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A seasoned small business and technology writer and educator with more than 20 years of experience, Shweta excels in demystifying complex tech tools and concepts for small businesses. Her work has been featured in NewsWeek, Huffington Post and more. Her postgraduate degree in computer management fuels her comprehensive analysis and exploration of tech topics.
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Cassie is a deputy editor collaborating with teams around the world while living in the beautiful hills of Kentucky. Focusing on bringing growth to small businesses, she is passionate about economic development and has held positions on the boards of directors of two non-profit organizations seeking to revitalize her former railroad town. Prior to joining the team at Forbes Advisor, Cassie was a content operations manager and copywriting manager.
Shweta,
ShwetaSmall Business Writer
A seasoned small business and technology writer and educator with more than 20 years of experience, Shweta excels in demystifying complex tech tools and concepts for small businesses. Her work has been featured in NewsWeek, Huffington Post and more. Her postgraduate degree in computer management fuels her comprehensive analysis and exploration of tech topics.
Cassie Bottorff
Cassie BottorffEditor
Cassie is a deputy editor collaborating with teams around the world while living in the beautiful hills of Kentucky. Focusing on bringing growth to small businesses, she is passionate about economic development and has held positions on the boards of directors of two non-profit organizations seeking to revitalize her former railroad town. Prior to joining the team at Forbes Advisor, Cassie was a content operations manager and copywriting manager.
Small Business Writer, Editor
Jane Haskinscontributor
Jane Haskins practiced law for 20 years, representing small businesses in startup, dissolution, business transactions and litigation. She has written hundreds of articles on legal, intellectual property and tax issues affecting small businesses.
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Jane Haskins
Jane Haskinscontributor
Jane Haskins practiced law for 20 years, representing small businesses in startup, dissolution, business transactions and litigation. She has written hundreds of articles on legal, intellectual property and tax issues affecting small businesses.
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Reviewed
Updated: Nov 14, 2022, 2:00pm
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Table of Contents
- What Is a Business Entity?
- Search by Name
- Search by File Number
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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You have a great business idea, you are excited to begin and you must formalize it first by registering the business. To begin the registration process you need a unique business name. If you are starting a business in Illinois, you can search for available business names on the Illinois Secretary of State website through the Illinois business entity search tool.
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What Is a Business Entity?
A business entity is a formal business structure created by filing documents with the state. A business entity may be a limited partnership, limited liability company (LLC), corporation or a limited liability limited partnership. Sole proprietorships and general partnerships are more informal types of businesses that are not considered business entities.
Starting a Business in Illinois
These are the basic steps for starting a business in Illinois:
- Choose a business name
- Register your business
- Obtain a business EIN (Employer Identification Number)
- Obtain required permits and licenses
- Open a business bank account
- Launch your business website and social media handles
- Get business insurance
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Forming an LLC in Illinois
Organization of an LLC in Illinois is done under the Limited Liability Company Act. You can complete the entire process online or submit physical documents to the Limited Liability Division of the Department of Business Services at the Illinois Secretary of State’s office.
Know that Illinois does not issue a statewide business license. But you will usually need at least a general business license from the city or municipality in which you are operating.
Search by Name
The Illinois Secretary of State website offers a business database search tool to search for registered corporations and LLCs. The easiest way to search for a valid business is using a business name.
You will also have to specify the business type—corporation or LLC or both—you wish to search. The default is searching for both LLC and corporation. After all, your new business name must be distinguishable from all other corporation and LLC names on file. You can also search by name, keyword or partial word, giving you the flexibility to weed out similar-sounding companies as well as exact matches.
The search result displays company name, entity type and file number. If you click on the company name, you can see more details about the company such as status, agent name and address and date of incorporation.
Search by File Number
When an entity applies for registration, the Illinois Secretary of State provides it with an eight-digit unique file number. You can search a business name by its file number if you have it.
To search by file number, you must specify whether you want to search for corporations or LLCs. You cannot search by file number if you elect to search for both business types at once.
Bottom Line
A business entity search is an important preliminary step when you’re setting up an Illinois business. A search can show if your preferred business name is available before you file paperwork, and it helps you eliminate similar names that could cause marketing or trademark issues in the future.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How do I check if a business is registered in Illinois?
The Illinois Secretary of State Department of Business Services website allows you to search its business database of corporations and LLCs. You can use this search tool to check if a business is registered in Illinois.
Can I reserve a business name in Illinois?
The Illinois Secretary of State website provides a name reservation form, which you can fill out and submit to reserve a business name.
How do I find out who owns a business in Illinois?
A business entity search won’t tell you who owns a business, but it can give you clues. Perform a search on the Illinois Secretary of State website for registered business names. In the search result, click on the business name to see more detailed information such as the company’s address, its registered agent and the names of its officers.
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