Connecticut Business Entity Search
Find a registered business through Connecticut Secretary of the State, Commercial Recording Division. Use the official link below, then check the search options and name rules for Connecticut.
Official website: business.ct.gov · Opens in a new tab
Connecticut search options and record coverage
Connecticut's Business Records Search accepts exact business name, Business ID/ALEI, or filing number and covers domestic and foreign entities. Results show business name, ID, principal, agent, formation date, entity type, address, filing history, annual-report dates, and downloadable PDFs. The public search also includes status/sub-status filters such as Current, Overdue, and Delinquent for active businesses.
Checking a business name in Connecticut
Connecticut names must be distinguishable on the Secretary's records and must use the correct statutory entity wording. The search tool asks for exact spelling for reliable lookup, but name review is legal rather than merely typographical: capitalization, punctuation, spacing, articles, and generic designators may not create a distinction. A reservation is only a temporary hold, and the Secretary can reject a name that conflicts with an existing, reserved, or protected name or implies an impermissible purpose.
Connecticut name reservations
$60.00 for a Connecticut LLC or corporation name reservation. The public fee schedule lists the reservation amount but the reviewed document does not state the duration on the same line; use the current reservation form for the exact lock period. Reservation is optional and does not form the entity. The Secretary determines legal distinguishability and may reject a name that differs only cosmetically.
DBA, trade names, and fictitious names
Connecticut does not register trade names with the Secretary of the State. A fictitious trade name must be registered with the town clerk where the business is or will be conducted under Connecticut General Statutes §35-1. The state explanation is https://portal.ct.gov/sots/business-services/trade-names---town-clerks. Fees and renewal/publication rules are municipal, not one statewide SOS amount.
What do you need after the search?
- Official proof of standing — find certificate fees and ordering instructions.
- A missed report or inactive registration — check deadlines and reinstatement rules.
- A new business registration — compare Connecticut formation and filing fees.