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How to Look Up a LLC

You can look up a LLC by searching for the business entity type and the business name on the Secretary of State’s website.

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Overview

Introduction

Businesses, especially small businesses, often choose to form a limited liability company, or LLC. This type of company offers protection for the business owners from being held personally liable for business debts. Businesses may form an LLC for any legal purpose. To find out if a business is an LLC, you can look it up online using the secretary of state’s website in the state where the business is registered.

What is a LLC?

In the United States, a limited liability company (LLC) is a business structure that combines the pass-through taxation of a partnership or sole proprietorship with the limited liability of a corporation, creating a private limited company. An LLC is not a corporation under state law; it is a legal form of a company that provides limited liability to its owners in many jurisdictions. LLCs do not need to be organized for profit. Many LLCs are small businesses, and the majority of world trade is conducted through LLCs. Limited liability companies are easy to form and operate under an increasingly flexible set of state laws.

There are two types of members in an LLC: managers and members. The difference between members and managers is that managers have control over the day-to-day operations of the LLC, while members do not. In an LLC with multiple members, each member has an equal say in decisions made about the company, unless there is a provision in the operating agreement giving one or more members voting power that is disproportionate to their ownership stake. It is not uncommon for an LLC to be owned by a single individual (known as asingle-member LLC). In this case, there is no distinction between the owner and manager; they are one and the same.

An LLC can be formed by filing articles of organization with the secretary of state in the state where it will do business. The articles of organization must contain certain information, such as the name and address of the company, the names and addresses of the members or managers, and sometimes other information depending on state law. Most states also require that LLCs file an annual report containing similar information.

An LLC can also be formed by executing what is known as a Certificate of Formation or Articles of Incorporation, which must contain certain information required by state law such as:
-The name of your LLC
-The names and addresses of your LLC’s organizers
-The registered agent’s name and address
-The purpose of your LLC
-The names and addresses of your first set of directors
filed with your state’s corporation commission or equivalent office

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How to Look Up a LLC

A limited liability company, or LLC, is a corporate structure that combines the personal asset protection of a corporation with the flexibility and tax advantages of a partnership. LLCs are popular among small businesses because they are easy to set up and maintain. You can look up an LLC in a few different ways.

Go to the website of the state in which the LLC is registered

In order to look up a LLC, you will need to go to the website of the state in which the LLC is registered. You will then need to search for the LLC by name or by filing number. If you are not able to find the LLC you are looking for, you may need to contact the state’s corporation division for assistance.

Find the business entity search page

To find the business entity search page, go to the website of the Secretary of State (SOS) or Corporations Division of the state where the LLC was formed. The LLC business entity search page will look different on every state’s website, but it is usually easy to find. Look for a link that says “business entities,” “search businesses,” “find a business,” or something similar.

Enter the LLC’s name or identification number

You can find this information on the Articles of Organization or the Certificate of Formation. The ID number is usually called the LLC number, LLC ID number, or something similar. It might be listed as the file number of the Articles of Organization. The name should be the official LLC name that’s on file with the state.

How to Find an LLC’s Registered Agent

LLCs are business entities that are legally registered with the state in which they are doing business. Every LLC must have a registered agent, which is the person or company that agrees to receive legal papers on the LLC’s behalf. You can find an LLC’s registered agent by looking up the LLC’s business filings with the state.

Look up the LLC’s information on the state’s website

The first place to start when looking for an LLC’s registered agent is the state website where the LLC is registered. Each state has a website where business entities are registered and renewed. The state website will also have a searchable database of business entities. The databases are usually organized by entity type and then alphabetically by entity name.

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Once you locate the LLC in the database, there will be a record for the LLC that includes information such as the LLC’s filing date, registered agent, and status. The status will tell you whether the LLC is active or has been revoked or dissolved. If the LLC is no longer in good standing with the state, then it is unlikely that you will be able to find a current registered agent for the LLC.

Find the LLC’s Articles of Organization

The best place to start your search for a LLC’s registered agent is with the company itself. Every LLC is required to have a registered agent, which is usually listed in the company’s Articles of Organization. You can find this document with the Secretary of State in the state where the LLC is registered.

Find the LLC’s Operating Agreement

To find an LLC’s registered agent, obtain a copy of the LLC’s operating agreement. Every LLC must have an operating agreement, which is a document that lays out the rules and regulations for the business. The agreement must be signed by all of the LLC’s members, and it must be kept on file with the Secretary of State in the state where the LLC is registered.

The operating agreement will list the name and contact information for the LLC’s registered agent. If you cannot find a copy of the operating agreement, you can contact the Secretary of State’s office in the state where the LLC is registered and request a list of the LLC’s filings. One of those filings will be the LLC’s operating agreement.

How to Contact an LLC

If you need to contact an LLC, the best place to start is by looking up the company in your state’s business entity database. You can find this database on your Secretary of State’s website. Once you find the LLC, you will be able to find the registered agent’s name and address. You can then contact the LLC through the registered agent.

Find the LLC’s registered agent’s contact information

Each LLC must have a registered agent in the state where it is formed. The registered agent is a person or business that agrees to accept legal papers (service of process) on the LLC’s behalf if it is sued. The LLC’s articles of organization or operating agreement must list the name and address of the LLC’s registered agent.

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The best way to find an LLC’s registered agent and contact information is to go to the website of the state’s corporate filing office, also called the secretary of state’s office. You can usually find a link to this website on the state government’s homepage.

Click on the link for business filings (or some similar phrase) and then search for the LLC by name. Once you find it, click on the “Details” link or some similar phrase to bring up information about the LLC, including the name and address of its registered agent.

Look up the LLC’s Articles of Organization

To look up the LLC’s Articles of Organization, you can contact the LLC’s registered agent or visit the state business filings website. The registered agent is the person or company that receives legal papers on behalf of the LLC. The state business filings website is a database of all businesses registered in the state.

Find the LLC’s Operating Agreement

The first step in contacting an LLC is to find the LLC’s operating agreement. The operating agreement is a legal document that outlines the LLC’s purpose, ownership and management structure. The operating agreement is filed with the state in which the LLC is formed and is available for public inspection.

Operating agreements are typically not filed with the IRS, so you’ll need to contact the state directly to request a copy. Each state has different procedures for requesting public documents, so it’s best to call or visit the Secretary of State’s office in the state where the LLC was formed.

Once you have a copy of the operating agreement, review it carefully to determine who the LLC’s designated contact person is. The operating agreement should also include the mailing address, email address and phone number for the LLC. If there is more than one owner of the LLC, the contact information for each owner should be included in the operating agreement as well.

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*This applies to Virginia residents too!

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