Virginia Secretary of State – VA SOS Business Search

Commonwealth of Virginia State Corporation Commission
Address: Office of the Clerk, P.O. Box 1197, Richmond, Virginia 23218
Telephone: 1(804)371-9733
Website: www.commonwealth.virginia.gov
E-Mail: scc.virginia.gov/contact
Hours: 8:15 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday

Lookup a Business Entity

Step 1 – Start

Search business entities (Corporations, LLC, Limited Partnership) by using the Secretary of State’s Website. Use to perform a lookup by Name. Make sure when you use this tool that you include as many describing terms as you can in order to locate and narrow down the listings.

Once you have made your selection, you will be brought to the Results Page (As Seen Below).

Step 2 – Choose Your Entity

When viewing the results, you may be able to preview the listing’s SCC ID Number, Name, Type, and Status. When you find the entity you were looking for click on the blue text link (in the ‘Business Entity Name’ column). This will bring you to the Information Page (See Sample Below).

Step 3 – Retrieve Information

You have now completed your search and may be able to view all the information on file with the Secretary of State including the business’s ID Number, Type, Jurisdiction of Formation, Date of Incorporation, Status, Principal Office Address, and Registered Agent details (Name and Address).

You also have the option on the right-hand side of the page to: Change Registered Agent, File an Annual Report, Pay Annual Registration Fee, Order a Certificate of Good Standing, View eFile Transaction History, and Manage E-Mail Notifications.

Step 4 – Steps to form your new Business in Virginia

• 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.