The Corporations and Charities Filing System, run by the Secretary of State. It covers corporations, LLCs, nonprofits, and charities.
Washington Secretary of State | Business Entity Search
The Washington Secretary of State runs the Corporations and Charities Filing System (CCFS). Anyone can search it for free by business name or Unified Business Identifier (UBI) — and an advanced search can export results to a spreadsheet.
Business Name Availability Check
State of Washington
What the Washington CCFS Search Covers
Each record lists the UBI, status, formation date, registered agent, principal office, and filing history.
A basic name search is free and needs no login; advanced search can export to Excel.
How to Search by Business Name
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Open the CCFS business search
Go to the Corporations and Charities Filing System (CCFS) and scroll past the login to the search, or use the direct link below. No login is needed.
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Search by name or UBI
Search by business name or the Unified Business Identifier (UBI). Tip: avoid pluralization — keep the name singular for consistent results.
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Read the results
Results show matching businesses with their UBI and status. Click an entity to open its record.
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Review the entity record
The record shows status, entity type, formation date, registered agent, principal office, and filing history.
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Use Advanced Search to build a list
The Advanced Corporation Search finds multiple businesses and can export results to an Excel spreadsheet.
Ready to try it? Open the official CCFS search and run your query.
Search Washington businesses ↗All the Ways to Search Washington Records
Business Name
Search by company name; avoid pluralization for consistent results. The most common starting point.
Open this search ↗UBI
Go straight to one record using the Unified Business Identifier.
Open this search ↗Advanced Search
Find multiple businesses and export the results to Excel.
Open this search ↗Registered Agent
The registered agent appears on each entity record.
Open this search ↗Rules That Make Your Search Work
- Search by business name or UBI (Unified Business Identifier).
- A basic name search needs no login — scroll past the login area.
- Tip: avoid pluralization for more consistent name results.
- The Advanced Corporation Search can export results to Excel.
- Commercial registered agents are publicly listed in CCFS.
- Washington entities file an annual report, due by the end of the anniversary month.
Reading the Entity Detail Page
| Field | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| UBI Number | The Unified Business Identifier assigned to the entity, used across Washington state agencies. |
| Business Name | The registered legal name of the business. |
| Status | Whether the entity is Active or in another condition. |
| Entity Type | The structure, such as a Domestic or Foreign LLC, Corporation, or Nonprofit. |
| Formation Date | The date the entity was formed in Washington or registered as a foreign entity. |
| Registered Agent | The name and Washington address of the agent designated to receive legal documents. |
| Principal Office | The entity's principal business address as most recently reported. |
| Filing History | A list of the entity's filings, including annual reports and amendments. |
Two official references help you go further:
How to View and Download a Company's Filings
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Open the entity’s record
Search by name or UBI and open the record.
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Open the filing history
Review the entity’s filings, including annual reports and amendments.
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Build a list with Advanced Search
Use Advanced Corporation Search to find multiple businesses and export to Excel.
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File the annual report
File the annual report in CCFS, or order a certificate of existence.
Annual report: Washington entities file an annual report, due by the end of their anniversary month, through CCFS.
Washington Business Search - Common Questions
Is the Washington business search free?
Yes. A basic CCFS business name search is free and needs no login — just scroll past the login area.
What is a UBI?
It is the Unified Business Identifier, a number used to identify the business across Washington state agencies. You can search directly by it.
How do I build a list of businesses?
Use the Advanced Corporation Search, which can find multiple businesses and export the results to an Excel spreadsheet.
Any tips for name searches?
Avoid pluralization — keeping the name singular gives more consistent results in CCFS.
Does Washington require an annual report?
Yes. Washington entities file an annual report, due by the end of their anniversary month.
A name is available in Washington. Does that mean I can use it?
Not necessarily. State availability does not clear a name against federal trademarks. Run a USPTO trademark screen and check domain and social-handle availability before committing.