How to search North Carolina business entities online

North Carolina business entity records are searchable through the Secretary of State's Business Registration portal at sosnc.gov — Business Registration Search. No account is required to search; filing requires a registered account. The SOS explicitly prohibits automated searching of the database.

What the search covers

The database covers domestic and foreign LLCs, business corporations, professional corporations, nonprofit corporations, limited partnerships, LLPs, limited liability limited partnerships (LLLPs), and trade names registered with the Secretary of State. Assumed names (DBAs) filed at the register of deeds level are not in this system — those are county-level records.

Search options

Four search modes are available:

• Entity Name — name-based search; partial names work; case-insensitive
• Entity ID — the North Carolina Secretary of State entity number
• Registered Agent Name — useful when you need to identify all entities served by a specific agent
• Assumed Name — searches DBA names registered with the SOS (distinct from county-level trade name filings)

Results show the entity name, type, status, date of formation or registration, registered agent, and principal office. Clicking an entity opens the detail record with document history.

Annual report due dates and filing channels

North Carolina LLCs file their annual report by April 15 each year. Corporations file by the 15th day of the fourth month after the close of the fiscal year — for calendar-year corporations, that is April 15 as well. Annual reports can be filed online or by mail; the fees differ slightly between channels. Online filing is the faster option and avoids processing delays common in peak season around the April 15 deadline.

This guide is informational only and is not affiliated with the North Carolina Secretary of State's office. Verify current procedures at sosnc.gov — Business Registration. Source: North Carolina Secretary of State, verified May 2026.