Lookup Business Entity | Form Corporation | FAQ
The New York secretary of state leads the Department of State, which is the state’s planning department and custodian of documents, including the Great Seal of New York. The secretary is in charge of regulating specific businesses and professions. The New York Secretary of State has made a search tool available on their website, and we’ll walk you through the process. To begin with, this search function is only for business entities that are already on file, and you should not interpret the results as a direct indication of whether or not a name is available.
| Official Website: | http://www.dos.ny.gov/corps/ |
| Address: | One Commerce Plaza, 99 Washington Ave, Albany, NY 12231-0001 |
| Phone: | 1(518) 473-2492 |
| E-Mail: | http://www.dos.ny.gov/about/contact.asp?DCode=CORP#emailcontact |
New York Business Search Shortcut
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How to lookup a business entity in New York secretary of state business
New York Secretary of State Business Search by Name
- Visit the New York Department of State’s entity search page to get started. There are few alternatives for narrowing down your search. You have the option to selecting either presently active entities or all entities on file. You can also adjust the type of search. To get started, put the entity’s name into the search area and select Search Database from the drop-down menu.
- Simply do a search for the name you seek and choose it by tapping on it. If the entity you’re looking for doesn’t appear right away, you can go through the pages using the Next Page button at the bottom.
- You will be directed to a webpage with information on the firm after selecting the required NY entity. You may check to verify if the entity exists. You can discover if the entity is currently operational, as well as its address and stock details.
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Steps to form a new Corporation in New York
1. Find and select the best name for your New York corporation
The name of your corporation must include the terms “Incorporated,” “Corporation,” “Company,” or “Limited,” or a short version of one of those phrases. The name of your corporation must be distinct from that of other corporate names that are currently on record with the New York Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs.
By checking the New York business name database, names may be examined for availability. By submitting an Application for Reservation of Name to the New York Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Commercial Services, you can reserve a name for six months.
2. Obtain an EIN from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS employer identification number)
Obtaining a federal employer identification number (EIN) is required for your business. For taxation reasons, this identification number serves as the corporation’s Social Security number. Among other things, it enables you to recruit staff and create a company bank account. The IRS website has an online application that you may use to get an EIN. You will require this number for future documents and to file your company’s tax filings, so keep a record of it.
3. Nominate a Registered Agent for Your New York Corporation
The state of New York requires every business to have an agent for legal process serving. If a company is sued, this person or business consents to take court documents on the company’s behalf. An entity with a certificate of power to conduct business in New York such as Northwest Registered Agent and GoDaddy, a New York resident, a New York company, or a foreign entity may serve as a registered agent.
4. Create information-rich articles of incorporation and bylaws
The fundamental guidelines for running your organization are outlined in the bylaws, which are internal corporate documents. They are not reported to the government. Corporate bylaws are not legally needed for your company, but you should nonetheless adopt them since they define how your company will operate and demonstrate to lenders, creditors, the IRS, and other parties that your company is genuine.
5. Prepare a draft and obtain a Certificate of Incorporation and file it
The file must contain the following information: the corporation’s name; its intention; the number of shares it is permitted to issue; the name and address of the agent receiving service of process; the name and address of the resident agent receiving service of process; and the names and addresses of all incorporators.
6. Assess your payroll tax obligations.
Note that corporate taxes must be paid separately from shareholder profits taxes. Federal and state governments require the proper returns to be filed annually in order to do this.
7. Certain legal and compliance requirements must be met by your New York corporation.
Take time to investigate any necessary permissions or licenses to maintain your new firm on the legal straight and narrow. Depending on the type of company services you offer, the county or city where your firm is situated, and if you employ people, different permissions and licenses may be required.
8. Get other necessary requirement
Give your New York State Corporation an official address. On the internet, look for website and email domain availability. Make a phone number, voicemail, website, email address, and business cards for the firm, as well as a physical and/or mailing address.
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Frequently asked questions on New York Secretary of State Business Search
What Are the Rules for Naming a Business in New York?
There are several basic and special name requirements that must be followed by businesses in New York. We’ve already addressed the most important ones.
In New York, can I do business under a different name than my legal name?
In New York, you can usually operate a business under a different name. This is referred to as a trading name, among other terms. On your behalf, we can file your NY Fictitious Business Name with the New York Department of State.
In New York, what organization registers and manages business names?
The Department of State is where businesses are formed in New York. They are in charge of the New York company registry, and we will check their business name database on your behalf.
What’s the Best Way to Prevent Someone Else from Using My New York Business Name?
Incorporating your business in New York, either as a Limited Liability Company (LLC) or a corporation, is the simplest method to secure your New York business name. If you want to be extra safe, you might register your New York company name as a trademark. It’s important to note that registering a fake or “doing business as” (DBA) name in New York would not protect it.
How can I search the New York Department of State’s Business Registry?
Simply type your suggested NY LLC or business name into the above New York business name search tool. We’ll look for your business name in the New York Department of State’s database and let you know if there are any matches.