Learn how to run a free Alabama Secretary of State business entity search, read what each status means, and confirm a name is clear before you file.
You need to check a company before you sign a contract, pay a deposit, or claim a name. The Alabama Secretary of State keeps a free public record of every registered business in the state, and it takes about a minute to search.
The catch is what comes next. Alabama is one of the very few states where a name reservation is required before you can file your formation documents. This guide covers both: how to look up an existing Alabama business, and what to do once you find the name you want is free.
Key Takeaways
The search is free and needs no account. You can look up any Alabama entity by name, entity ID, officer, agent, or filing date.
Alabama says "Exists," not "Active." Its status labels do not match the ones you see in other states.
A name reservation is mandatory in Alabama. You cannot file a Certificate of Formation without a Certificate of Name Reservation first.
Appearing in results is not proof a business is live. Dissolved, canceled, revoked, and withdrawn entities stay in the database with their status shown.
Trade names are handled elsewhere. Alabama DBAs go through the Trademarks Division, not the Business Entity Division.
Alabama Business Entity Search at a Glance
Detail | Information |
Official tool | Alabama Secretary of State Business Entity Records, also called the Alabama corporation search, Alabama entity search, or SOS Alabama business search |
Operated by | Alabama Secretary of State, Business Entity Division |
Cost | Free, with no login or account required |
Search by | Entity name, entity ID, officer or agent or incorporator, filing date, or reservation ID |
Covers | For-profit and nonprofit corporations, LLCs, LPs, LLPs, LLLPs, and registered foreign entities |
Does not cover | Sole proprietorships, general partnerships, and county or city business licenses |
Best for | Company lookup, vendor due diligence, and an Alabama business name search before you file |
The division holds roughly 250,000 entity filings and handles about 500 information requests a day with a staff of 12. [1] That is worth knowing before you phone in a question that the free Business Entity Records search can answer in seconds.
What the Alabama Secretary of State Business Entity Search Covers
The Business Entity Division is the record keeper for every domestic Alabama entity and every out-of-state entity that has qualified to do business here. [1]
Entity Types You Will Find
- For-profit corporations: Alabama C Corps and corporations that elect S Corp status federally.
- Nonprofit corporations: including organizations that later apply for 501(c)(3) status.
- Limited liability companies: domestic and foreign LLCs.
- Partnerships: limited partnerships, registered limited liability partnerships, and limited liability limited partnerships.
What is Not in the Entity Database
- Sole proprietorships: they never register with the Secretary of State, so they will not appear.
- General partnerships: unless they registered as an LLP.
- Business licenses: Alabama privilege licenses are issued by county probate offices and cities, not the Secretary of State.
- Trade names: DBAs are handled by a different division and may not show up as entities.
That matters when a search returns nothing. A real, tax-paying Alabama business can be absent from this database simply because it never had to register as an entity.
How To Perform an Alabama Business Entity Search Step by Step
Step 1. Open the Official Business Entity Records Page
Go to the Secretary of State Business Entity Records page and choose Business Entity Search. No account, no login, no fee. The search itself runs on the state records system, so do not be surprised when the address changes.
Step 2. Pick The Right Search Type
Search Type | When To Use It |
Entity Name | The default. Use it when you know or can guess the company name |
Entity ID Number | Fastest and exact, when you already have the ID from a filing or contract |
Officer, Agent, or Incorporator | Reverse lookup. Find every entity tied to one person or registered agent |
Filing Date | Useful for research on entities formed in a specific window |
Reservation or Registration ID | To track a name reservation or trade name registration you filed |
Step 3. Enter the Name the Way The State Tells You To
The Secretary of State publishes its own search instructions on the name reservation form, and it is the single most useful search tip for Alabama. Type the name into the Entity Name box without entity identifiers such as Inc. or LLC, and without punctuation. Leave every other box on the page blank. The system will then return all entities using that name, and in many cases similar names too. [2]
- Drop the designator: Search "Redstone Logistics," not "Redstone Logistics, LLC."
- Drop the punctuation: Commas, periods, and ampersands throw off matches.
- Try both forms of a word: "Inc" and "Incorporated," or "and" and "&."
- Search the distinctive word alone: One strong keyword catches more look-alikes than a full legal name.
Step 4. Narrow the Results With The Filters
Alabama offers more filtering than most states. You can limit results by status, by place of formation across all 67 Alabama counties or another state or country, and by principal city. Use these only after a broad search, because filtering too early hides the lookalike names you actually need to see.
Step 5. Open the Entity Record
Click through from the results list to the detail page. That is where the registered agent, addresses, formation date, and filing history live.
