Alabama Secretary of State – AL SOS Business Search

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Alabama Secretary of State Business Services Division
Office Address: RSA Union Building – Suite 770 100 North Union Street Montgomery, Alabama 36103-5616
Phone: 1(334) 242-5324
Fax: 1(334) 240-3138
Website: www.sos.alabama.gov/businessservices/Default.aspx
E-Mail: https://www.sos.alabama.gov/contact

Quick Links

• Start a Business
• Form a Corporation
• Form an LLC (Limited Liability Company)

Lookup a Business Entity

Step 1 – Start

In order to search for a business entity (corporation, limited liability company (LLC), limited partnership (LP)) in Alabama you must go to the Secretary of State’s Website.

Perform a Lookup By Name, Key Word, or Identification Number. The most popular way to look is by name, although, make sure to use as many matching terms as you can to slim down the results.

After selecting your option you will be sent to the Results Page (As Seen Below).

Step 2 – Choose Your Entity

Now you will have to sort through all the matching results. The Secretary of State provides the entity’s Name, ID Number, and Type to assist you in your lookup. When you have found the desired listing, click the blue text link (under Entity Name) and you will be brought to the Information Page (See Below).

Step 3 – Retrieve Information

You have now reached the final step of the search process and are able to view the business’s ID Number, Name, Type, Resident Agent, Registered Agent’s Office, Principal Mailing Address (of the entity), State of Incorporation, Number of Shares, Year of Most Recent Annual Report, Status, and view any previously filed document by clicking the blue text link inside the red box.

Step 4 – Steps to form your new Business in Alabama

• Business name availability search (above)
• Internet domain availability search for website and email.
• Choose your entity type (LLC, S-Corp, C-Corp, Partnership, or Non-Profit Org)
• Obtain IRS EIN Number (employer identification number).  Create New IRS EIN Number
• Create Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws that include describing the business purpose of the entity, naming the registered agent, directors, registered address, operating guidelines, dissolution provisions, and other information.
• Determine if the new entity requires any federal, state, or local business licenses.
• Determine payroll tax requirements.
• Determine federal, state, and local tax filing requirements.
• Establish the business physical and/or mailing address, phone number, voicemail, website, email address, and business cards.