California business lookup
How to run a CA company search: find a business in our directory, confirm it in the Secretary of State's bizfile Online, then check the county DBA and the CSLB license.
For a California company lookup, search the Secretary of State's bizfile Online by entity name or number. It's free and shows status, registered agent and filing history. Fictitious business names (DBAs) are filed with the county clerk, not the state. For contractors, check the license with the Contractors State License Board (CSLB).
Updated October 2026Search our directory first
USA Business Search lists California businesses from Foursquare open place data and owner submissions. It is the quick way to get a phone number, website or address. Start at the California hub or go to a major city:
California is big enough that one name can belong to unrelated businesses in different regions. Add the city when you search, and compare the address with the state record before you rely on it. Owners can claim listings to correct them. We do not verify or endorse businesses.
CA corporate search: bizfile Online
The official California Secretary of State database is bizfile Online. It covers corporations, LLCs, limited partnerships and other registered entities, and searching is free. Search by entity name or by the entity number the state assigns.
A result opens a detail panel with:
- Status: Active, Suspended (often by the Franchise Tax Board for unpaid tax or missing returns), Terminated, Canceled or Forfeited.
- Agent for service of process: the person or registered corporate agent that accepts legal papers.
- Principal and mailing addresses, plus the formation date and home jurisdiction.
- History, where you can view and download filed documents such as Statements of Information, which list officers or managers.
"Suspended" deserves a second look. A suspended California entity loses the right to do business and to defend itself in court until it fixes the problem. If you are about to sign a contract, ask the company to show it has been revived.
A Certificate of Status costs $5 and is ordered through bizfile Online while you are logged in. It is usually delivered within minutes. That fee is from the Secretary of State's information requests page, as of October 2026.
Fictitious business names are filed with the county
The Secretary of State does not register DBAs. A Fictitious Business Name Statement is filed with the county clerk in the county of the principal place of business, as the Secretary of State FAQ explains. The filer must publish the statement once a week for four weeks in a local newspaper, starting within 45 days of filing. A statement expires five years after it is filed. Each county sets its own fee.
To find who is behind "Golden Coast Plumbing," search the fictitious business name index of the county where it operates. Los Angeles, San Diego and most large counties offer online indexes.
Check a contractor license with the CSLB
The CSLB license check searches by license number, business name, personnel name or home improvement salesperson registration. It shows license status, classification, bond, workers' compensation coverage and disclosable complaints.
- Since January 1, 2025, a license is required for jobs of $1,000 or more in labor and materials combined, up from $500, under AB 2622. Work that needs a building permit requires a license at any price.
- A contractor cannot split a job into smaller contracts to stay under the limit.
- Other trades have their own boards. The Department of Consumer Affairs runs a combined license search for professions such as pest control, cosmetology and engineering.
Use our plumbers in California page to build a list, then run each name through the CSLB.
Starting a business in California
Form an LLC
Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1) cost $70 when filed online through bizfile. Every LLC then files a Statement of Information within 90 days and every two years after, for $20. Both figures are as of October 2026; confirm on the Secretary of State FAQ.
The $800 franchise tax
LLCs, corporations and LPs pay at least $800 a year to the Franchise Tax Board, even with no income. LLCs pay with Form FTB 3522 by the 15th day of the fourth month of the tax year. The temporary first-year exemption has ended. Confirm on the FTB due dates page.
Most California cities also require a business tax certificate or license, and a seller's permit from the CDTFA is needed if you sell taxable goods.
California business lookup FAQs
How do I do a CA company search for free?
Use the Secretary of State's bizfile Online. Searching by entity name or number and viewing filed documents is free. You pay only for certificates and certified copies.
What does "FTB Suspended" mean on a California business?
The Franchise Tax Board suspended the entity, usually for unpaid tax, penalties or missing returns. It cannot legally do business until it is revived.
Where do I look up a California DBA?
With the county clerk in the county where the business is based. The Secretary of State does not keep fictitious business names.
Do California handymen need a license?
Yes, for any job of $1,000 or more in labor and materials, or any job that needs a permit. Smaller jobs are exempt, and splitting a job to stay under the limit isn't allowed.
How do I find the owner of a California LLC?
Open its Statement of Information in bizfile Online. It lists the managers or officers and the agent for service of process. Members who are not managers may not be listed.
Own a California business?
Add your business to USA Business Search free, or claim the listing we already have so customers see your current phone, website and hours.