Virginia Business Entity Search
Find a registered business through Virginia State Corporation Commission, Clerk's Office. Use the official link below, then check the search options and name rules for Virginia.
Official website: cis.scc.virginia.gov · Opens in a new tab
Virginia search options and record coverage
Virginia CIS searches business entities by name, SCC ID, entity type, status, and registered-agent/public record information. The system supports online formation, annual registration fees, annual reports, agent changes, fictitious names, certificates, reinstatements, and document ordering.
Checking a business name in Virginia
Virginia names must be distinguishable from existing SCC records under the applicable statute. Punctuation, capitalization, spacing, translations, and generic designators may not cure confusing similarity; a reservation or acceptance does not grant trademark rights or approval for licensed activity.
Virginia name reservations
Virginia SCC631 reserves or renews a business name for 120 days for $10. Reservation is only a filing priority; the final name must be distinguishable and must not violate trademark, professional, or other regulatory restrictions.
DBA, trade names, and fictitious names
Virginia fictitious/assumed-name certificates are filed through the SCC Fictitious Name forms and CIS at https://www.scc.virginia.gov/businesses/forms-and-fees/. The amount depends on the certificate type and route; an assumed name does not create a separate legal entity.
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 Virginia formation and filing fees.