Lookup Business Entity | Form Corporation | FAQ
You may browse the Virginia Secretary of State’s site and read about any company or commercial entity in the state. Business representatives can use the search tool on the Virginia Secretary of State website to not only investigate the information of a specific corporation but also to confirm the existence of their proposed operational name before registering in Virginia.
| Official Website: | https://cis.scc.virginia.gov/EntitySearch/Index |
| Address: | P.O. Box 1197, Richmond, Virginia 23218 |
| Telephone: | 1(804)371-9733 |
| E-mail: | mailto:sccinfo@scc.virginia.gov |
| Working hours: | 8:15am-5:00pm, Monday to Friday |
Virginia Business Search Shortcut
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How To Lookup An Entity In Virginia
Virginia Secretary Of State Business Search By Name
- To begin, go to the Virginia Secretary of State web page and type a business name in the search area.
- In terms of search parameters, choose between keyword, starts with, and contains to narrow down your results.
- To continue, click “Search.”
- The names of Virginia registered entities that match the one previously supplied will be presented in a list on the next page. Look through the listings until you identify the entity you want to look into.
- To learn more about a business, simply click on the name of the business.
- On the last page, you will see some general business information. The information provided will contain the registered agent’s information, which should be a Virginia address, as well as the major office’s address and the organization’s current status in Virginia. You’ll also have the opportunity to take additional action with the option on the right.
Virginia Secretary Of State Business Search By Organization
- To search by organization, go to the Virginia Secretary of State’s Business Search page and type the name of the entity in the relevant area before selecting the Search button.
- All of the organizations whose names match the terms of your search will appear in a list.
- On this page, some information about each entity will be provided. However, you can view the entity’s business information by clicking on its name.
- You’ll be able to look up information about the company, the address of its assigned offices, the officers who work for it, and anything else the Secretary of State has made public.
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Virginia Secretary Of State Business Search By Agent or Officer Name
It’s simple to search by agent or officer’s name. To find a business entity:
- Go to the business search page and type the individual’s name into the second space before clicking Search.
- A list of commercial organizations that are represented by or hire an officer or agent whose name matches the one supplied in the previous step will be generated. To move to the next phase, click on the name of an organization.
- This page will provide all publicly accessible organization information about the entity under consideration.
Steps To Forming A New Corporation In Virginia
1. Give Your Virginia Corporation a Name
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 Virginia Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs.
By checking the Virginia business name database, names may be examined for availability. By submitting an Application for Reservation of Name to the Virginia Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Commercial Services, you can reserve a name for six months.
2. Select a Registered Agent in Virginia
The state of Virginia 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 Virginia such as Northwest Registered Agent and GoDaddy, a Virginia resident, a Virginia company, or a foreign entity may serve as a registered agent
3. Initial Directors for Your Virginia Corporation
The management of the corporation is done by the board of directors. A company’s first board of directors is frequently chosen by the incorporators. Following that, the board is picked by the shareholders every year. A director or shareholder may be an incorporator. A Virginia corporation can really be founded by one individual, who can also hold all of the titles that go along with it. The three titles, however, are connected to various corporate functions.
4. Articles of incorporation must be filed
The articles 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.
5. Prepare your Virginia Corporation 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.
6. Organize your first meeting of the board of directors
The first corporate directors are chosen by the incorporator and serve on the board up until the inaugural annual shareholder meeting. At the first board meeting, the directors pick corporate officials, choose a corporate bank, establish the corporation’s fiscal year, approve the issuing of shares of stock, and adopt a formal stock certificate form and official seal.
7. Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN) and Pay Business Taxes
Obtaining an 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.
8. Obtain a business permit
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.
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Frequently Asked Questions On Virginia Secretary Of State Business Search
What is the best way to find out if my Virginia company name is available?
You’ll need to check that the name you select for your company is accessible. On the Virginia State Corporation Commission’s website, you may conduct a name search. This will tell you if the name you’re considering is available and not currently in use by another company.
Is it necessary for my company to have a business license in Virginia?
Your company may require local and state business licenses depending on the type of business and location. Check with the clerk of the city where the company’s principal place of business is situated for local licenses. Check out Virginia’s Business website for information on state licenses.
How do I obtain an EIN?
The business owner obtains an EIN from the IRS (for free) after founding the firm. This may be done either online or in the mail.
Is it worthwhile to use a registered agent?
A professional registered agent to manage government files for your Virginia business is a cost-effective option. The benefits of utilizing a professional service far surpass the annual expenditures for most firms.
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