How to search Alabama business entities online

Four ways to search

The search system offers four distinct modes, each accessed through a separate URL on the arc-sos.state.al.us domain:

• By entity name — keyword match against the registered business name
• By entity number — precise lookup using the Alabama-assigned ID
• By officer, agent, or incorporator — finds entities connected to a specific individual
• By name reservation or registration ID — locates reserved or registered names

Most searches start with the name mode. The number search is useful when you have the entity ID from a filed document or a previous search result — it returns a single matching record.

Entity types covered

The database covers a broader set of entity types than most state registries — the Type filter on the name-search form lists over 50 options. Domestic categories include business corporations, benefit corporations, public corporations, corporations sole, general partnerships, limited liability companies, series LLCs, limited partnerships, limited liability partnerships, homeowners associations, unincorporated associations, Delaware statutory trusts, employee cooperative corporations, real estate investment trusts, professional corporations, professional LLCs, professional associations, and nonprofit equivalents of most of these. Foreign registrations of nearly every domestic type are also searchable, plus a foreign-only insurance corporation category. Name reservations and registered names appear in results as well.

The entity ID format change

Alabama converted entity IDs from a 6-digit to a 9-digit format. Legacy 6-digit IDs now display with three leading zeros prepended — so entity 123456 shows as 000123456. This is a display change only; no action is required from filers, and the underlying record is the same. When searching by entity number, enter the full 9-digit string including the leading zeros.

Status filters and search refinements

The name search form includes a Status dropdown with more options than most states offer. Beyond "All Records," you can filter to Exists (active), Cancelled, Consolidated, Dissolved, Merged, Revoked, Withdrawn, or limit results to Registered Names, Name Reservations, or Previous Names only. A Place of Formation filter narrows by county (all 67 Alabama counties are listed), state, or foreign country, and a Principal City field further refines results.

Reading search results

Results show the entity name, entity number, entity type, and current status. Selecting an entity name opens the detail record, which shows the registered agent, principal office address, officers or organizers depending on entity type, and links to filed documents.

Accessing filed documents and copies

Filed documents are viewable through the search system at no charge. Paper copies can be ordered by mail using the Document Copy Request form available from the SOS website. Fee structure from the official schedule: $2.00 per page for copies of documents, and $10.00 flat for certification of documents bearing the Secretary of State's seal. A separate Certificate of Existence — Alabama's version of a certificate of good standing, often requested by banks or lending partners — costs $25.00 and can be ordered directly through the online portal at alabamainteractive.org/sos rather than by mail.

Historical records before 2011

Corporation records from 1949 through 2010 are archived with the Alabama Department of Archives and History rather than the main SOS search system. To obtain copies of pre-2011 records, contact the Archives directly at archives.alabama.gov. The SOS system covers records from 2011 forward for entities formed or registered in that period, and maintains current records for all active entities regardless of original formation date.