How To Read Alabama Entity Search Results
Field | What It Tells You |
Entity Name | The exact registered legal name on file |
Entity ID Number | The unique nine-digit ID assigned by the Secretary of State |
Entity Type | Corporation, LLC, LP, LLP, LLLP, or nonprofit |
Status | Whether the entity still legally exists |
Formation or Qualification Date | When it registered in Alabama, and how old it really is |
Place of Formation | The Alabama county, or the home state or country for a foreign entity |
Principal Office Address | Where the business says it operates |
Registered Agent Name and Address | Who accepts legal service and state mail |
Filing History | Amendments, mergers, dissolutions, and other filings on record |
What the Alabama Business Entity Search Does not Show
- An EIN: There is no Alabama EIN lookup. A federal Employer Identification Number is issued by the IRS and is not published in any state entity database. If you need one for your own business, apply for one free through the IRS. If you need a vendor EIN, ask them for a Form W-9.
- Financial information: No revenue, assets, credit, or tax records.
- Full ownership: Alabama LLCs are not required to publish member names, so the record often shows only an organizer and a registered agent.
- Business licenses: County and municipal privilege licenses are searched locally.
- Trade names: A registered DBA sits in the Trademarks Division records, not here.
What Alabama Entity Statuses Mean
Alabama uses its own vocabulary here, and it is the most common source of confusion. Appearing in the results does not mean a business is live.
Status | What It Means | What To Do |
Exists | Alabama’s term for an active, properly registered entity. Other states say Active or Good Standing | Safe to proceed with normal due diligence |
Dissolved | A domestic entity that has ended, voluntarily or administratively | Do not contract with it. The name may free up |
Cancelled | The registration was terminated, often for non-compliance | Ask for a written explanation before proceeding |
Revoked | The state pulled the entity’s authority to transact business | Treat as a serious red flag |
Withdrawn | A foreign entity formally ended its Alabama registration | Confirm where it is registered now |
Merged | Absorbed into another entity and no longer independent | Identify and vet the surviving entity instead |
Consolidated | Combined with others into a new entity | Search for the new entity by name |
What Does a "Disqualified" Status Mean in an Alabama Business Search?
Alabama’s own status list does not include "Disqualified." If you see that word, it almost certainly came from a third-party data aggregator that maps state labels onto its own vocabulary. The closest Alabama equivalents are Revoked, Canceled, or Dissolved. Always confirm the exact wording on the Secretary of State record rather than on a resale site, because those sites often lag the state by weeks.
How To Check if a Business Name Is Available in Alabama
The same entity search is your name availability check. Run it the way the state recommends: enter the name without identifiers or punctuation, leave the other boxes empty, and read the full list of similar names that comes back. [2]
What Alabama Means by Distinguishable
Alabama requires proposed names to be distinguishable on the index from existing names, ignoring the entity designation itself. [2] So "Redstone Logistics LLC" is not distinguishable from "Redstone Logistics, Inc." Dropping a comma or swapping LLC for Inc. changes nothing.
Required Designators by Entity Type
Entity Type | What the Name Must Contain |
Limited liability company | Limited Liability Company, or the abbreviation L.L.C. or LLC |
For-profit corporation | Corporation or Incorporated, or the abbreviation Corp. or Inc. |
Nonprofit corporation | No designator is required |
Limited partnership | Limited Partnership or an accepted abbreviation |
Limited liability partnership | Limited Liability Partnership or an accepted abbreviation |
Alabama LLC naming Rules and Prohibited Words
- Do not mix designators: An LLC name cannot contain Inc., Corp., or Corporation.
- No government implication: The name cannot suggest a connection to a state or federal agency.
- No implied exemption: The name cannot suggest the business is exempt from Alabama regulation.
- Regulated terms need approval: Words such as bank, banking, insurance, and trust require sign-off from the relevant regulator before the filing will clear.
- No misleading purpose: The name cannot imply activity the entity is not authorized to conduct.
- No offensive language: The Secretary of State will reject profanity or obscene terms.
Not settled on a name yet? The free Swyft Filings business name generator is a good place to start before you pay a reservation fee.
Alabama Requires a Name Reservation Before You File
This is the biggest difference between Alabama and almost every other state. In most states, a name reservation is optional. In Alabama, it is a prerequisite. You must obtain a Certificate of Name Reservation before you file your formation documents, for both domestic and foreign entities. [3] [4]
Method | Fee | Turnaround | Notes |
Online, non-subscriber | $28.00 | Immediate | Print the certificate at the end. It is not mailed |
Mail, standard processing | $10.00 | No guaranteed timeframe | Depends on volume at the office |
Mail, expedited processing | $25.00 | About 24 hours from receipt | Mail or courier only, never fax or email |
Renewal | Same fee structure | Same | Only accepted in the 90-day window before expiry |
How Long an Alabama Name Reservation Lasts
One year from the date the application is accepted, or until you file a written notice of withdrawal, whichever comes first. [5] That is generous compared to the 30 to 120 days most states allow, but it also means a name held by someone else can stay locked up for a full year.
Two things to remember are:
- Download your online reservation certificate and print it at the end of the process (it is not mailed). Losing it means ordering a duplicate and paying again.
- If you are forming a professional LLC or professional corporation, you may need to submit a copy of the professional license, which the online system cannot accept.
Alabama Trade Name (DBA) Search
Alabama calls a DBA a trade name, and it is handled by the Secretary of State Trademarks Division, not the Business Entity Division. That is why a trade name may not appear the way you expect in an entity search, and why an "Alabama fictitious name search" is a separate lookup.
