How to Conduct a Connecticut Business Entity Search

Navigating the complexities of the business world often requires access to reliable and detailed company information. The Connecticut Secretary of State business search, usually called the business records search, is an invaluable tool for anyone looking for detailed information about businesses in the Constitution State. In this article, we’ll explore the features and benefits of this powerful search tool, providing a step-by-step guide on how to conduct searches efficiently.

Whether you’re a budding entrepreneur, a seasoned investor, an attorney, or simply curious about the business landscape in Connecticut, understanding how to use the business records search can help offer deep insights into the state’s vibrant business community.

Connecticut Secretary of State Contact Information

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 150470 Hartford, CT  06115-0470	Physical Address: 165 Capitol Avenue Suite 1000 Hartford, CT 06106
Telephone: 860-509-6200	Website: https://portal.ct.gov/sots

Connecticut 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, Connecticut has several rules about naming your business. 

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

• Corporations need to include a designator like “corporation,” “incorporated,” “company,” “Societa per Azioni,” “limited,” or an abbreviation of one of these terms. You can also use these words in other languages.
• LLCs need to include the words “Limited Liability Company” or the abbreviation “LLC” (with or without punctuation). You can also abbreviate the words within the phrase “limited liability company,” such as “Limited Liability Co.”
• Your name cannot include words that imply you’re organized for a purpose that isn’t permitted by law or your formation documents.

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.

Using the Connecticut Business Records Search

The Connecticut business records search allows you to perform a search for businesses based on the company name, Authoritative Legal Entity Identifier (ALEI), or filing number. All you need to do is enter the information into the search field on the Connecticut business records search page.

Once you enter the entity name, ALEI, or business ID filing number, you’ll see a search results page. This screen shows you records for all corporations, LLCs, and other business entities that match your search terms. The results page will show you the entity name, principal name(s), registered agent name, current status, and address for each matching business.

Filtering Your Connecticut Business Search Results

Depending on the search terms you entered, you might find that the search tool yields a bunch of results. If that happens, you can refine your search using the filters on the left-hand side of the page. Here are the filters you can use:

• Business Start/End Date: This filter lets you check businesses that began or closed on a specific date.
• Business Status: This filter lets you check results based on a business’s standing, such as active businesses, cancelled businesses, withdrawn ones, and more.
• Business Sub-Status: The sub-status filter allows you to check business information based on an active company’s compliance status, including current, overdue, and delinquent businesses.
• Business Type: This filter allows you to filter by domestic or foreign entities.
• Entity Type: Use this filter if you know the business structure of the entity you’re searching, such as an LLC, stock corporation, limited partnership, or other registered business structure.

Reviewing Your Results

Once you’ve found the business you’re looking for, you can click on it to learn more about it. Here, you can see a variety of information.

First, you’ll see the “Business Details” section, which shows information like the company’s name, ALEI, current status, formation date, formation jurisdiction, entity type, business address, mailing address, annual report due date, and NAICS code.

The next section is the “Principal Details” area, where you can see the following information about each person in a leadership position with the company: their name, title, business address, and residence address.

You can also click on the link for “Filing History,” which presents detailed information about documents the business has filed over the years. This section lets you view the company’s formation documents, initial report, annual reports, amendments, change of registered agent filings, dissolution forms, or reinstatement paperwork.

The next tab, “Name History,” provides details about any name changes or doing business as (DBA) name filings throughout the company’s history. Finally, the “Shares” tab is exclusive to corporations, displaying information about the type and value of the stock issued by the corporation.

Using the Connecticut Advanced Search

The Connecticut Secretary of State site also provides an advanced search tool that enables you to comb through the state website using various business details. You can locate this search by hitting the “Advanced Search” link underneath the basic records search bar.

The advanced search includes all the search options listed in the normal search, but it also allows you to search Connecticut businesses based on their principal name(s), registered agent name, or home city.

Using any of these options on the Connecticut business name search presents the same search page results as the examples we outlined above.

That said, some common searches might give you a long list of results. For example, the “business city” category is pretty general. When we searched for businesses in Hartford, the tool returned more than 30,000 results. If this happens, you’ll probably need to refine the results further by filtering them.

What to Do After Searching Business Names in Connecticut

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 Connecticut business name and make the most of it. 

Reserve your Connecticut business name (optional)

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

You can file a Connecticut business name reservation by filing an Application for Reservation of Name form with the state. Connecticut recommends filing online for the best processing speeds, but paper filing is permitted if you prefer it. 

There is a $60 filing fee to reserve a name. After the paperwork is filed and approved, your name reservation is valid for 120 days. 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 Connecticut will be able to register their own company with the same name. 

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

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 Constitution State.

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.