Before you sign a contract or send a payment, ask yourself: Is this Maryland business even legit? If you’re not sure, then the one tool that can help save you from potentially harmful decisions is the Maryland Business Entity Search. This tool is your best resource—whether you are a careful consumer, a potential business partner, researcher, or journalist—against bad actors and generally a really useful place to start when looking for publicly available business data.
In this guide, we will look at how to use it in detail, what you can (and can’t) find with it, why it is important, and how it stacks up against other significant corporate databases.
What Is the Maryland Business Entity Search?
The Maryland Business Entity Search is an online database managed by the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT). It’s a publicly accessible official source of business registration information including who created a business, what kind of business, legal status, and all filings. The transparency of the information and accessibility of business registration information makes this database a great resource for transparency, compliance checks, investigative work, and due diligence.
You can use the Maryland Business Entity Search directly from the state’s Business Express portal where it allows you to look-up registered businesses by name or by Department ID.
Why Should You Use the Maryland Business Entity Search?
- Verify legitimacy before signing contracts or placing large orders
- Check a company’s standing before investing, partnering, or offering services
- Investigate suspicious entities as part of research, compliance, or journalism
- Understand a business’s structure and ownership
- Track tax and annual filing compliance
If you’re in finance, law, procurement, or journalism, this is one of those tools you should bookmark.
How to Use the Maryland Business Entity Search
Step 1: Go to the Maryland Business Entity Search Page
To begin your search, visit the official Maryland Business Entity Search portal, where you can look up business registrations, verify company status, and access filing histories.
Step 2: Choose Your Search Type
You can search in two ways:
- By Business Name
- By Department ID (if known)
Step 3: Review the Results
Each result shows:
- Business Name
- Department ID Number
- Entity Status
Clicking on a business name opens a full company profile.
What Information Can You Find in the Maryland Business Entity Search?
Once you click through to a business profile, you’ll find:
General Information
- Department ID Number
- Business Name
- Principal Office Address (no P.O. Boxes allowed)
- Resident Agent & Agent Address
- Business Status (Active / Forfeited, etc.)
- Good Standing status and reasons if not
- Business Type (LLC, Corp, etc.)
- Date of Formation / Registration
- State of Formation
- Stock/Close Status
Useful Tip: If a business is not in “Good Standing,” the reasons are disclosed, such as failure to file annual reports or pay taxes.
Filing History
- Each filing includes the document type, date filed, and clickable access to the actual document.
- Great for checking amendments, articles of incorporation, or dissolution forms.
Annual Report / Personal Property
You can find:
- Annual Report filing dates
- Penalty amounts and whether they were paid
- Assessment year and local tax base values
Practical Use Cases for the Maryland Business Entity Search
1. Due Diligence Before Partnering
Before partnering with a new vendor or co-founder, check their standing. Is their entity active? Are they current on taxes?
2. Media and Journalism
Reporters often use this database to confirm corporate ownership or find registration patterns across companies.
3. Legal and Compliance
Legal teams rely on this to validate that entities are in good standing before executing contracts.
4. Consumer Protection
Consumers can verify whether a business that took their money actually exists and is registered.
How It Compares to Other Corporate Databases
The Maryland database is state-specific. For federal-level records or national companies, you should also check:
- EDGAR Database by the SEC: for public companies and investment filings.
- USPTO Trademark Search: for registered trademarks.
- Company Database Category: for other state and international resources.
Each tool has a distinct role, and using them together gives a fuller picture.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Maryland Business Entity Search
How to search for a Maryland business?
Use the Maryland Business Entity Search tool to search by business name or Department ID.
How to get an SDAT in Maryland?
“SDAT” refers to the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation, not a document. To register a business or retrieve a record, visit the Maryland Business Express.
What is a trade name in Maryland?
A trade name is a “doing business as” (DBA) name. It differs from a legal entity name and must be registered with SDAT if publicly used.
What does Maryland SDAT stand for?
It stands for State Department of Assessments and Taxation, which handles business registration, property tax assessments, and more.
Is a trade name the same as an LLC?
No. A trade name is a public alias for a business. An LLC is a legal business structure. An LLC can operate under one or multiple trade names.
How to check a business name?
Search the Maryland Entity Search for availability or registration status of a name.
How can I check if a business exists?
Search its name in the Maryland SDAT Entity Search. If no match appears, the entity may be unregistered or out-of-state.
What does DBA stand for?
DBA = “Doing Business As.” It’s a way for businesses to operate under a name that differs from their legal entity name.
Do I need to trademark my business name?
Not necessarily. But if you want legal protection at a national level, it’s highly recommended. Learn how in our USPTO trademark search guide.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re researching a future business partner, launching your own company, or just curious about that LLC listed on a flyer, the Maryland Business Search is a crucial first stop. It delivers clear, accessible, and official information directly from the state.
For more tools to dig deeper, explore our guides on the EDGAR database and our curated company databases directory.
Stay curious. Verify everything.
