How to search North Carolina business entities online
Quick Answer
North Carolina's business search is at sosnc.gov — Business Registration Search, run by the Secretary of State. Search by company name, SOSID, an official's name, or registered agent name to see the entity's status, registered agent, and document history — public and free, though automated searching is prohibited.
Go to North Carolina Official SOS Website →- Go to sosnc.gov — Business Registration Search.
- Search by company name, SOSID, official's name, or registered agent.
- Open the result to see its status, registered agent, and document history.
Assumed business names (DBAs) are still filed at the county register of deeds, but the Secretary of State aggregates them into one statewide searchable database going back to December 2017.
This site is an independent, non-government business entity search directory and isn't affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by any state government or Secretary of State office. Always verify details directly with the official agency before filing or paying any fee.
Automated searching is prohibited
The North Carolina Secretary of State explicitly prohibits automated searching of the Business Registration database. Searches are intended for manual, interactive use through the portal, not scripted or bulk lookups. For bulk access to public data, the SOS offers separate Data Subscription Services.
What the search covers
The database covers domestic and foreign LLCs, business corporations, professional corporations, nonprofit corporations, limited partnerships, LLPs, limited liability limited partnerships (LLLPs), and cooperative associations. Assumed business names (DBAs) are also searchable through a separate tool: the certificate itself is still filed at the register of deeds office in each county where the business operates, but the Secretary of State aggregates filings made since December 1, 2017 into one statewide, searchable database.
Search options
The main search tool offers four modes, plus a separate tool for Assumed Names:
- Company By Name — name-based search; partial names work; case-insensitive, with Starting With, All, Any, or Exact Match word-matching options
- Company by SOSID — the North Carolina Secretary of State identification number
- Company Officials — search by an officer's or official's name to find entities associated with them
- Registered Agents — identify all entities served by a specific registered agent
A separate Assumed Names search covers DBA filings made since December 1, 2017. Results from the main search show the entity name, type, status, date of formation or registration, registered agent, and principal office; clicking an entity opens the detail record with document history.
Annual report due dates, fees, and filing channels
North Carolina LLCs (including L3Cs) file their annual report by April 15 each year following formation, at $200 by mail or $203 online (the online fee includes a small electronic-filing surcharge). Business corporations and LLPs/LLLPs file by the 15th day of the fourth month after the close of the fiscal year — for calendar-year entities, that is April 15 as well; corporation annual reports run $25 by mail or $21 online. Cooperative associations file by March 1 each year, on paper only, for $10. New entity filings typically take 15-20 business days to process; online annual report filing is faster and avoids delays common in peak season around the April 15 deadline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use automated tools to scrape North Carolina's business search?
No. The North Carolina Secretary of State explicitly prohibits automated or scripted searching of the Business Registration database; it's meant for manual, interactive use. For bulk access, use the SOS's separate Data Subscription Services.
Are older North Carolina trade name (DBA) filings searchable online?
Only since December 1, 2017. The Secretary of State aggregates assumed business name filings made from that date forward into one statewide searchable database; the certificates themselves are still filed at each county's register of deeds.
How do I find all businesses tied to a specific registered agent in North Carolina?
Use the 'Registered Agents' search mode, which identifies every entity served by a given agent. A separate 'Company Officials' mode finds entities associated with a specific officer's name.