Alabama
On this page
Alabama at a glance
- Who runs it
- Alabama Secretary of State, Business Entities Division
- Business Entity Records
- Cost to search
- Free
- Searching is free. Copies of filed documents are $2 per page by mail or $3.50 per page online, and certifying a document adds $10.
- Account needed
- No
- Search without signing up
- Search by
- Entity Name (with Type, Place of Formation, Principal City, and Status filters), Entity ID
- and 2 more
State fees
- Form an LLC$200Attach the name reservation certificate. Card payments carry a convenience fee.Certificate of Formation (Domestic Limited Liability Company)Official source
- Business Privilege Tax Return and Annual ReportNoneCalculated on net worth. For tax years beginning after December 31, 2023, tax of $100 or less is fully exempt and no return is required.Due on the same date as the LLC's federal income tax return, the 15th day of the 3rd month after the tax year begins. A new LLC files the initial return (Form BPT-IN) within two and a half months after it forms.Official source
- Certificate of Existence$25$28 online, printed immediately. A Certificate of Compliance (good standing) is a different document from the Department of Revenue.Proof the business is currentOfficial source
- Change registered agent$100Change of Registered Agent or Registered Office by Entity form.Every LLC must have oneOfficial source
Alabama LLC lookup: how to use the Business Entity Records
An LLC lookup in Alabama is the same search as a business search. The Business Entity Records, kept by the Alabama Secretary of State, lists LLCs alongside corporations and other registered businesses. You can search by entity Name, entity ID, officer | Agent | Incorporator or reservation ID. It's free, and you don't need an account.
- Open Business Entity Records and choose "by Entity Name". Type a word from the name without "LLC" or punctuation, and leave the other boxes on "All Records".
- Narrow the list with the "Type" filter (for example, "Domestic Limited Liability Company") or the "Status" filter, then click "Search".
- Click the Entity ID in the results to open the record with its status, agent, members, and annual report years.
- Under "Scanned Documents", click "Purchase Document Copies" to buy a copy of a filing ($3.50 per page online).
- To find every business tied to a person, use "by Officer | Agent | Incorporator".
Good to know in Alabama: Alabama won't accept a Certificate of Formation until you hold a Certificate of Name Reservation, so the search also covers reservations and has its own "by Reservation ID" option. Alabama also splits the paperwork: the Secretary of State issues a Certificate of Existence, while the Certificate of Compliance (good standing) comes from the Department of Revenue. LLCs file no annual report with the Secretary of State.
What the search shows you
- Entity name and Entity ID Number
- Entity type and status
- Principal address and place of formation (county)
- Formation date and nature of business
- Registered agent name and registered office address
- Members, when listed on the filing
- Annual report years on file, with the reported agent and officers
- Scanned documents with date, type, and page count, and a "Purchase Document Copies" link
What the status words mean
Alabama uses its own words for a company's status, and they don't always mean the same thing as in other states. Here's what you'll see on the Business Entity Records, in the state's own wording.
| Status | What it means |
|---|---|
| Exists | The formation documents were processed and the entity is on record. The Secretary of State notes that any entity showing "Exists" is subject to being taxed until it dissolves. |
| Dissolved | The entity's dissolution documents were processed. A dissolution takes effect on the date the office receives it and can't be backdated. |
| Revoked | A status you can filter on in the search. The Secretary of State's pages don't define it, so read the record's documents for details. |
| Withdrawn | A status you can filter on. The search doesn't define it. A foreign entity leaves Alabama by filing a Certificate of Withdrawal, which needs a Certificate of Compliance from the Department of Revenue. |
| Previous Name | Shown in results for a name the entity used before. Open the Entity ID to see the current record. |
For how these compare across states, see what business entity status means.
Finding the registered agent, filing history and owners
Registered Agent
Shown on the record as "Registered Agent Name" with the registered office street and mailing addresses. Changing the agent takes a separate form and a $100 fee, not an amendment.
Filing history
The "Scanned Documents" section lists each filing with its date, type, and page count. Copies cost $2 per page by mail or $3.50 per page online, plus $10 per document to certify.
Owners, managers and officers
Many LLC records include a "Members" section taken from the filing. When annual report years are listed, each one opens a page with the agent and officers as reported that year. If the state record doesn't name anyone, our guide on how to find the owner of an LLC covers where else to look.
Finding an Alabama Entity ID Number
Alabama gives every business on its register an Entity ID Number. It's the quickest way to pin down the right company when names are alike.
- What it looks like
- Nine digits in three groups, for example 000-441-283.
- Where to find yours
- Issued once the formation documents are processed. It's shown at the top of the search record. The Secretary of State notes it is not an EIN.
- Search by it
- Yes. The Business Entity Records accepts it.
It's easy to mix it up with these, which come from other offices:
- Name Reservation ID (RES#) (Alabama Secretary of State). Printed on the name reservation certificate. It identifies the reservation, not the business, and has its own search option.
