Virginia Business Entity Search: What Most People Overlook

Introduction: Why Every Business Lookup in Virginia Starts Here

Are you checking to see if a Virginia-based business is active? Or you are starting your own business and want to check availability of name? The Virginia Business Entity Search feature maintained by the State Corporation Commission (SCC) allows you access to a public database, with a few clicks, about legally binding statuses of LLC’s, corporations, partnerships, and more operating within the Commonwealth of Virginia.

In this article, we’ll describe how it works, advanced search options, a description of the type of business information that can be used, and why it is important for due diligence, legal compliance, and strategic analysis.

What Is the Virginia Business Entity Search?

The Virginia SCC Business Entity Search is a government-run, publicly-accessible online service which allows you to search for the registered business entities. No matter if you are an owner, investor, attorney, journalist, or concerned citizen, this tool provides you access to official live corporate records, including LLCs, corporations, and business entities registered in Virginia.

This is an official government database, unlike private platforms, directly updated by the SCC so is completely free to use.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Use the Virginia Business Entity Search

Basic Search Interface

The search tool allows you to look up businesses using any of the following fields:

• Entity Name (with matching options like Starts With, Contains, etc.)
• Entity ID
• Filing Number
• Principal Name (individual or entity)
• Registered Agent Name
• Designee Name

💡 Pro Tip: If you’re unsure of the exact spelling of a business name, use the “Contains” option in the dropdown to cast a wider net.

How It Works in Practice

1. Go to the Entity Search page
2. Type a known business name, for example, “Blue Ridge Technologies”
3. Choose a matching option (Starts With is default)
4. Hit Search

Within seconds, the results list will appear.

What You See in the Virginia Business Entity Search Results

Each search result contains:

• Entity ID
• Entity Name
• Name Type
• Series Type / Series LLC
• Principal Office Address
• Registered Agent (RA) Name
• Status (e.g., Active, Terminated, Canceled)

Clicking the Entity ID opens a full business profile with extensive details.

What You’ll Find Using the Virginia Business Entity Search Profile

When you click into an entity record, here’s what’s available:

1. Entity Information

• Entity Name and Type (LLC, Corporation, etc.)
• Formation Date
• Jurisdiction (Domestic or Foreign)
• Industry Code (NAICS)
• Registration Fee Due Date
• Annual Report Due Date
• Entity Status and Status Reason
• Period of Duration

2. Registered Agent Information

• Agent Type and Qualification
• Full Name
• Registered Office Address
• Locality (City or County)

3. Principal Office Address

• Full street address of the primary business location

4. Filing History

• List of key documents filed (e.g., Articles of Organization, Annual Reports)

5. RA History

• All past registered agents with dates

6. Name History

• All name changes with timestamps

7. Other Sections

• Previous Registrations
• Protected Series
• Garnishment Designees
• Image Request (to request scanned document copies)

Advanced Search Options in the Virginia Business Entity Search: Power Tools for Professionals

Clicking on Advanced Search Options opens a more granular search panel, ideal for legal professionals or investigators doing in-depth corporate research.

You can filter by:

• Entity Type (LLC, Corporation, LP, etc.)
• Document Type
• Jurisdiction Type (Domestic or Foreign)
• Entity Status (Active, Inactive, Pending, etc.)
• Name Type (Legal, Trade, etc.)
• Industry Code
• Date of Formation (From / To)

There are also options to include only records with a Principal Office Address or Registered Office Address.

🧠 This is particularly useful if you’re filtering hundreds of records for compliance screening or merger/acquisition research.

Practical Use Cases for the Virginia Business Entity Search

Here’s how professionals use the Virginia Business Entity Search in real life:

• Lawyers verifying legal status and agent info before serving legal documents
• Regulators checking if a business meets compliance deadlines
• Journalists digging into corporate connections for investigative reporting
• Job seekers checking if a potential employer is registered and legitimate
• Startups making sure their business name doesn’t conflict with existing entities

If you’re researching broader corporate filings, you may also want to cross-reference with the EDGAR database for SEC-registered companies or check intellectual property through the USPTO Trademark Database.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How to look up a Virginia LLC?

Go to https://cis.scc.virginia.gov/EntitySearch/Index, enter the company name under “Entity Name,” select “Starts With” or “Contains,” and click “Search.”

Is the VA SCC entity search free to use?

Yes. It’s a 100% free public resource provided by the Virginia State Corporation Commission.

How to check if a business is legit in Virginia?

Use the search tool to check for an active status, valid registered agent, and current filings like annual reports.

How can I find out who owns a company in Virginia?

Check the Registered Agent and Principal Name fields, but note: private ownership details are not always publicly disclosed.

Can you look up who owns a business?

In many cases, yes—especially for smaller businesses that list individual owners as principals or agents. For anonymous LLCs, ownership might remain private.

How much is an LLC in Virginia?

As of 2025, the filing fee for forming a Virginia LLC is $100, and the annual registration fee is typically $50. Check the SCC site for updates.

Expert Tips for Effective Searching in the Virginia Business Entity Search

• Use wildcards or broader match settings if you’re unsure of the exact name
• For compliance work, always check the Filing History tab
• Track Annual Report Due Dates for ongoing obligations
• If researching multiple businesses, download filing images via the Image Request tab

Conclusion: Why the Virginia Business Entity Search Matters

If you’re performing due diligence or simply seeking reassurance before you become involved in a business relationship, the Virginia Business Entity Search is an important starting point. The scope, transparency, and access to the Virginia Business Entity Search make it one of the most notable state-level business databases in the United States.

While it does not take the place of a lawyer or investigative tools, it provides the average user with real-time business transparency to check on if a business is legitimate or not, for free.

Sources and References

• Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) – Entity Search Portal
• EDGAR Database Guide – TheDatabaseSearch.com
• How to Search the USPTO Trademark Database – TheDatabaseSearch.com

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.