Connecticut Business Search: How to Look Up Any LLC or Corporation
Connecticut Business Search: How to Look Up Any LLC or Corporation
Before you sign a lease, open a bank account, or pick a name for a company, find out what is already on file in Connecticut. The Connecticut Secretary of the State keeps the official record for LLCs and corporations, and you can search it for free. This guide shows you where to search, how to read each field on a business record, and where the search stops and other checks begin.
Disclaimer: This guide is informational content, not legal or tax advice. Talk to a qualified attorney or CPA before you make decisions about a business structure, a name, or a tax election.
Start at Business.CT.gov
If you searched for the Connecticut Secretary of the State, you are in the right place. The Secretary of the State's Business Services Division handles business filings, and the state's online entry point is Business.CT.gov. The portal's business forms and fees page is at business.ct.gov. To run a search:
- Go to Business.CT.gov and open the business services area.
- Select Search Business Records. This opens the state's Online Business Search.
- Enter the name you want to check. Try it with and without punctuation, and try the LLC variants, such as “LLC” and “Limited Liability Company.”
- Open each close match and read the record fields described below.
The Secretary of the State's main business services page, at portal.ct.gov/sots/business-services/bsd, covers the agency's filing rules and contact information. Search Business Records itself is free.
How to Read a Business Record
A record is a snapshot of what the state has on file. It does not show whether the business is operating, licensed, or in good standing for every purpose. Here is what each key field tells you.
| Field | What it tells you | What to do with it |
|---|---|---|
| Status | Active or forfeited. | An active entity is current on the record. A forfeited entity is no longer active, so ask the Secretary of the State why before you rely on it. |
| Business ID (ALEI) | The unique number the state assigns to the entity. | Use it to tell apart two entities with similar names, and quote it in any correspondence with the state. |
| Statutory agent | The registered agent who receives legal and official mail for the business. | Confirm the agent is a Connecticut resident or a registered entity, and that the address is a real place of business. |
| Formation date | When the Certificate of Organization or Certificate of Incorporation was filed. | This is the filing date with the state. It may not match when the business began operating. |
| Annual report due date | The next date the annual report is due. | Each entity has its own date. Business.CT.gov does not publish one flat deadline for all entities. |
| Filed documents | The formation document, annual reports, amendments, and other filings. | Open these to see the filed name, the agent history, and whether annual reports are current. |
Two fields cause the most confusion. A formation date is a legal fact, but it says nothing about current operations. A statutory agent listed on the record may have been replaced, so check the most recent annual report to see who is listed now.
Searching for an LLC (LLC Lookup)
Connecticut LLCs are formed by filing a Certificate of Organization (Domestic Limited Liability Company). The filing fee is $120. Most online filings on Business.CT.gov are accepted automatically, so the state says expedited service is usually not needed. Expedited review costs $50 per transaction, is completed within 24 hours of receipt, and is available only for online filings, not mail.
Your LLC name must contain “Limited Liability Company” or an abbreviation such as “LLC” or “L.L.C.” It must also be distinguishable on the record from names already registered or reserved with the Secretary of the State. When you run an LLC lookup, search the core word of your name first, then check each suffix variant. A name that is nearly identical to an existing entity can still be rejected, even if the wording is not exact.
Some words suggest a regulated activity, such as bank or insurance. Those words require authorization from the appropriate regulator, so a clear search does not settle whether you can use them. Confirm with the relevant state agency before you file.
Searching for a Corporation
A Connecticut stock corporation is formed by filing a Certificate of Incorporation (Domestic Stock Corporation). The filing fee is $250. The corporation must also file an Organization and First Report at $150, and an annual report each year at the same $150 fee.
To run a corporation search, use the same Search Business Records tool. Search the core name and any variants, then open the record and confirm the status, the statutory agent, and the filing history. Review the Secretary of the State's current filing rules before you choose a corporate name, because the rules for corporate names differ from the LLC rules described above.
Forfeited Names and Name Reservations
A forfeited entity's name becomes available again. If your search shows a forfeited company that uses the name you want, the name may be open. Confirm the current status on the record and check the most recent filings before you rely on that.
If you need time to file, you can reserve a name for 120 days for a $60 fee. The reservation rules are on the Business.CT.gov page at the domestic LLC forms and fees article. A reservation holds the name on the record, but it does not give you any other rights to the name.
Trade Names Are a Separate Search
Many people search for a business name and assume the result covers everything. It does not. The Secretary of the State also runs a separate Trade Name Search, but a trade name, sometimes called a DBA or assumed name, is filed with the town clerk, not the state. The town clerk is the clerk in the Connecticut town where the business is primarily transacted. The filing fee is $20, paid to the town clerk. The law is in Connecticut General Statutes 35-1a to 35-1e.
A trade name filing gives no liability protection and does not stop another business from using the same name. That means a search miss is not proof that a name is free. Before you commit to a name, check three places:
- The Secretary of the State's Business Records and Trade Name Search
- The town clerk's records in the towns where you will operate
- Federal trademark records, which you can check through the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
The state's trade name rules are described on the Business.CT.gov trade names article.
What a Business Search Cannot Tell You
A clean record does not mean the business is fully ready to operate. Here are the checks the search will not cover.
- Licenses. Connecticut has no single general state business license. Registering an entity with the Secretary of the State is a registration, not a license. Licensing depends on the trade, and agencies such as the Department of Consumer Protection, the Department of Public Health, the Insurance Department, and the Department of Banking issue licenses in their areas. Start with the Business.CT.gov New Business Checklist and the eLicense system.
- Sales tax. A business that sells taxable goods or services must get a Sales and Use Tax Permit from the Department of Revenue Services. The permit carries a $100 registration fee and must be displayed at each location. Details are at the DRS sales tax information page.
- Local approvals. Connecticut has no county government. It was abolished in 1960, so the local offices you need are in towns and cities. Zoning, health, and occupancy approvals come from town and city offices, local health departments or districts, and planning regions, depending on your location.
- Tax treatment. Connecticut does not impose a franchise tax on LLCs. An LLC taxed as a partnership or S corporation may elect the optional Pass-Through Entity Tax with DRS, and that election is annual and irrevocable for that year. An LLC treated as a corporation pays the Corporation Business Tax. Which rules apply to your entity is a question for a CPA.
For the state's main tax agency, see the Department of Revenue Services.
Common Search Mistakes
- Searching only the short name. Entities register with suffixes such as LLC or Limited Liability Company. Check each variant.
- Treating a clean search as clearance. A miss on the Secretary of the State record does not clear trade name, trademark, or local conflicts.
- Assuming an active entity is in good standing for everything. Active status on the record does not confirm licenses, taxes, or local approvals.
- Mixing up the entity name and the trade name. A company can be registered as an LLC and still need a trade name filing with the town clerk if it operates under a different name.
- Using a post office box as the agent address. The registered agent's business address must be a usual place of business in Connecticut. A post office box or commercial mailbox does not qualify.
Next Steps
Once you have finished your search, save a dated copy of the record or a screenshot, along with the search terms you used. That gives you a record of what you checked and when. If you find a close match, contact the entity or consult an attorney before you choose a name.
If you plan to form an entity, the Connecticut Small Business Development Center offers free advising at ctsbdc.uconn.edu, and the SBA's Connecticut district office lists local resources at sba.gov/district/connecticut. For a complex structure, a name conflict, or a multi-state operation, a qualified attorney and a CPA should review the plan before you file.
This guide is informational content, not legal or tax advice. Fees, deadlines, and requirements can change, so confirm current figures with the Connecticut Secretary of the State, the Department of Revenue Services, or the relevant licensing agency before you act.