How to search Massachusetts business entities online
Updated August 2026
Official Resource
Massachusetts Official SOS WebsiteMassachusetts business entity records are searchable at corp.sec.state.ma.us/CorpWeb/CorpSearch/CorpSearch.aspx, operated by the Corporations Division of the Secretary of the Commonwealth. The system covers domestic and foreign corporations, LLCs, LPs, LLPs, nonprofit corporations, benefit corporations, professional corporations, voluntary associations, and investment trusts.
Search modes
The portal offers four approaches on a single search page:
- Entity Name — with sub-modes: Begins With, Exact Match, Full Text, and Soundex (sounds like)
- Individual Name — searches officer and director names; useful when you know a person affiliated with an entity but not the entity name
- Identification Number — the 9-digit Massachusetts entity ID; must be entered as exactly 9 digits
- Filing Number — retrieves a specific document filing
Pagination is user-selectable at 25, 50, or 100 results per page. There is no registered agent search mode — that field is not a standalone search parameter.
Entity detail and filed documents
Each entity's record shows the legal name, identification number, entity type, status, formation or registration date, principal office address, resident agent name and address, and officer or director information from the most recent annual report. Filed documents are viewable from the filing history. Certificates of Good Standing can be ordered directly from a record without creating an account.
Legacy Card File for older records
Some entities formed before the current system was implemented have records in a separate legacy database — the Corporation Card File at corp.sec.state.ma.us — Card Search. If a name search in the main portal returns no results for an entity you know existed, try the Card File. Not all older records have been migrated to the primary system.
Name availability and reservations
A dedicated name reservation search at corp.sec.state.ma.us — Name Reservations shows names currently reserved. Active name reservations appear in the main search results as well. Name reservations cost $30 and hold a name for 60 days; the reservation can be extended once for an additional 60-day period by paying another $30.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I search Massachusetts business entities by officer or director name?
Yes. The Corporations Division portal includes an Individual Name search mode that searches officer and director names — useful when you know a person affiliated with an entity but not the entity's name. There's no separate registered agent search field, though.
Why can't I find an older Massachusetts business in the entity search?
Some entities formed before the current system was implemented are only in a separate legacy database, the Corporation Card File, at corp.sec.state.ma.us — Card Search. If a name search in the main portal returns nothing for an entity you know existed, try the Card File; not all older records have been migrated.
How much does a Massachusetts business name reservation cost?
A Massachusetts name reservation costs $30 and holds the name for 60 days. It can be extended once for an additional 60-day period by paying another $30. Active reservations also show up in the main entity search results.
This guide is informational only and is not affiliated with the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth's office. Verify current procedures at the official state website. Last verified: August 2026.