Maryland Secretary of State – MD SOS Business Search

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Maryland Secretary of State Business Division
Address: 16 Francis Street – Jeffrey Building, Annapolis, Maryland 21401
Telephone: 1(410) 974-2486
Fax: 1(410) 280-5647
Website: www.sos.maryland.gov
E-Mail: sos.maryland.gov/Contact-Us

Lookup a Business Entity

Step 1 – Start

In order to look up a business entity (Corporation, LLC, Limited Partnership) in Maryland, you must go to the Secretary of State’s Website.

You have the choice of either performing a query by Name or by Department ID Number. The most common is by name and it is recommended that you include as many terms as you know to narrow down the results.

After making your selection you will be brought to the Results Page (See Below).

Step 2 – Choose Your Entity

While trying to find your selected corporation, the Secretary of State provides information to help your quest such as the entity’s Department ID Number, Name, and a link to view its General Info, Amendments, Personal Property, and Status. To go to the Details Page (See Below), click on the General Info. link in the light brown text.

Step 3 – Retrieve Information

You have completed your search and are now able to view all the information located with the Secretary of State including the business’s Principal Office Address, Registered Agent (Name and Address), Status, Whether it is in Good Standing, Business Code, Date of Incorporation, State of Formation, Stock/Non-Stock, and Close/Not Close.

At the top of the page, you also have the option to order Amendments, view Personal Property, and order a Certificate of Status.

Step 4 – Steps to form your new Business in Maryland

• 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.