Run by the Corporations Division of the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection. It covers LLCs, corporations, nonprofits, and trade names.
District of Columbia Secretary of State | Business Entity Search
The District of Columbia registers businesses through the Corporations Division of the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP), not a Secretary of State. Its CorpOnline system lets anyone confirm whether an entity exists, find its registered agent, and review its filings for free.
Business Name Availability Check
District of Columbia
What the DC CorpOnline Search Covers
Each record lists the entity type, status, registration date, registered agent, principal office, and governors (DC’s term for managing people).
A basic Business Search is free. Detailed filings and certificates require a free Access DC sign-in.
How to Search by Business Name
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1
Open CorpOnline business search
Go to CorpOnline (corponline.dlcp.dc.gov) and open Business Search from the homepage under Resources. A basic search needs no account.
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Search by entity name or file number
Enter the entity name or file number. Partial names work, so start broad and narrow from the results.
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Read the results list
Results show matching entities with their status. Click an entity to open its detail record.
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Review the entity record
The record shows status, entity type, registration date, registered agent, principal office, and at least one governor (DC's term for a managing person).
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Sign in for filings and certificates
Viewing is free, but to pull detailed filings, file a biennial report, or order a good-standing certificate you sign in with a free Access DC account.
Ready to try it? Open CorpOnline and run your query.
Search DC CorpOnline ↗All the Ways to Search DC Records
Entity Name
Find a business by name. Partial names are accepted. The most common starting point.
Open this search ↗File Number
Go straight to one record using the entity's DLCP file number.
Open this search ↗Registered Agent
The registered agent appears on each record; every DC entity must maintain an agent with a DC address.
Open this search ↗Filings (Access DC)
Sign in with a free Access DC account to view detailed filings and submit the biennial report.
Open this search ↗Rules That Make Your Search Work
- A basic Business Search is open to everyone from the CorpOnline homepage — no account needed.
- You can search by entity name (including partial names) or file number.
- Detailed filings, biennial reports, and certificates require a free Access DC sign-in.
- Every DC entity must keep a registered agent with a DC address to stay in good standing.
- DC uses the term "governor" for a managing person such as a member, manager, or director.
- Entities file a biennial report (Form BRA-25) every two years, due April 1.
Reading the Entity Detail Page
| Field | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| File Number | The number the DLCP Corporations Division assigned to the entity. |
| Entity Name | The registered legal name of the business. |
| Status | Whether the entity is Active and in good standing, or in another condition such as revoked. |
| Entity Type | The structure, such as a Domestic or Foreign LLC, Corporation, or Nonprofit. |
| Registration Date | The date the entity was formed in DC or registered as a foreign entity. |
| Registered Agent | The name and DC address of the agent designated to receive legal documents. |
| Principal Office | The entity's principal business address as most recently reported. |
| Governor(s) | DC's term for the managing people — members, managers, directors, or officers — named on the record. |
| Filing History | Formation documents, biennial reports, and amendments, available in detail after Access DC sign-in. |
Two official references help you go further:
How to View and Download a Company's Filings
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Open the entity’s detail page
Search by name or file number and click the entity to reach its record.
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Sign in with Access DC
Create a free Access DC account to open detailed filings, file reports, and order certificates.
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Open the filing history
Review the entity’s formation documents, biennial reports, and amendments.
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Order a good-standing certificate
Order a Certificate of Good Standing through CorpOnline when a bank, court, or contract requires one.
Biennial report (BRA-25): Every DC entity files a biennial report every two years, due April 1. The fee is $300 for LLCs and for-profit corporations and $80 for nonprofits, and the report includes registered agent and beneficial ownership details.
DC Business Search - Common Questions
Is the DC business entity search free?
Yes. A basic Business Search on CorpOnline is free and needs no account. Detailed filings, biennial reports, and certificates require a free Access DC sign-in.
Does DC have a Secretary of State?
Not for business registration. The Corporations Division of the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP) maintains DC business records.
What is a "governor" on a DC record?
It is DC's term for a managing person of the entity — such as a member, manager, director, or officer.
Does DC require an annual report?
DC uses a biennial report (Form BRA-25) filed every two years, due April 1. The fee is $300 for LLCs and for-profit corporations and $80 for nonprofits.
How do I get a certificate of good standing?
Sign in to CorpOnline with an Access DC account and order the certificate through the Corporations Division.
A name is available in DC. Does that mean I can use it?
Not necessarily. District availability does not clear a name against federal trademarks. Run a USPTO trademark screen and check domain and social-handle availability before committing.