Guide
Business License Search: What It Covers and How to Check
Updated August 2026
A business license search means something different depending on who's asking. Someone forming a business wants to know what licenses and permits they need. Someone vetting a business wants to confirm it holds the licenses it should. Either way, the answer isn't found through a single national database — licensing is split across state occupational boards, local governments, and industry-specific agencies, each running its own separate system.
Quick Answer
There's no single business license lookup covering every state and industry. Start with your state's professional or occupational licensing boards for regulated trades, check your city or county clerk's office for a general local business license, and go to the relevant industry-specific agency for anything regulated at that level — contractors, healthcare, food service, alcohol, and similar fields each have their own licensing body.
Why there's no single business license database
A state's Secretary of State (or equivalent) business entity registry only confirms that a company legally exists — it says nothing about whether that company holds the licenses needed to actually operate. Licensing itself is handled by a different set of agencies entirely: state occupational boards for regulated professions, city or county governments for general local business licenses, and separate agencies for industry-specific permits. These systems don't share one search interface, so a full picture usually means checking more than one source.
State occupational and professional licensing boards
Regulated professions and trades — contractors, cosmetologists, real estate agents, healthcare providers, and similar occupations — are licensed by dedicated state boards, separate from the Secretary of State's entity registry. Most state licensing boards run their own public license lookup where you can search by an individual's or business's name and see license status, expiration, and any disciplinary history. This site's state Secretary of State office pages each list that state's key licensing agencies as a starting point for finding the right board.
City and county business licenses
Most cities and counties require a separate general business license or permit to legally operate within their jurisdiction, on top of state-level entity registration. Requirements, fees, and even terminology vary enormously by locality — a business license, a business tax certificate, a home occupation permit — so there's no way to check this at the state level. Searching "[city or county name] business license" or checking that local government's official website is the direct path.
Industry-specific licenses and permits
Certain industries carry their own licensing requirements on top of general business and occupational licenses — a restaurant needs a food service permit and often a separate liquor license from an alcohol control agency, a daycare needs childcare licensing, a moving company may need interstate operating authority from a federal agency. These requirements are set by whichever agency regulates that specific industry, not by the state's general business registry.
Verifying a business you're dealing with is properly licensed
If you're checking a business before hiring or working with it, start with the licensing board for its specific profession or industry — most maintain a free public lookup showing active status and any disciplinary action. Pair that with an entity search through the state's business registry to confirm the company itself is in good standing; an active professional license and an active entity registration are two separate, equally worth-checking facts about the same business.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is registering an LLC or corporation the same as getting a business license?
No — entity registration with the Secretary of State creates the legal business, while a business license is a separate authorization to operate, issued by a different agency depending on what's being licensed. Many businesses need both.
How do I find my state's licensing board for a specific profession?
Search "[your state] [profession] licensing board" — for example "Texas cosmetology licensing board" — or check your state's Secretary of State office page on this site for a list of key state licensing agencies as a starting point.
Do all businesses need a city or county business license?
Most do, but requirements vary significantly by city and county and aren't tracked at the state level — check directly with the local government where the business operates.
Can I check if a contractor or professional is licensed before hiring them?
Yes — most state licensing boards for regulated trades like contractors, electricians, and healthcare providers offer a free public search showing license status and any disciplinary history, usually on the board's own website.
This guide is informational only and is not legal or tax advice. Rules and fees vary by state — verify specifics on your state's Secretary of State office page. Last verified: August 2026.