How to Find the Owner of a Business in California

Learn how to find the owner of a business in California by searching through the California Secretary of State's database. Get tips on how to select a business name and find permits.

How to Find the Owner of a Business in California

Are you looking to start a company in California? The first step is to conduct a search for existing businesses in the state. The California Secretary of State maintains an organized registry of business entities that exist or have been dissolved. This database is free to use and makes it easy to search for existing companies or to query an available business name.If you know the exact name of a California business entity, you can search for it in its entirety. You can also search for California business licenses on the Secretary of State's website if it appears as an LLC, corporation, or partnership.

In addition, the Los Angeles City Council Tax Permit Office & can give you the name and address of the business owner for a business licensed in the city of Los Angeles.A DBA (doing business as), or trade name, is a fictitious business name that companies operate outside of the LLC's formal name. When selecting a California business name, it's important to understand the different naming requirements for each type of entity. Businesses can send a full name availability inquiry letter to the California Secretary of State to verify name availability.If you plan to create an LLC, you'll want to perform a search for the name you want for your company to see if there are any business organizations with that name already. You can also perform a California Secretary of State business search by entering a license number, individual name, or company name and selecting a state.If the company filed a Fictitious Business Name Statement with the Los Angeles County Office of Record and Record, you can obtain a copy.

The Governor of CalGold's Office of Business and Economic Development is responsible for helping you find the right permit for your business.