A New York LLC search locates limited liability companies in the state’s public business registry. Whether someone is verifying an LLC before signing a contract, checking a partner’s status, or researching a competitor, the record is public and free to view, and no account is required.
LLCs are recorded in the Corporation and Business Entity Database, run by the New York Department of State’s Division of Corporations, State Records and Uniform Commercial Code. Domestic LLCs formed in New York and foreign LLCs registered to do business in the state both appear in the same database, which is updated regularly. This page explains how to filter the search to LLCs, what each field in an LLC record means, and a New York-specific publication requirement that affects every company formed in the state.
How to Search for a New York LLC
The official Public Inquiry application turns an LLC lookup into a short, predictable task. No login stands in the way, and the search runs on any modern browser. The steps below move in order from start to finish.
- Open the official search. Use the button above to open the Department of State’s Public Inquiry application. It is free, and no account is required.
- Choose a Search By option. Pick Entity Name for a name lookup. Pick DOS ID when the LLC’s nine-digit number is already known; a DOS ID search returns an exact match, so it settles any name confusion at once.
- Type the LLC’s name. Enter the distinctive part of the name. The “LLC” ending usually adds nothing to the search.
- Set the Search Functionality. Choose Contains to widen the match or Begins With to narrow it.
- Filter the Entity List to LLCs. Select the LLC entity types so the results show limited liability companies only. Keep foreign LLCs in the filter when the company may be registered from another state or country.
- Click Search the Database. The results load as a list with names, DOS IDs, and entity types.
- Open the record and confirm the details. Check the DOS ID, county, and status before relying on anything in the record.
Search By Options Explained
The search screen offers four Search By options and a matching rule. Knowing what each one does saves time, mostly when a name is common or the exact spelling is uncertain.
The Search Functionality field adds the matching rule. Begins With matches names that start with the typed text, which narrows the list fast, and Contains matches the text anywhere in the name, which helps when the first word is unknown. When a search returns nothing, switch the rule and run it once more.
Search by Entity Name
Entity Name is the default choice and the right one for most lookups. Type the distinctive part of the name and skip endings such as “LLC” or “Incorporated”. The database matches on the text as filed, so shorter searches catch more variations and stay easier to scan.
Search by DOS ID
A DOS ID is the nine-digit number the Department assigns when an entity files. A DOS ID search returns exactly one record, which removes all doubt when several LLCs share a similar name. The number sits on the record itself, so it is easy to copy and reuse in later lookups.
Search by Assumed Name
The Search By list includes Assumed Name and Assumed Name ID. These options locate filings for names a company uses beyond its legal name. A company with a well-known trading name sometimes files that name separately, so an assumed name search can surface records the legal name misses.
Domestic and Foreign LLCs
A domestic LLC is one formed under New York law. A foreign LLC is one formed in another state or country and registered with the Department of State to transact business in New York. Both types appear in the same database, and both open as a full public record.
The Entity List filter decides which types appear in the results. A filter set to domestic LLCs only will hide companies registered from elsewhere, so widen the filter whenever the origin of the company is uncertain.
Why the Jurisdiction Field Matters
The record’s jurisdiction field shows where an LLC was formed whenever that place is somewhere other than New York. A New York entry points to a domestic company, and a foreign entry names the home state or country. For contracts, leases, and lawsuits, that single field tells the parties which state’s rules sit behind the company.
Tip: When several companies share one name, the jurisdiction field often settles the match first. A New York deal almost always concerns the domestic entity, so filter the list to domestic LLCs before comparing records.
What an LLC Record Shows
Opening an LLC from the results displays the information the Department maintains for that record. Each field answers a different question about the company:
| Field | What it shows | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Entity name and prior names | The legal name in use now, plus earlier names on file | Older contracts and filings may carry a former name |
| DOS ID | The nine-digit number assigned when the LLC filed | Matches exactly one record, so it ends name confusion |
| Entity type | The LLC category, domestic or foreign | Confirms the record matches the company type |
| Date of organization or authorization | The formation date, or the authorization date for a foreign LLC | Shows how long the company has held its New York registration |
| Jurisdiction | Where the LLC was formed, when outside New York | Separates domestic companies from foreign ones |
| New York county | The county connected to the record | Helps confirm the match is the right company |
| Status and status date | Active or inactive, with the date of that status | A quick health check before any deal |
| Service-of-process address | Where the Department mails process served on the Secretary of State | The official channel for legal papers |
| Registered agent | The agent on file, when one is designated | Another contact point recorded for the company |
| Filing history | The documents the LLC has filed with the Department | Shows what has changed since formation |
Two fields do the most work. The DOS ID matches exactly one record, so it ends name confusion, and the status line gives a quick health check before any deal.
New York LLC Rules Worth Knowing
New York places a few duties on LLCs that other states do not. Two of them connect directly to the database, and a third explains the number at the top of every record.
The 120-Day Newspaper Publication Requirement
LLCs formed in New York must publish notice in two newspapers for six consecutive weeks within 120 days of formation. The requirement is a New York rule, and it applies at the very start of the company’s life.
Falling behind on the publication duty can affect the LLC’s status with the Department. For that reason, an active status in the database is a meaningful check — not just a formality. A clean status shows the company is current on what it owes the Department.
