California entity search: How to find your business information

All California business entity information, including entity name, type, number, and formation date, is available through the California Secretary of State's business search portal. This free online database provides immediate access to the four key details you need for onboarding, compliance, or business transactions.

We'll walk you through exactly how to search the California database, where to find each piece of information, and what format each data point takes in California's system.

Summary table: Finding your California entity information

How to search for California business entities

Access the California business entity search to look up any registered business by name or file number.

The basic search option returns results immediately for active entities. Navigate to the California Secretary of State's Business Search portal and enter your business name in the search field. California's search finds any entity containing your search term, so searching "Acme" returns "Acme Industries LLC," "Super Acme Corp," and similar matches.

For more precise results, use your complete legal name exactly as it appears. Include "LLC," "Inc.," or other designators. This is really important, as your entity might not show up in search results if you don’t enter the exact details.

If searching by entity number, remove any "C" prefix (search "1234567" instead of "C1234567").

Note: The basic search only shows active entities. If your business has been suspended or dissolved, click "Advanced Search" and adjust the status filter. Also, search results are limited to 500 matches, so if you don't see your entity, try more specific search terms.

Click the entity number in your search results to view complete details, including formation date, registered agent, and filing history.

What you'll see in search results

• Legal entity name (exact spelling and punctuation)
• Entity type (LLC, Corporation, LP, LLP, Not-for-profit Corporation, etc.)
• Entity Number (12-digit format for recent entities)
• Status (ACTIVE, SUSPENDED, DISSOLVED, etc.)
• Registration date (formation date for domestic entities)

How to find your entity number in California

Your California entity number follows the format of either seven digits (older entities, like C1234567) or 12 digits (newer entities, like 202312345678) and was assigned by the California Secretary of State when your entity was formed.

Where to locate your California entity number

1. California business search (fastest method)

• Located: Left column of search results, displayed as a blue hyperlink
• Labeled as: "Entity Number"
• Format: C1234567 (corporations formed before the 2000s) or 202312345678 (entities formed recently)

2. Certificate of Formation/Incorporation

• Usually at the top right corner of the document
• Labeled as "File Number" or "Entity Number"
• Stamped or printed by the California Secretary of State

3. Annual reports and state correspondence

• Appears on all official California Secretary of State documents
• Used as your account identifier for Statement of Information filings
• Listed on franchise tax correspondence (though franchise tax account numbers are different)

California entity number format

Format: 12 digits for entities formed after approximately 2001; 7-digit format with letter prefix (like C1234567) for older corporations

• Example (newer format): 202312345678
• Example (older format): C1234567
• Pattern note: The 12-digit format typically begins with the year of formation, so entities formed in 2023 often start with "2023"

What your entity number is NOT

Your California entity number is different from:

• Federal EIN (Employer Identification Number) from the IRS
• California tax account numbers (sales tax permit number, franchise tax account number)
• Business license numbers (city or county)
• California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) account numbers
• Professional license numbers

How to find your entity type in California

California recognizes numerous business entity types, listed exactly as shown in your business search results and formation documents.

Where to find your California entity type

1. California business search (most accessible)

• Displayed: Prominently in search results under the "Entity Type" column
• Listed as: "DOMESTIC LLC," "DOMESTIC STOCK," "FOREIGN LLC," "FOREIGN STOCK," etc.
• Always shown in capital letters in California's system

2. Certificate of Formation/Incorporation

• At the top of your formation document
• May state "Certificate of Formation of [Entity Type]" or similar
• Uses formal legal language (e.g., "Limited Liability Company" rather than "DOMESTIC LLC")

3. Annual reports (Statement of Information)

• Listed in the entity information section
• Cannot be changed without a formal amendment and filing

How to find your formation date in California

Your formation date (when the California Secretary of State officially filed and approved your business entity) appears in California business search results and on your Certificate of Formation/Incorporation.

Where your California formation date appears

1. California business search (easiest access)

• Listed as: "Registration Date" (for domestic entities, this is the formation date)
• Location: In the main search results table; also appears in the entity detail page
• Note: California uses "Registration Date" even for domestic entities. This is your formation date

2. Certificate of Formation/Incorporation

• Top of the document, usually in the upper right
• Says "Filed" with the date stamped by the Secretary of State
• Sometimes includes both the filing date and the effective date if they differ

3. Statement of Information confirmations

• References original filing date
• Used to determine Statement of Information due dates (due within 90 days of formation, then biennially)

Formation date vs. effective date

Use your formation date (file date), not the effective date. California allows businesses to specify a future effective date when filing formation documents, creating two different dates:

• Formation date (file date): When the California Secretary of State processed your paperwork – use this one
• Effective date: When your entity officially began operations (if you specified a later date, which appears on your Certificate)

For most California entities, the formation date and effective date are the same. The business search portal displays the filing date as "Registration Date."

Next steps: Onboarding your entity to Discern

With your California entity information in hand, you can onboard to Discern in minutes. Our platform automates compliance management across all 51 jurisdictions, handling California's Statement of Information filings, tracking deadlines, and coordinating registered agent services so you can focus on running your business.

To get started, book a demo and see how Discern simplifies ongoing compliance.