How to Conduct an Alaska Business Entity Search

The Alaska business license search is a valuable tool for anyone who wants to learn more about businesses in the state. But how do you use the business license search tool? And how is it different from a corporations database search?

Alaska is actually a bit unique because the state offers two different search tools: the business license lookup tool and the corporations database one. Both tools can help you learn more information about a company, but the nuances of them are unique. In this guide, we’ll walk you through what both searches are and how to use them effectively. We’ll also talk about business naming guidelines in Alaska and what to do after searching a business name.

Let’s get started.

Alaska Department of Commerce Contact Information

Alaska 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, Alaska has several rules about naming your business. 

First, your name needs to be different from the names of other registered companies in Alaska, 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 Alaska business name should follow: 

• Your business name should include a designator. For example, corporations need to include the word “corporation,” “company,” “incorporated,” “limited,” or an acceptable abbreviation. LLCs need to include the phrase “limited liability company” or “LLC” with or without periods. 
• Your name can’t include “city,” “borough,” “village,” or any other words that imply that you’re a municipality.
• Your name can’t mislead the public about your company’s business purpose. 
• Your name can’t include words that are governed by professional licensing restrictions unless you also hold that professional licensure.

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 business name doesn’t meet these requirements, you’ll need to pick a new one. 

How to Run a Business License Search

In Alaska, every business type — including sole proprietorships, partnerships, LLCs, corporations, and beyond — is required to get a business license. The state maintains a complete searchable database of those licenses and information about their owners so it’s available to Alaska consumers.

You can use the business license search to verify if a business is appropriately licensed, print a copy of a business license, and learn the owner’s name. You should not use the business license search to look up a company’s business filings.

It’s also not a good way to check if a business name is available to use. That’s because Alaska allows multiple unregistered businesses (like sole proprietorships or general partnerships) to list the same business name on their business license. Names are only protected when a business registers with the state, either with a business formation or a DBA registration. Those registrations can be reviewed using the Corporations Database search, which we’ll cover in the next section.

But if you need to look up a company’s license information, the business license search is the perfect tool. Let’s get started.

Step 1: Type in your search information

There are thousands of business licenses in the state of Alaska, so it’s best to input as much information as you know about a particular business; the more vague your search is, the more irrelevant results you’ll see.

Here’s the different information you can include on your business license search:

• License Number: The state assigns a specific license number to every licensee, so you can search by that license number. This is a good way to be directed to the correct business quickly.
• Business Name: Searching a business name (or part of a business name) will pull up all the businesses that have that name listed on their business license.
• Alaska Entity Number: Businesses that register with the state (either for a business name registration or a business formation) are assigned a unique ID number. This is another way to be directed to the correct business quickly.
• Owner Entity Name: If a business entity like an LLC or corporation holds the business license, their company name will be listed on the business license. You can search by this legal name.
• Owner First or Last Name: Use this method to look up a business license owned by an individual, such as a sole proprietor or partner.

You can also hit the “current only” check box to exclude results for inactive businesses. Type as much information as you know about the business and hit “Search.”

Step 2: Review your search results

The business license search will pull up a list of all the business licenses that match your search terms. For example, here’s what we saw when we searched “Smith” in the “Business Name” line:

On this first results page, you’ll see the license number, business name, owner name, city, and license status for each company that matches your search terms. You can click on a license number to review additional information, too.

On this page, you can also see the license’s issue date, expiration date, whether the business has telemedicine, its mailing and physical address, and its activities. You can also review its endorsements and previous license lapses (if there are any). Finally, you can view and print a copy of the business license if you need it.

How to Search the Corporations Database

The Corporations Database search allows you to look up information for any business that has registered in the state, whether that’s registering a DBA name (“doing business as” name) or registering their company. So this is a good resource if you need to review a company’s information or check if a business name is already claimed by a registered business.

Here’s how to use it.

Step 1: Choose your search type

There are two ways you can search the Corporations Database: an entity number search or an entity name search.

An entity name search lets you look up a company by all or part of its business name. The names on file with the Department of Commerce include business name reservations, the legal names of registered businesses, and the DBA names that individuals have registered.

In contrast, an entity number search lets you look up a business by the number that’s assigned to it by the Department of Commerce. Each entity number is unique, so searching this number will reveal the exact business you’re looking for.

Pick the search option that works best for your search goals.

Step 2: Set your filters and type your search

For both search options, you can tell the search tool to include or exclude inactive entities by checking or unchecking the “Current Only” box.

If you’re using the Entity Name search, you can further filter your results. Here are your options:

• Starts With: This search filter will retrieve the business names that begin with the same words that you search. For example, if you searched “Smith,” the tool would pull up all the business names that begin with “Smith.”
• Contains: This search filter acts more like a keyword search; it’ll retrieve all the business names that include the name you search. For example, our “Smith” search would include “Smith Construction,” business names with “Locksmith,” and more.

Pick the filters you’re going to use and then type your search terms.

Step 3: Review your search results

If there are any business names on file that match your search terms (or you typed an entity number that matches one in the system), you’ll see a results list. For example, our search of “Smith” revealed this list of results:

For each matching result, you’ll see the company’s entity type, entity number, entity name, and business status. You’ll also see whether that name is a legal name, previous legal name, or assumed name.

If you click on a company’s entity number, you can review even more information about the company.

On this page, you can see the company’s formation date, duration, home state, and address. You can also see information about the company’s registered agent and the officials on file with the Department of Commerce. Last but not least, you can view the company’s filing history.

If you run a “Contains” search and a “Starts With” search of your desired business name, this search can give you a decent idea of whether your desired business name is available: if no matching results pop up, then there’s a good idea that your business name is available. This isn’t a guarantee of availability, but it’s a good place to start.

What to Do After Searching Business Names in Alaska

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 Alaska business name and make the most of it. 

Reserve or register your Alaska business name (optional)

If you’ve picked the perfect business name but you’re not quite ready to file your business formation paperwork, Alaska allows you to reserve a business name.

You can get an Alaska name reservation by filing a New Business Name Reservation form with the Department of Commerce. There’s currently a $25 fee to reserve a name. 

After your paperwork is filed and approved, your name reservation will be valid for 120 days. You can renew the reservation if you need more time, too. This step is optional, and you should only pursue it if you’ve picked a name but aren’t ready to file your formation paperwork yet.

Form an LLC or register your business

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

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

Get a DBA (optional)

If you aren’t forming an LLC, corporation, or another business that registers with the state, your name isn’t automatically registered or protected. But if you’re starting a partnership or sole proprietorship, you do have the option to register your business name with the state. Registering your business name as a DBA gives you exclusive rights to that DBA for five years. Many other states don’t protect DBA names, so this is a nice perk.

To register a business name, you need to have a valid business license already. Then, you’ll have to file a Business Name Registration form and pay the $25 filing fee. 

Reminder: LLCs and corporations have their business name registered by default. They don’t need to get a DBA unless they’re operating under a name that isn’t the same as their legal name.

Get a domain name that matches

You want it to be easy for your customers to find your business website. 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 Last Frontier.

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.