Service of Process Through the Secretary of State
In New York, the Secretary of State heads the Department of State and acts as agent for service of process for many entities, LLCs included. The record shows the address to which the Department will mail process served on the Secretary of State. Anyone planning legal action should treat that address as the official channel for papers.
The Nine-Digit DOS ID
The DOS ID is a nine-digit number assigned when the LLC files with the Department. The number stays with the company even when the name changes, and no two entities share one. For repeat lookups, the DOS ID is the fastest and most exact route to a single record.
Tip: Save the DOS ID the first time an LLC is verified. The number never changes, so every later lookup becomes a one-step, exact-match task.
LLC Status Values
The status field shows whether the LLC is active or inactive, together with the date of that status. An active record is a good sign that the LLC is in good standing with the Department. An inactive record means the company is no longer in active standing in New York.
The status date adds context the label alone cannot give. A status dated years back tells a quieter story than a change made last month, and the date puts that difference in plain view. Read the two fields together, and the picture of the company becomes much sharper.
The free search shows summary information only. For official proof of an LLC’s standing for a bank, a court, or a licensing board, request a Certificate of Status in writing from the Division of Corporations.
Common LLC Search Mistakes
Most failed LLC lookups trace back to a handful of repeat errors. Each one has a simple fix.
- Searching with the full legal name. The “LLC” ending adds little. The distinctive part of the name returns cleaner results.
- Treating two similar names as one company. Different DOS IDs mean different entities, even when the names are close.
- Filtering out foreign LLCs. A company formed elsewhere still shows up in the database, but only when the filter keeps foreign entities in the list.
- Trusting a summary screen as official proof. The free record is informational. Official standing comes from a Certificate of Status.
- Using an outdated bookmark. The legacy appext20.dos.ny.gov address is retired. The current application lives at apps.dos.ny.gov/publicInquiry.
- Stopping at the first result. Scan the full list and match the DOS ID before settling on a record.
Tips for Better LLC Searches
A few habits make the database faster to work with and the results easier to trust.
- Start with Begins With, then widen to Contains when the list comes back empty.
- Search by DOS ID whenever the number is on hand. It is the one option that matches a single record every time.
- Read the prior names on the record. Older contracts often use a name the company has since dropped.
- Check the filing history before ordering document copies. It shows which filings exist.
- Note the status date next to the status. Both fields together give the full picture.
- Ask the Division of Corporations for a written name check when a filing decision is close. The call center can search up to five names per call.
Entity Types in the New York Database
The database covers the entity types that file with the Department. The table below shows where each type sits and what its record includes.
| Entity type | Filed with DOS? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic LLC | Yes | Formation date, county, status, and the New York publication requirement apply |
| Foreign LLC | Yes | Jurisdiction field names the home state or country |
| Business corporation (domestic or foreign) | Yes | Standard fields plus the CEO line from the last biennial statement |
| Not-for-profit corporation | Yes | Standard fields under a separate entity category |
| Limited partnership | Yes | Record follows the same field structure |
| Limited liability partnership (LLP) | Yes | Record follows the same field structure |
| Sole proprietorship | No | Not filed with the Department, so it never appears here |
| General partnership | No | Not filed with the Department, so it never appears here |
The Entity List filter maps to these categories, so a targeted search stays fast. Sole proprietorships and general partnerships never appear in the results, no matter how the search is set.
When to Order a Certificate of Status or Copies
The free record covers research. Formal situations need formal paper: a bank closing an account, a court filing, a licensing board, or a contract counterparty may all ask for something official.
A Certificate of Status states where the LLC stands with the Department. Copies of specific filings — the formation filing, amendments, name changes, and more — come from the Division of Corporations as well. Both are requested in writing, and the Department’s certificate of status page and copies page explain the process.
Order the documents before the deadline. A written request takes time to process, and starting early turns a routine step into a smooth one.
Related Searches
These pages cover the searches and records that connect to LLC lookups:
- New York Business Entity Search
- New York Business Name Search
- New York DOS ID Search
- New York Corporation Search
- New York Business Status Search
- New York Certificate of Status
New York Department of State — Division of Corporations, State Records and UCC
- Address: One Commerce Plaza, 99 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12231-0001
- Phone: (518) 473-2492 (Monday–Friday, 8:45 AM – 4:30 PM ET)
- Email: corporations@dos.ny.gov
- Official website: dos.ny.gov
NewYorkCompanySearch.us is an independent website and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the New York Department of State or any government agency. All searches are performed on official state databases linked from this page.
Frequently Asked Questions
These answers cover the points people raise most often about LLC searches. Each one reflects how the official database works.
How can one LLC be found when several share a similar name?
Search by DOS ID. The nine-digit identifier is assigned when the LLC files with the Department, and it matches exactly one record, so similar names never become a problem.
Are foreign LLCs included in the search?
Yes. LLCs formed elsewhere that registered with the Department of State to do business in New York appear in the same database, and the jurisdiction field shows where each one was formed.
What does the status field show?
It shows whether the LLC is active or inactive, along with the date of that status. For official proof of standing, request a Certificate of Status in writing from the Division of Corporations.
Do all New York businesses appear in the database?
No. Sole proprietorships and general partnerships do not file with the Department of State, so they are not listed. Corporations, LLCs, limited partnerships, LLPs, and not-for-profit corporations do appear.
Is the LLC search free?
Yes. The Public Inquiry application is free, needs no account, and is updated regularly. Anyone with a browser can run it at any time.