How to look up Washington, DC business entity information

How to search for Washington, DC business entities

Access the Washington, DC business entity search to look up any registered business by name, entity number, or registered agent.

Once logged in, select "Business Filings Search" and enter your search terms. DC's system works well with partial matches, so searching "Metro" will return "Metro Consulting LLC" and similar entities. However, for precise results, type your entity details exactly as registered.

The system offers multiple search options, including entity name, file number, trade name, or registered agent name. For best results, omit suffixes like "LLC" or "Inc." when searching. DC's search allows filtering by entity type, status (active, dissolved, revoked), and whether the entity is domestic or foreign-registered.

Click the entity name 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)
• File Number (DC's unique identifier)
• Registration Date (formation date for domestic entities)
• Entity Status (Active, Inactive, Revoked, Dissolved, etc.)
• Entity Type (LLC, Corporation, Nonprofit, Partnership, etc.)
• Jurisdiction (Domestic DC or Foreign with home state)

How to find your entity number in Washington, DC

Your DC entity number—officially called your "File Number"—follows various formats depending on entity type and was assigned by the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP) when your entity was formed.

Where to locate your DC entity number

1. CorpOnline business search (fastest method)

• Located: Prominently displayed in search results as a clickable link
• Labeled as: "File Number"
• Format: L01234567 for LLCs, C02345678 for corporations

2. Certificate of Formation/Organization/Incorporation

• Usually at the top of the document
• May be labeled as "File Number" or "Entity Number"
• Stamped or printed by the DC DLCP

3. Biennial reports and state correspondence

• Appears on all official DLCP documents
• Used as your account identifier
• Referenced in compliance tracking

DC entity number format

• Format: Varies by entity type with letter prefix + 8 digits.
• Example (LLC): L01234567
• Example (Corporation): C02345678
• Pattern note: LLCs typically start with 'L', Corporations with 'C', with additional prefixes for partnerships and other entity types. 

How to find your entity type in Washington, DC

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

Where to find your DC entity type

1. CorpOnline business search (most accessible)

• Displayed: Clearly shown in search results under "Entity Type"
• Listed as: "LLC," "Corporation," "Nonprofit Corporation," "Limited Partnership," etc.
• Includes both domestic and foreign entity designations

2. Certificate of Formation/Organization/Incorporation

• At the top of your formation document
• States the complete entity type (e.g., "Certificate of Formation of Limited Liability Company")

3. Biennial reports

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

How to find your formation date in Washington, DC

Your formation date (when the DC Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection officially filed and approved your business entity) appears in CorpOnline business search results and on your Certificate of Formation.

Where your DC formation date appears

1. CorpOnline business search (easiest access)

• Listed as: "Registration Date" or "Effective Date"
• Location: Prominently displayed in the search results table
• Note: For domestic entities in Washington, DC, the registration date often matches the formation date

2. Certificate of Formation/Organization/Incorporation

• Top of the document
• May include both filing and effective dates if different
• Filed and stamped by the DLCP

3. Biennial report confirmations

• References original filing date
• Used to calculate biennial report due dates

Formation date vs. effective date

Washington, DC allows businesses to specify a future effective date up to 90 days when filing, creating two different dates:

• Formation date (file date): When the DLCP processed your paperwork – use this one
• Effective date: When your entity officially began operations (if you specified a later date)

For most DC entities, these dates are identical, but always verify which date you need for specific compliance requirements.

Next steps: Onboard your entity to Discern

With your DC entity information in hand, you can onboard to Discern in minutes. Our platform automates compliance management across all 51 jurisdictions, handling DC's biennial reports, 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.