North Carolina Business Entity Search (Step-by-Step Guide)

The first step in starting a new business entity in the state of North Carolina, be it an LLC or a corporation, or any other business structure is verifying whether or not the name is available for use.

Additionally, all business names being registered in the state of North Carolina must be unique and adhere to state naming guidelines.

The following step-by-step guide will show you how to conduct a North Carolina business entity search.

Business search by name

To begin your search, refer to the North Carolina Secretary of State’s search page.

Once you visit the above-mentioned page, you will automatically land on the “Search by Company” option.

From the drop-down menu, you can select whether you want to search for companies whose names start with selected words, contains any or all selected words, and is an exact match. You can also search companies by SoS ID (Secretary of State Identification Number).

Enter the entity name.

Click Search.

You’ll get a list with all records that match your search criteria, and if you’ve searched using SoS ID, you will either find the matching entity or not.

The list will show the entity name, date of formation, identification number, status, and type.

You’ll also see several icons you can use for different actions, such as ordering a document online, adding the entity to your email notification list, printing a pre-populated annual report form, or viewing document filings.

You’ll need to sign in to use some of these services.

If you want to get detailed information about an entity, click on its name.

Now you’ll be able to see more details, including the office and/or mailing address, name of the registered agent, annual report due date, company officials, name of the registered agent, etc.

Business search by registered agent

The second search method we can use to perform a name search in the state is by registered agents.

From the first drop-down menu, select “Registered Agents” as your search criteria. A new search box will appear below. You can use it to select the search type (organization or individual). 

You may also select whether you want to search for names that:

Enter the name in the search box below and click “Search.” 

If you’ve selected an individual as the search type, you’ll be able to enter the first, middle, or last name of the person you’re looking up.

You’ll get a list with all the names, as well as the total number of representations.

Click on any of the names for more details.

You’ll see a list of all the entities represented by this registered agent, as well as key information for each of the businesses listed.

You’ll then be able to add all listed entities to your email notification list.

Business search by company officials

You can also search businesses by their company officials. This method is similar to the previous one.

Change the search criteria to Company Officials.

Then select whether you’re looking for an organization or an individual. Also, refine the search by selecting whether the name:

As is the case with the “business search by the registered agent; if there are matching results, they will display along with the company officials and the number of representations.

Click on any of the names, and you’ll see their representations, as well as their role in each of the business entities.

Business search by assumed business name

The final way to search for business entities in North Carolina is by assumed business names.

Select ”Assumed Business Name” from the drop-down menu and wait for the search boxes to change.

Enter the assumed name, SOSID, or owner, according to the provided instructions below the search box.

You can select the start and end dates to only include assumed names who have filed a document during the selected time frame.

To include all businesses, just leave these boxes blank.

Select counties to search.

If you don’t select anything, all counties will be searched.

Click “Search.”

You’ll get a list with names and identification numbers.

For more information, click on the specific name of your choice.

You’ll then see the date when the information was entered into the SoS statewide database of assumed business name information, including the owner’s name, the county where it was filed, and the Assumed Business Names Certificate, available in PDF.

Business search results

The business entity database displays several pieces of information about relevant businesses. Some of the info includes:

Copies of documents and certificates

Once you have done the relevant name searches, you may be interested in obtaining certified copies of business documents and certificates. The only way to obtain this information is from the NC Secretary of State – Business Registration Division.

Some of the most frequently requested documents include the Articles of Incorporation, Articles of Amendment, and annual reports. These documents may also be certified.

In order to get a hold of these certified copies of business documentation, use the following information to reach out to the North Carolina Secretary Of State – Business Registration Division and request the relevant information:

Business name availability

After conducting the North Carolina business entity search, you’ll know whether the desired name is available or is in use by an existing business. If the name is not available, it could mean that you need to go back to the drawing board to come up with consolations.

However, if the name is indeed available for business registration in the state, but you’re not quite ready to form your business, you can always go ahead and reserve the name.

The state allows you to reserve the name until you are prepared for the business registration process.

To begin with, you’ll need to fill out the Application to Reserve a Business Entity Name with the North Carolina state office. When completing the Form, you will be required to provide the following information:

Additionally, there is a filing fee of $30 that is payable to the Department of the Secretary of State for the name reservation application.

Once you’ve completed the Form, you can either upload the application directly to the Secretary of State’s website or have the Form mailed to the North Carolina Corporations Division at the below mailing address:

Domain name availability

While deciding on an ideal name is the goal, a suitable domain name is just as important. A company name establishes your business’s identity and brand; however, a domain name ensures that you have an online presence.

So equal consideration should go into finding a suitable domain name for your North Carolina business.

One of the best ways to ensure that the domain name you are considering is available is to do a domain name check on the namechk.com website. This website is a professional service that ultimately offers suggestions for relevant domain names and filters them, making it easier to find your ideal North Carolina domain name.

Fictitious business name search

Another important consideration is registering a DBA name in North Carolina. A DBA is short for “doing business as” name, which is also known by other names such as assumed, fictitious, or trade names. It is best to register a fictitious name with the state if you plan on conducting business under this assumed name.

Once the name is registered with the state, it will allow you to legally operate under that specific name aside from being able to transact under your legal entity name. 

Start by conducting a DBA name search on the North Carolina Secretary of State website. This will help you determine whether or not the name is actually available to be used as a fictitious name with the state. 

When searching for your selected or desired fictitious names, ensure that they do not include any words that may imply that your business is associated with financial institutions, government agencies, medical schemes, etc.

The final step in registering your assumed name with the state’s office is completing the Assumed Business Name Certificate Form. Some of the information you need to include is as follows:

Once the Form is complete, you can submit it to your County’s Register of Deeds Office along with the filing fee of $26.