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RECORD GUIDE / 05

Business records

Business-entity records are organized by the registration jurisdiction. Start with the formation or registration state, then use that office’s official entity search.

Reviewed by PublicReports · Updated

PLACE THE RECORD→OPEN CUSTODIAN→VERIFY RESULT

01 / ROUTE

Find the registration state before the entity.

The U.S. Small Business Administration publishes a state registration lookup. Search fields and result details depend on the state system.

ENTITY SEARCH

Search the official index

Try the legal name or filing number first. Add principal or registered-agent fields only when the official tool supports them.

Choose a state →
LICENSE

Need an occupational license?

A business registration is not the same as an individual or facility professional license.

Open license lookup guide →

Business records / VISUAL NOTES

Editorial illustrations clarify the workflow. They do not depict a specific office, person, or record.

Illustrative business filing desk with organized folders and an abstract state map
ILLUSTRATIVEEntity records are organized by the jurisdiction where the business was registered.
Illustrative civic building with an abstract United States routing map
ILLUSTRATIVEState directories are starting points; the responsible agency remains the source.
Illustrative license verification desk with a blank credential, loupe, and status tabs
ILLUSTRATIVELicense number, profession, regulator, and date establish the scope of a result.

02 / SEARCH KIT

Bring the strongest identifier you have.

Use the exact labels and formats described by the official system.

Legal entity name
Try the registered name and documented prior or alternate names.
Filing number
Use the state-issued entity or filing identifier when known.
Formation state
A business may appear in more than one state as domestic or foreign.
Registered agent
Some official tools support agent-name searches; others do not.
Status date
Treat status as time-sensitive and note the source’s update date.

03 / OFFICIAL SOURCES

Open the custodian, then read its scope.

U.S. SBA
State registration lookupOfficial directory to state registration office websites
NEW JERSEY
Business Entity ListOfficial example of entity-name, filing-date, principal, agent, and associated-name fields

04 / LIMITS

Registration, good standing, licensing, and web presence are separate signals.

Multiple jurisdictions

An entity can be formed in one state and registered to operate in another.

Status timing

Read the result date and current state instructions before relying on a status label.

Name variations

Punctuation, suffixes, former names, and assumed names can change search results.

Credential scope

An entity record does not prove an individual holds a professional license.