Illinois Business Search

What is an LLC?

A limited liability company (LLC) is a business structure in the United States whereby the owners are not personally liable for the company's debts or liabilities. To set up an LLC in Illinois, you must submit the articles of the organization with the $150 application fee. Once Illinois accepts your application, the state will recognize your business entity legally, separating you from being liable for any of the company’s debts. Limited liability companies are hybrid entities that combine the characteristics of a corporation with those of a partnership or sole proprietorship.

How to search for an LLC or other business in Illinois?

The Office of the Illinois Secretary of State provides a database where you can search for various businesses, including corporations, not-for-profit corporations, limited partnerships, LLCs, and limited liability partnerships. When searching for a business with this service, you must select the type of business structure it falls under. For instance, if it is an LLC, make sure to select the LLC search option.

You can then select which search method you want to use, including name, keyword, partial word, and file number.

When you come across the Illinois business you are interested in learning more about, you can see various information. This includes the business’s file number, the name, status of the company, the location of their principal office, entity type, registered agent, and much more listed below.

Why would you perform a business search?

This business search is a way to contact a business or find out other information you need. You may also desire to search for a company to confirm your information about the business. You can even look up your business to see what is available to the public. It's also a great way to determine whether your desired business name while filing for one is already taken and, therefore, unavailable. Some other reasons for performing a business search are listed below.

1. Want to file a lawsuit against an LLC. You can contact the agent to notify the company.
2. Learn more about an LLC, including any of the information listed below.
3. Find out ownership of an LLC
4. Searching for Name availability for Your LLC. Confirming whether your desired LLC name is already taken can help prevent rejection and additional filings for your LLC.
5. Perform administrative tasks for your company.
6. Confirm whether your LLC is formed officially with the secretary of state

What information is available through the search?

Information that is available through the Illinois business search includes the following:

How to Keep Your LLC information Private?

Anonymous LLCs are where the company is not required to provide owners’, managers’, or members’ information when filing with the state. Only a handful of states allows this directly when filing within the state. States that do not allow you to withhold this member information have ways to protect your privacy that an anonymous LLC attorney can help you with.

In Illinois, the identity of company managers is reported and listed on the business search database. There may be ways you can avoid listing the members. You should consult with an Illinois business attorney if you want to obtain anonymity when operating your business.

The information is inaccurate, or the business is inactive.
What should I do?

If any information is inaccurate, contact the Office of the Secretary of State with the same information listed below.

Address:

I need to update some of my own business’s information, how do I do that?

If you need to file an annual report, you can do so here with the Illinois Secretary of State.

If you need to effect a name change for your business, you can do so here.

If you want to change the registered agent, you have listed or their registered office, you can go here.

If there are other changes you want to make, you can contact the Secretary of State with any questions.

Any more questions about Illinois’s business search?

Contact the Office of the Illinois Secretary of State or use any of the contact forms found here.