Your Instant California Business Search

Instantly search California LLCs, corporations, and business records and helps you take action when it matters. Verify status, spot compliance issues, and fix them in minutes.

Get alerts for your annual state filings

Automatically complete on time

What Is a California Business Entity Search?

A California business entity search allows you to look up official company details through the California Secretary of State database. You can find information like the entity name, type (e.g., LLC or corporation), business filing date, registered agent name, and current status. This also helps verify the business’ legal standing.

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Why You Should Check Business Records Before Filing

  • Before filing a new entity, use a business search to avoid name duplication, filing rejections, or delays due to existing or non-compliant entities.

  • A thorough company search protects your legal standing and ensures brand clarity.

  • Checking the state of a business also helps confirm the accuracy of registered agent and business filing details.

Step-by-Step Guide to Conduct a California Company Lookup

Step 1

Visit the California Business Lookup on Palm

Step 3

Find the business by Name or Entity Number

Step 5

Use Palm to fix expired due dates and monitoring

Step 2

Enter the Business Name or Entity Number

Step 4

Review Business Status

Step 1

Visit the [State] Business Lookup on Palm

Step 2

Enter the Business Name or Entity Number

Step 3

Find the business by Name or Entity Number

Step 4

Review Business Status

Step 5

Use Palm to fix expired due dates and monitoring

Common Business Types in California

When using a California business entity search, you'll often come across common structures like LLCs, corporations, sole proprietorship, and partnerships. Each entity type has different legal and tax implications. The California LLC search is especially popular for finding limited liability companies. A thorough company search helps you compare business types listed in the California business entity database.

Limited Liability Company (LLC)

Corporation (C Corp, S Corp)

Limited Liability Partnership (LLP)

Sole Proprietorship

How Palm Helps With Business Searches

Real-time access to public records

Entity monitoring and name alerts

One-click filings for formation, reports, and amendments

How do I check if a business is registered in California?

A business identity is everything that proves your business is real, active, and trustworthy. It includes your legal name, your entity status with the state, your EIN, licenses, ownership information, and your track record of filings and renewals. It’s what banks, governments, platforms, and partners look at - whether you realize it or not - to decide if you’re legitimate and in good standing.

The problem? Business identity today is scattered, outdated, and fragile. It lives across government portals, PDFs, desk drawers, and inboxes. Every time you need to prove who you are, you start from scratch. That’s where Palm comes in.

What is the filing fee for an LLC in California?

Palm creates your unified, verified business identity — like a digital passport for your business. 
Palm brings together your entity status, licenses, filings, and ownership info into one secure, shareable place. No more scattered documents or outdated records.
We help you create a verified business profile, monitor your compliance status, and file critical forms on your behalf so you stay trusted, protected, and focused on growth. 

Can I reserve a business name in California?

Most businesses don’t realize they have an identity footprint - until it becomes a problem. Whether you’re applying for a loan, renewing a license, or just trying to stay compliant, your business identity is being checked behind the scenes. If your records are out of date, your filings are missing, or your status is inactive, the consequences can be real: rejected applications, major penalties, and higher costs of running your business.

Palm monitors and manages your business identity - automatically. You don’t need to know what’s due or where to look. Palm makes sure it’s all handled.

What does ‘active’ or ‘inactive’ status mean?

Most filing tools are reactive — they wait for you to do something. Palm is proactive.

Palm monitors your business identity in real-time, alerts you before there’s a problem, and will even fix it for you. As your filings, government fees, and renewals come due, Palm will handle it.

Where do I find the registered agent name for a company?

Yes. Palm monitors business identity and compliance in all 50 states and across local jurisdictions. Whether you're incorporated in Delaware, operating in Texas, or licensed in California, Palm keeps you up to date on every requirement tied to your business identity.