How to Conduct an Alabama Business Entity Search

The Alabama business entity search is a valuable tool that lets users learn more about business entities in the state. Whether you’re a veteran business owner who needs to access filings for existing businesses or an aspiring entrepreneur who wants to check name availability, this search tool is a go-to resource.

But using the Alabama entity search (and all of its different options) can feel a little overwhelming, especially if you’ve never used a search like this before. That’s where this guide comes in; we’ll give you a step-by-step guide to using this search tool. We’ll also discuss business name guidelines and what you should do after you’ve searched a company name.

Let’s get started.

Alabama Secretary of State Contact Information

Alabama Business Name Guidelines

When you’re starting a business, one of the most important things you’ll do is pick your business name. And like other states, Alabama has several rules about naming your business. 

First, your name needs to be different from the names of other registered businesses in Alabama, including both domestic and foreign corporations, limited liability companies (LLCs), limited partnerships, and so on. This is one of the simplest but most important naming standards. 

That said, uniqueness isn’t the only naming guideline to adhere to. Here are a few other rules your Alabama business name should follow: 

• Your business name should include a designator. For example, a corporation needs to include the words “incorporated” or “corporation” (or an abbreviation of those words). LLCs, however, need to include the phrase “limited liability company” or the abbreviation “LLC” (with or without periods).
• Your name cannot imply or state that your business is conducting activities that aren’t permissible by law.

If you’re in a licensed trade or profession, keep in mind that you’ll need to meet any naming rules that your industry has in place, too. If your desired business name doesn’t meet these requirements, you’ll need to pick a new one. 

How to Search the State’s Database by Entity Name

The most common way to consult the state database is to run an entity name search. This search is helpful if you know all or part of a company’s name; it’s also a helpful way to run a business name availability check.

Step 1: Set your search options and type your search

To get started with the search, you’ll need to set your filters appropriately. Here are the different filters you can use:

• Type: This filter lets you narrow down the search to include only a specific entity type, such as LLC, benefit corporation, or another structure.
• Place of Formation: This filter allows you to review businesses formed in a specific county that match your search terms.
• Principal City: This filter allows you to further narrow down the “Place of Formation” feature to a specific city (most specifically, the city where the entity’s principal office is).
• Status: This filter lets you review businesses with a particular status, such as “Active,” “Dissolved,” or even their “Previous Name.”

Once you’ve set your filters, type your name into the search bar labeled “Name” and hit “Search.”

Step 2: Review your search results

The search tool will pull up a list of all the business entities on file with the Alabama Secretary of State that match your search terms. If you’re using this tool to check name availability, then you’re hoping to see no results that match your search; this scenario likely means (but doesn’t guarantee) that your desired business name is available. If there are matches, you’ll need to amend your name.

But if you’re looking up records for a specific business, you’ll want to see a list of results, which should pop up quickly. For example, when we typed in a search of “America,” this is what our search results looked like:

This page will show you a variety of information about a company, including the entity ID number, entity name, city, type, and legal status. If you click on a company name or entity ID, you can review even more detailed information about the company.

This second results page will tell you about a company’s principal address and mailing address (if provided), place of formation, formation date, registered agent, the nature of their business, and more. You can also request copies of the business entity records that the state has on file, such as the Certificate of Formation.

How to Search by Business Entity ID Number

The Alabama entity ID number search is a streamlined option for locating records for a specific company. Alabama assigns a unique ID number to each business entity operating in the state, so looking up an ID number will yield only one result.

Using this version of the state business search is pretty straightforward. Just navigate to the website linked above and type the nine-digit entity number in an XXX-XXX-XXX format. This inquiry system should pull up the exact business you’re seeking (provided you typed the number correctly). Click on the company’s name to learn more about it or request copies of documents.

A quick note: the Alabama Secretary of State switched from a six-digit entity number format to a nine-digit format instead. If you previously had a six-digit entity number, note that “000” will have been added by the state’s office so your number reflects this change.

How to search by agent, officer, or incorporator name

Alabama also allows you to look up a business entity if you know the name of one of its officers or incorporators or the name of its registered agent. To do this, you’ll need to navigate to the officer search page.

On that page, you’ll need to type in the officer, incorporator, or registered agent name into the search bar. If you need to refine your results, you can filter them by the formation county for the business.

The results page will show you a list of all the entities that match your search, such as the one we saw when we searched “Smith.” You’ll see the individual’s full name and position on the right-hand side, and on the left, you’ll see the ID and name of the entity that they’re affiliated with.

As before, you can click on a business name to learn more about that company.

How to Search by Reservation ID

The final search you can use is a Reservation ID search. This tool lets you use a company’s business reservation number to look up any relevant records.

To use this search, navigate to the page linked above, type in the ID from the company’s reservation certificate, and hit “Search.”

After entering the reservation ID, you’ll have access to all relevant public information about the Alabama business.

What to Do After Searching Business Names in Alabama

After you’ve come up with a name and searched it, you’re probably feeling like you’ve done a lot of legwork. You’d hate for that hard work to go to waste, right? Here are some steps you can take to protect your Alabama business name and make the most of it. 

Reserve your Alabama business name

Alabama is unique because the state requires businesses to get a name reservation before they form their business. So, as soon as you’ve determined that your name is available, you should get going on your name reservation so you have legal protection for it while complying with state law. 

To do that, you’ll need to file a Name Reservation Request form with the Secretary of State. You can file a paper form, or you can make this request online. The base filing fees start at $25 (plus some convenience fees if you pay using a credit card or file using online services without being a subscriber). Keep in mind that the state website has different versions of this form for foreign and domestic entities.

Previously, Alabama forced new businesses to file this name reservation form with the state a few weeks before even forming their business. However, as of 2021, this form can be submitted along with your Certificate of Formation instead of submitting it ahead of time.

After your paperwork is received and approved, the Secretary of State’s office will reserve your name for a full year. You can also renew your reservation if you file a renewal within the last 90 days of the reservation period.

Form an LLC or register your business

One of the best ways to protect your new business name is to register your business. After you properly register a business under your chosen name, no one else in Alabama will be able to register their own company and conduct business with the same name. 

Registering an Alabama business is an important legal process. Learn more about starting an Alabama LLC. 

Get a domain name that matches

You want your customers to find your business website easily. That means you need a domain name that matches your business name as closely as possible. A matching domain will help your brand maintain consistency both in person and online.

If you’re struggling to come up with a domain name (or the one that matches your name is already taken), try using a domain name generator. A generator can help you come up with a domain that matches your brand image. 

Set up your business online

Today, you can’t run a business without a good digital footprint. A good business website is a decent starting point. But don’t stop there; set up social media accounts like a Facebook page, a TikTok profile, and an Instagram account. Make sure your business name is included on each account so your brand is consistent across your online presence.

Last but not least, set up a Google Business Profile for your business (or claim it if it already exists). This profile will help you direct customers to your website or your store location. Plus, it’ll help you respond to customer reviews and build a good brand reputation in the Heart of Dixie.

Trademark your business name (optional)

If you want the most robust protections for your business name, you could pursue trademark registration. Trademarks can be registered at the state or federal level (with federal protections being the strongest). 

Getting a trademark can be pretty complicated and time-consuming. If you go this route, it’s highly recommended to work with a trademark attorney.