significant privacy for beneficial owners—one reason it remains attractive to investors, holding companies, and even startups.
Practical Use Cases
This database is widely used by:
- Lawyers and legal assistants verifying corporate status
- Investigative journalists researching shell companies
- Compliance teams checking incorporation dates or registered agents
- Small business owners checking name availability or verifying vendors
FAQ: Delaware Business Entity Search
How do I search for a business entity in Delaware?
Go to icis.corp.delaware.gov, enter the Entity Name or File Number, and click “Search.” The tool will list matching entities, including both active and inactive records.
Can I find out who owns a Delaware LLC?
No, Delaware does not require public disclosure of LLC ownership. The registered agent is listed, but not the members or managers.
How do I find my Delaware charter number?
Your charter number is entirely synonymous with your File Number, which is displayed on your entity’s detail page in the Business Entity Search tool.
How do I find out if a business name is available in Delaware?
You can check if a name is already taken by using the Business Entity Search. If there are no exact matches in the results, then it’s probably available, but always confirm with the Delaware Division of Corporations prior to registering.
Final Thoughts
While it may seem like a digital filing cabinet of sorts, the Delaware Business Entity Search is an invaluable source of transparency, particularly in a state notorious for corporate secrecy. Whether you are conducting background research or simply reviewing your own entity’s public presence, it offers important information, and it is a free database that is refreshed continuously.
However, to find out more than the basic information—like the current tax status or the owner information—you will have to pay. And in some cases, even paid searches won’t unlock the information you’re after. Welcome to Delaware.
If you’re looking to dive even deeper into public company data, our guide to the EDGAR Database is a great next step.
