Washington is a perfect place for startups due to its large wealth of resources and vibrant workforce. Startups get access to government subsidies and many investors are willing to invest capital into viable new businesses. The state government does not tax the first $43,000 of revenue from the date of launching a new business.
Registration processes start with brainstorming several business ideas. Pick the most relevant idea and create a business name based on the guidelines provided. The name must not suggest involvement in other types of activities other than what it is registered for. There should not be another similar name registered in the state. The main business structures you can choose from include LC, LLC, Corp., or LP.
The next step is to conduct an entity search in the state to confirm the availability of your preferred name. Business name search is done through Washington State Corporations and Charities Filing System.
The System is responsible for recording and updating records of all businesses registered in the state. You can access and conduct a Washington Business Entity Search for free. If the name is available, you may begin the registration process or reserve the name to register later at $30. To conduct an LLC or Corporation search in Washington, visit the Washington Secretary of State Website. The types of organizations that you can search include:
- Limited Liability Companies
- Limited Companies
- Limited Partnerships
- General Corporations
- Limited Liability Partnerships
- Non-profit Corporations
Washington Secretary of State Business Lookup Contact Details
| Website | https://www.sos.wa |
| Phones | (360) 725-0377 (Voice) (360) 664-8781 |
| Address | OFFICE ADDRESS: 801 Capitol Way South Olympia, WA 98504 MAILING ADDRESS: PO Box 40234 Olympia, WA 98504-0234 |
| Hours | Monday — Friday: 8:15 a.m. to 5 p.m. (EST) |
| Business: [email protected] |
Washington Business Entity & Corporation Search
Lookup Washington Corporation Search
Step 1 – Visit the Washington State Corporations and Charities Filing System website
Information for the Washington corporation search is available at the official website of the Washington Secretary of State. The business entities you can search for include Limited Liability Companies, Limited Companies, Limited Partnerships, and General Corporations.
Criteria for Business Name search in Washington is done using: Business Name or UBI. If you want a more detailed report, contact the Washington State Corporations and Charities Filing System through email or telephone.
Step 2: Select Your Entity
After keying your options, click the search icon to generate your search results. If the name is registered, a list of names will be displayed as shown below.
Go through the matching results one by one and sort them out. To make your lookup easier, the search results table displays the active and dissolved, delinquent, and withdrawn entities from the database. It consists of the Business Name, UBI Number, Business Type, Principal Office, Address, Registered Agent Name, and Status. Once you have located the listing you are looking for, check the Business Name column and click the link. You will be redirected to the Washington Corporation Search/Information Page, showing the details of the specific entity.
Step 3: Download the information
This is the last step of the lookup LLC Washington. You now have all the registration details, including:
- Business Name
- Business Type
- Principal Office Street Address
- Expiration Date
- Formation/ Registration Date
- Inactive Date
- UBI Number
- Business Status
- Principal Office Mailing Address
- Jurisdiction
- Period of Duration
- Nature of Business
- Registered Agent Information
- Governors
The Washington Secretary of State allows you to view the filing history, name history, or print documents of entities in your search results. You may request certified copies at a fee.
References
Corporations Information Center