How to look up Kentucky business entity information

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

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

Summary table: Finding your Kentucky entity information

How to search for Kentucky business entities

Access the Kentucky business entity search to look up any registered business by name, entity number, city name of principal office, or Zip code of the principal office.

While Kentucky's system supports partial matches (searching "Blue Ridge" will return "Blue Ridge Manufacturing LLC," "Blue Ridge Services Corp," and similar entities), using your complete legal name as registered ensures you get precise results.

The advanced search options help narrow results when dealing with common business names or when you need to filter by specific criteria, such as veteran-owned entities or industry.

Click your entity name in the results to view complete details, including your organization number, formation date, registered agent information, and filing history. Kentucky's system provides comprehensive data, though some users may find parts of the interface less intuitive.

What you'll see in search results

• Company Name (exact spelling and punctuation)
• Company (Organization) ID
• Status (Active, Inactive, etc., with color coding)
• Company Type (LLC, Corporation, LP, LLP, Not-for-profit Corporation, PLLC, etc.)
• State of registration

How to find your entity number in Kentucky

Your Kentucky entity number, officially called your "Organization Number," is a sequential numeric value assigned by the Kentucky Secretary of State when your entity was formed.

Where to locate your Kentucky Organization Number

1. Kentucky business search (fastest method)

• Located: Left column of search results as "Company (Organization) ID"
• Labeled as: "Organization Number" on detail pages
• Format: Sequential digits (e.g., "1234567")

2. Certificate of Formation/Organization/Incorporation

• Usually at the top of the document
• May be labeled as "Organization Number" or "Entity Number"
• The document itself will bear the Kentucky Secretary of State seal as certification.

3. Annual reports and state correspondence

• Appears on all official Kentucky Secretary of State documents
• Used as your account identifier for ongoing compliance
• Referenced in all filing confirmations

Kentucky entity number format

• Format: Sequential numeric digits
• Example: "1234567"
• Pattern note: Numbers are assigned sequentially by the Secretary of State without encoding formation year or entity type information

How to find your entity type in Kentucky

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

Where to find your Kentucky entity type

1. Kentucky business search (most accessible)

• Displayed: In search results under "Company Type"
• Location: Prominently shown in the results table and on individual entity profile pages

2. Certificate of Formation/Organization/Incorporation

• At the top of your formation document
• May state "Certificate of Organization of [Entity Type]" or similar
• Uses Kentucky's official entity type designations

3. Annual reports

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

How to find your formation date in Kentucky

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

Where your Kentucky formation date appears

1. Kentucky business search (easiest access)

• Listed as: "File Date" or "Formation Date"
• Location: On the entity details page under general information
• Format: MM/DD/YYYY

2. Certificate of Formation/Organization/Incorporation

• Top of the document
• May say "Filed on [date]" with the Secretary of State stamp
• Sometimes includes both the filing date and the effective date if different

3. Annual report confirmations

• Annual report confirmations in Kentucky do not reference the original filing date
• Annual report due dates are always June 30, regardless of the original filing date

Formation date vs. effective date

Kentucky allows businesses to specify a future effective date when filing, creating two different dates:

• Formation date (file date): When the Kentucky Secretary of State processed your paperwork
• Effective date: When your entity officially began operations (if you specified a later date up to 90 days after filing)

The effective date cannot be earlier than the filing date or later than 90 days after filing. If no effective date is specified, Kentucky defaults to 5:00 PM local time on the filing date.

Next steps: Onboard your entity to Discern

Managing one Kentucky LLC or fifty entities across multiple states? Discern ensures you never miss a filing deadline. Our platform automates Kentucky's annual report requirements alongside your other state obligations, tracking deadlines and managing registered agent services so nothing falls through the cracks.

To get started, book a demo and see how we handle ongoing compliance.