Kentucky Secretary of State – KY SOS Business Search

Kentucky Secretary of State Business Division
Address: Office of the Secretary of State, Records Branch, P.O. Box 718, 700 Capital Ave., Suite. 156, Frankfort, KY 40601
Website: www.sos.ky.gov
Email: sos.ky.gov/pages/contact
Telephone: 1(502) 564-3490
Fax: 1(502) 564-5687

Lookup a Business Entity

Step 1 – Start

In order to look up a business entity in Kentucky, you will need to go to the Secretary of State’s Website.

• Name
• Current Officer of the Company
• Incorporating Officer of the Company
• Registered Agent

After you have selected which way you would like to look up the entity you will be brought to the Results Page (As Seen Below), where you can sort through the matching listings.

Step 2 – Choose Your Entity

You will be shown a preview of the entity’s Name, Number, Status, and Type in order to help you narrow down the results if you cannot decide which one it is. When you want to view all the information about the corporation you simply click on the blue text link (Under Company Name) and you will be brought to the Details Page.

Step 3 – Retrieve Information

This is the final step of the search process and now you may be able to view all the information about the specific corporation including its Organization Number, Name, Company Type, Status, Standing, State of Incorporation, Formation Date, Filing Date, Last Annual Report, Principal Office Address, Registered Agent Name, Registered Agent Address, Current Officers, and Officers at the time of the creation of the company.

You may also be able to easily view all previous filings (in Adobe PDF) and if you are the owner or registered agent of the company be able to file amended reports, change the principal office address, or change who is listed as the registered agent.

Step 4 – Steps to form your new Business in Kentucky

• 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.