Your federal EIN is a different number again. See which business number a form is asking for.
Checking whether a business name is available in Alabama
- Search "by Entity Name" with the name you want, leaving out "LLC" and punctuation. The name must be distinguishable from existing names, ignoring the entity ending.
- You must reserve the name before forming. A reservation is $25 on paper or $28 online, and the online certificate prints right away.
- Names with words like bank, trust, insurance, or engineer need a letter of approval from the agency that regulates them.
- The LLC name must include "Limited Liability Company", "L.L.C.", or "LLC".
A clear result on the state search isn't a trademark clearance. If the name matters to you, also search the USPTO trademark database and check the domain. More in our business name search guide.
DBA and UCC search in Alabama
DBAs and assumed names
- What it's called
- Trade Name
- Where they're filed
- Trade names are registered with the Secretary of State alongside trademarks and service marks. Registration is optional: Alabama says ownership rights come from adopting and using a name under common law.
- State fee
- $30. Per classification. Three specimens showing the name in use must be included.
- How long it lasts
- 5 years. It can be renewed for more 5-year periods within six months before it expires.
UCC liens
Lenders file UCC financing statements with the Alabama Secretary of State, UCC Division. The online search is free. Our Alabama UCC search guide has the steps and fees.
Alabama fees and deadlines
These are the state's own fees, before any service charges. Each row links to the official page we took it from.
Form an LLC
$200- Certificate of Formation (Domestic Limited Liability Company).
- Mailed filings are processed and returned by mail. Online filers print their filed documents, and copies of online filings must be printed within 15 days because they aren't mailed.
Business Privilege Tax Return and Annual Report
None- Due: Due on the same date as the LLC's federal income tax return, the 15th day of the 3rd month after the tax year begins. A new LLC files the initial return (Form BPT-IN) within two and a half months after it forms.
- If you're late: The Department of Revenue pages we checked don't list a late penalty amount.
- Alabama LLCs don't file an annual report with the Secretary of State. The privilege tax stays due every year until the LLC is dissolved with the Secretary of State.
Change your registered agent
$100- Every Alabama LLC must have one.
- Change of Registered Agent or Registered Office by Entity form.
Certificate of Existence
$25- Proof the company exists and is current, from the Alabama Secretary of State.
- $28 online, printed immediately. A Certificate of Compliance (good standing) is a different document from the Department of Revenue.
60,621 new business applications were filed in Alabama from January to September 2026, up 17.6% on last year, according to the Census Bureau. See every state.
Starting a business in Alabama?
A lot of people search the Business Entity Records to see if a name is taken before they file. If that's you, here's the order to do things in.
- 1Check the name is free in AlabamaTakes two minutes, steps on this page
- 2File your LLC with the stateCertificate of Formation, $200 state fee
- 3Or let a service file it for youCompared on what you pay in year two
Step 3 goes to our comparison page, which has sponsored links. We earn a commission if you buy, and it doesn't change our rankings. How that works.
Frequently asked questions
How do I look up an LLC in Alabama?
Search the Business Entity Records, the official database kept by the Alabama Secretary of State. You can search by entity Name, entity ID, officer | Agent | Incorporator or reservation ID. It's free, and you don't need an account. Open the matching record to see the LLC's status, registered agent and filing history.
Is the Alabama business search free?
Yes. Searching and viewing records is free. Copies of filed documents cost $2 per page by mail or $3.50 per page online, and a Certificate of Existence is $25 ($28 online).
Do Alabama LLCs file an annual report?
Not with the Secretary of State. LLCs file the Business Privilege Tax Return and Annual Report with the Department of Revenue, due with the federal return. If the calculated tax is $100 or less, no return is required.
What does "Exists" mean on the Alabama business search?
It means the formation was processed and the entity is on record. An entity that shows "Exists" stays subject to tax until it files dissolution papers.
Can I find out who owns an Alabama LLC?
Often, yes. Many LLC records include a "Members" section from the formation filing. You can also search "by Officer | Agent | Incorporator" to find every business tied to a person.
Sources
We take every fee, deadline and rule on this page from these pages and nowhere else. Rules change, so open the source before you pay anything.
- 1.Business Entity Records searchChecked November 8, 2026
- 2.Secretary of State: LLCs (formation fees and procedure)Checked November 8, 2026
- 3.Business Entities Division fee schedule (PDF)Checked November 8, 2026
- 4.Domestic Business Entities brochure (PDF)Checked November 8, 2026
- 5.Application for Certificate of Existence (PDF)Checked November 8, 2026
- 6.Name Reservation Request Form for Domestic Entities (PDF)Checked November 8, 2026
- 7.Department of Revenue: Alabama Business Privilege TaxChecked November 8, 2026
- 8.Department of Revenue: due datesChecked November 8, 2026
- 9.Secretary of State: UCC filing feesChecked November 8, 2026
- 10.Secretary of State: trademarks and trade namesChecked November 8, 2026
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