How to look up Massachusetts business entity information

Massachusetts business entity information is available through the Secretary of the Commonwealth's Corporations Division business search portal. This database delivers essential data points required for onboarding, compliance verification, and business transactions: entity name, type, number, and formation date.

We'll walk you through how to search the Massachusetts database, locate each required piece of information, and identify the specific formats Massachusetts uses. 

Summary table: Finding your Massachusetts entity information

How to search for Massachusetts business entities

Access the Massachusetts business entity search to look up any registered business by entity name, individual name, identification number, or filing number.

The search returns results immediately with all entity details visible on the summary page. Navigate to the Massachusetts Corporations Division Business Entity Search portal and select your preferred search method. 

You have four options: 

• Entity Name (for business name searches)
• Individual Name (to find businesses associated with a person)
• Identification Number (for direct entity lookup)
• Filing Number (for specific document searches).

For entity name searches, enter your business name in the search field. Partial matches work well; for example, searching "Boston Tech" will return "Boston Tech Solutions LLC" and similar entities. However, for precise results, we advise that you enter your entity name exactly as registered.

Once you enter your search criteria, click "Search" to view results. The system displays a comprehensive list showing entity names, types, status, and identification numbers. 

Click on any entity name to access the complete business profile with formation date, registered agent information, principal office address, and complete filing history.

What you'll see in search results

Search results display essential information:

• Legal entity name (exact spelling and punctuation)
• Entity type (Corporation, LLC, LP, LLP, PLLC, etc.)
• Identification Number (nine-digit format)
• Current status (Active, Dissolved, Inactive, etc.)
• Date of Organization
• Principal office and mailing addresses

How to find your entity number in Massachusetts

Your Massachusetts entity number, officially called your "Identification Number," follows the format 000123456 (nine digits with leading zeros) and was assigned by the Secretary of the Commonwealth when your entity was formed.

Where to locate your Massachusetts entity number

1. Massachusetts business search (fastest method)

• Located: Prominently displayed in search results and on the entity summary page
• Labeled as: "Identification Number"
• Format: 000123456 (nine digits with leading zeros)

2. Certificate of Organization/Incorporation

• Usually at the top of the document
• Labeled as "File Number," or "Identification Number"
• Stamped by the Secretary of the Commonwealth

3. Annual reports and state correspondence

• Appears on all official Secretary of the Commonwealth documents
• Used as your account identifier for all state filings

Massachusetts entity number format

Format: Nine digits with leading zeros

• Example: 000123456
• Pattern note: Massachusetts uses a consistent nine-digit format for all entity types, unlike many states that use prefixes or variable lengths
• Unique feature: The number is purely sequential and doesn't encode entity type or formation year

How to find your entity type in Massachusetts

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

Where to find your Massachusetts entity type

1. Massachusetts business search (most accessible)

• Displayed: Prominently in search results under entity name
• Listed as: "Entity Type"
• Shows specific designations like "Domestic Business Corporation," "Domestic Limited Liability Company," "Professional Corporation," etc.

2. Certificate of Organization/Incorporation

• At the top of your formation document
• States the specific entity type in formal legal language
• Cannot be changed without filing an amendment

3. Annual reports

• Listed in the entity information section
• References the original entity type designation
• Used for compliance tracking purposes

How to find your formation date in Massachusetts

Your formation date appears in Massachusetts business search results and on your Certificate of Organization/Incorporation.

Where your Massachusetts formation date appears

1. Massachusetts business search (easiest access)

• Listed as: "Date of Organization"
• Location: Displayed on the entity summary page
• Format: Month Day, Year (e.g., March 15, 2018)

2. Certificate of Organization/Incorporation

• Top of the document with Secretary of the Commonwealth filing stamp
• May say "Filed on [date]" or show the official filing date
• Sometimes includes both the filing date and the effective date

3. Annual report confirmations

• References original filing date
• Used to calculate annual report due dates (due by anniversary date each year)
• May appear on some official state correspondence, but is not guaranteed on all

Formation date vs. effective date

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

• Formation date (file date): When the Secretary of the Commonwealth processed your paperwork
• Effective date: When your entity officially began operations (if you specified a later date)

For most Massachusetts entities, the formation and effective dates are the same, as few businesses request delayed effective dates for their entity formation.

Streamline entity compliance with Discern

With your Massachusetts information ready, onboarding to Discern is quick. We automate Massachusetts annual reports and deadline tracking while providing registered agent services and compliance management across all your jurisdictions.

One entity or a hundred, Discern ensures nothing slips through the cracks. Book a demo to see how we handle ongoing compliance.