Washington business entity information, including entity name, type, number, and formation date, is available through the Washington Secretary of State's Corporations & Charities Filing System (CCFS). This free online database provides access to the key details you need for onboarding, compliance, or business transactions.

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

Summary table: Finding your Washington entity information

How to search for Washington business entities

Navigate to the Washington CCFS portal and locate the Corporation Search section on the homepage, and enter your business name in the search field. Note that while Washington's system supports partial matches, using your complete legal name as registered ensures you get precise results.

Washington offers three search modes: "Contains" (the broadest, including results with the term anywhere in the name), "Begins with" (only returns names starting with the term), and "Exact match" (returns only entities that match the search exactly). For most searches, the "Contains" option provides the best balance of accuracy and completeness.

Click your entity name in the results to view complete details, including your UBI number, formation date, registered agent information, and filing history. The advanced search option lets you filter by business type, status, incorporation date, and other criteria to get more refined results.

What you'll see in search results

• Legal entity name (exact spelling and punctuation)

• Entity type (LLC, Profit Corporation, Nonprofit Corporation, Limited Partnership, Limited Liability Partnership, Professional Limited Liability Company, etc.)

• UBI Number (9-digit format)

• Formation/registration date

• Current status (Active, Inactive, Dissolved, Forfeited, Revoked, Suspended)

How to find your entity number in Washington

Your Washington entity number, officially called your "UBI Number" (Unified Business Identifier), is nine digits.

Where to locate your Washington UBI number

1. Washington business search (fastest method)

• Located: Prominently displayed in search results and at the top of the entity details page

• Labeled as: "UBI Number"

• Format: 123456789 (nine consecutive digits)

2. Certificate of Formation/Organization/Incorporation

• Usually at the top of the document

• May be labeled as "UBI Number," "Entity Number," or "Unified Business Identifier"

3. Annual reports and state correspondence

• Appears on all official Washington Secretary of State documents

• Used as your account identifier across multiple state agencies

• Also appears on Department of Revenue correspondence and business licensing

Washington entity number format

• Format: 9 numeric digits

• Example: 123456789

• Pattern note: Unlike other states, Washington's UBI serves as a universal identifier across multiple state agencies, not just the Secretary of State

How to find your entity type in Washington

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

Where to find your Washington entity type

1. Washington business search (most accessible)

• Displayed: Prominently in search results under "Entity Type" column

• Listed as: "LLC," "Profit Corporation," "Nonprofit Corporation," "Limited Partnership," etc.

2. Certificate of Formation/Organization/Incorporation

• At the top of your formation document

• May state "This Certificate of Formation creates a [Entity Type]" or similar

3. Annual reports

• Listed in entity information section

• Cannot be changed without formal amendment

How to find your formation date in Washington

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

Where your Washington formation date appears

1. Washington business search (easiest access)

• Listed as: "Registration Date" or "Formation Date"

• Location: Displayed in the entity detail page under basic entity information

2. Certificate of Formation/Organization/Incorporation

• Top of the document

• May say "Filed on [date]" or show the filing stamp with date

• The filing date is typically present, and may be accompanied by the Secretary of State's stamp or seal in some cases

3. Annual report confirmations

• References original filing date

• Used to calculate annual report due dates

Formation date vs. effective date

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

• Formation date (file date): When the Washington Secretary of State processed your paperwork (use this one)

• Effective date: When your entity officially began operations (if you specified a later date)

Next steps: Onboard your entity to Discern

You've got what you need from Washington's system: business name, entity type, UBI number, and formation date. Now get those details into Discern and let our platform handle annual reports, deadline tracking, registered agent coordination, and compliance management across all your jurisdictions.

Book a demo to see how we simplify multi-state compliance.