North Carolina business lookup
Find a North Carolina business in our directory, then confirm it with the Secretary of State business registration search, the assumed business name records and the state licensing boards.
To look up a North Carolina business, use the NC Secretary of State's free Business Registration search by entity name, registered agent or company official. The record shows the SOSID number, status and annual reports. Assumed business names (DBAs) are filed with the county Register of Deeds and, since December 2017, also appear in a statewide Secretary of State search. Contractors are checked with the board that licenses their trade.
Updated November 2026Search our directory first
USA Business Search lists North Carolina businesses built from Foursquare open place data plus listings that owners submit. Use it when you need to reach a business: its phone number, website, address and category. Start on the North Carolina hub and drill into a city, or go straight to a large market:
Search a distinctive word from the name rather than the full legal name, because many companies operate under a trade name that differs from what is on file with the state. If a listing looks out of date, the owner can claim and correct it. A directory listing does not mean we verified or endorse the business.
Verify a business with the NC Secretary of State
The official record lives in the North Carolina Business Registration search. Searching is free. You can search by:
- Entity name, either names starting with your text or names containing all of your words.
- Registered agent, useful when one agent serves several related companies.
- Company officials, when you know the person but not the company.
A record shows the entity name, its SOSID number, its status and its annual reports, which list the principal office, officers and registered agent. Sole proprietorships and general partnerships are not in this database, so a missing result does not mean a business is fake.
Status words to know: Current-Active means filings are up to date. Active/Not Current means the company is behind on a required filing, such as its annual report. Admin. Cancelled means the state cancelled the entity's existence or authority.
Proof of good standing
North Carolina's good-standing document is a Certificate of Existence (a Certificate of Authorization for out-of-state companies). The Secretary of State's own notice lists $10 for an electronic copy or $15 on paper, plus $1 a page, while its fee schedule shows a single $15 fee, so confirm the total at checkout. Order it only from sosnc.gov: the state warns about private mailers that charge far more, and no yearly certificate is required.
Assumed business names (DBAs)
A business that uses a name other than its legal name files an assumed business name certificate with the Register of Deeds in a county where it operates, under N.C. Gen. Stat. Chapter 66, Article 14A. Filings made since December 1, 2017 are also searchable statewide in the Secretary of State assumed name search. Older names may only be on file at the county.
Check a contractor license
- General contractors need a state license for projects of $40,000 or more. Search the NC Licensing Board for General Contractors.
- Electrical contractors are licensed by the State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors.
- Plumbing, heating and fire sprinkler contractors are licensed by their own state board. Ask for the license number and check it with that board.
For other trades and professions, see our contractor license lookup guide.
Questions
Is the North Carolina business search free?
Yes. Searching the Secretary of State Business Registration database and viewing annual reports is free. You only pay to order a certificate.
Why can't I find a business in the state search?
Sole proprietorships and general partnerships are not registered with the Secretary of State. The business may also operate under an assumed name filed with the county Register of Deeds.
What does "Active/Not Current" mean?
The entity still exists but is behind on a required filing, usually its annual report. It is not in good standing until it catches up.
When does a North Carolina contractor need a state license?
General contractors need a license from the NC Licensing Board for General Contractors for projects costing $40,000 or more. Electrical, plumbing, heating and fire sprinkler contractors are licensed by their own boards.
Own a North Carolina business?
Listing your business on USA Business Search is free. Add it so customers can find your phone, website and hours, or claim an existing listing to fix the details.