Trade Name vs. Legal Entity Name in Alabama
Your legal entity name is what appears on your formation document and in the entity database. A trade name is a name you use publicly that differs from it. Registering a trade name does not create a legal entity and does not change your tax status.
What Alabama Requires For a Trade Name
- You must already be using it: Alabama registers marks that are in use. You cannot reserve a trade name for a business you have not started yet.
- Three specimens: The application requires three specimens showing the name in actual use.
- Notarization: The application must be signed before a notary public.
- $30.00 fee: Non-refundable, payable to the Alabama Secretary of State. [6]
- Five-year term: Registrations run five years and are renewed for successive five-year periods, with the renewal filed in the six months before expiry. [6]
- One class per application: Goods or services spanning multiple classes need a separate application and fee for each class.
Swyft Filings handles Alabama DBA registration if you don’t want to assemble specimens and chase a notary yourself.
How to Search for Foreign Corporations Registered in Alabama
An out-of-state company that transacts business in Alabama must register with the Secretary of State. Once it does, it appears in the same entity search alongside domestic companies, with its home jurisdiction shown in the place of formation field.
- Run a normal name search: There is no separate foreign entity search.
- Read the place of formation: Another state or country there means the entity is foreign.
- Use the Place of Formation filter: You can narrow results to a specific state or foreign country.
- Withdrawn means it left: A foreign entity that ends its Alabama authority shows as Withdrawn.
- No record is meaningful: If an out-of-state company doing real business in Alabama has no record at all, it may not have registered as required.
How To Verify a Vendor Using the Alabama Entity Search
If you are checking a supplier, contractor, or counterparty before you pay them, work through this list rather than just confirming the name exists.
- Search the exact legal name from their invoice or contract, not their marketing name.
- Confirm the status reads Exists, and not Dissolved, Canceled, Revoked, or Withdrawn.
- Check the formation date against how long they claim to have been in business.
- Read the registered agent. A resigned agent or a bare mail drop address is worth a question.
- Run an Officer, Agent, or Incorporator search on the principal to see what else they run.
- Check whether the name on the contract is the legal name or an unregistered trade name.
- Confirm any required professional or county license, which this database will not show.
Red Flags Worth a Second Look
- A company using "LLC" or "Inc." with no entity record at all.
- A very recent formation date behind a claim of decades of experience.
- A legal name that does not match the name on the contract or invoice.
- Multiple dissolved entities tied to the same officer.
- A registered agent address in another state, which Alabama does not permit.
Alabama Business Entity Search Costs
The search itself is free. These are the only costs attached to searching, to holding a name, and to registering a trade name you found was clear. [2] [6] [7] Confirm current amounts on the Secretary of State fee schedule before you pay, since state fees do change.
Service | Fee | Notes |
Business entity search | Free | By name, entity ID, officer, agent, or date |
Officer, agent, or incorporator search | Free | Reverse lookup on a person or agent |
Name reservation, online | $28.00 | Immediate, printed at the end and not mailed |
Name reservation, mail standard | $10.00 | No guaranteed turnaround |
Name reservation, mail expedited | $25.00 | About 24 hours from receipt |
Name reservation renewal | Same as above | Only in the 90-day window before expiry |
Duplicate name reservation certificate | $10.00 standard, $25.00 expedited | If you lose the original |
Why Your Alabama Business Search Returns No Results
An empty result is usually a search problem. Work through these before concluding a business does not exist.
- Remove the entity identifier and all punctuation, and search again.
- Search only the most distinctive word in the name.
- Clear the status and place of formation filters so dissolved and historical records appear.
- Search by the nine-digit entity ID, including leading zeros, if you have it.
- Try an Officer, Agent, or Incorporator search on a name you know.
- Consider that the business may be a sole proprietor, which never appears here.
- Check whether the name you have is a trade name rather than a legal entity name.
Let Us File Your Alabama Business
Once the search confirms your name is clear, Alabama still wants a name reservation, a formation filing, and a registered agent before you are trading. Swyft Filings has helped more than 600,000 businesses since 2015. We handle Alabama LLC formation, C Corp and nonprofit filings, registered agent service, trade name registration, and business name changes so the sequence actually lines up.
Bibliography
- Alabama Secretary of State. Business Entities. Accessed on August 5, 2026.
- Alabama Secretary of State. Name Reservation Request Form for Domestic Entities. Accessed on August 5, 2026.
- Alabama Secretary of State. Limited Liability Companies. Accessed on August 5, 2026.
- Alabama Secretary of State. Domestic Corporations. Accessed on August 5, 2026.
- Code of Alabama 1975. Section 10A-1-5.14, Duration of Reservation of Name. Accessed on August 5, 2026.
- Alabama Secretary of State. Trademarks, Service Marks and Trade Names. Accessed on August 5, 2026.
- Alabama Secretary of State. Business Entities Division Fee Schedule. Accessed on August 5, 2026.
