Where to Find US Company Information: A State-by-State Guide
Unlike the UK, where Companies House serves as a single national registry, the United States has no federal company register. Instead, companies are registered at the state level, meaning there are 50 separate registries (plus DC and territories) to navigate. Here's how to find the information you need.
How US Company Registration Works
In the US, businesses are formed under state law, not federal law. Each state has a Secretary of State (or equivalent office) that handles business registrations. Key differences from the UK system:
- No single registry: You need to know (or guess) which state a company is registered in
- State of incorporation ≠ state of operation: Many companies incorporate in Delaware or Nevada for legal/tax reasons but operate elsewhere
- Less standardised disclosure: What information is publicly available varies dramatically by state
- Annual reports, not accounts: US states require annual reports but typically don't require public filing of financial accounts
Key State Registries
Delaware - Division of Corporations
Over 67% of Fortune 500 companies and more than 1.8 million legal entities are incorporated in Delaware. Its Court of Chancery, which specialises in business law, is a major draw.
- Free search: Entity name, file number, status, formation date
- Paid data: Detailed certificates and good standing letters
- Note: Delaware does not publicly disclose officer or director names - you need to purchase the annual franchise tax report
California - bizfile
California has the most businesses of any state, with over 4.1 million active entities.
- Free search: Entity name, number, status, formation date, agent for service of process
- Statements of Information: These filings (equivalent to UK confirmation statements) include officer and director names and are publicly available
New York - Division of Corporations
- Free search: Entity name, type, status, jurisdiction, formation date
- Paid data: Certificates of good standing and copies of filed documents
Florida - Sunbiz
Florida's Sunbiz registry is considered one of the most user-friendly state registries.
- Free search: Entity name, number, status, filing date, registered agent, officer/director names and addresses
- Annual reports: Freely available online with officer details
Texas - SOSDirect
- Free search: Entity name, type, status, formation date
- Officer information: Available in filed documents
Federal Sources
While there's no federal company registry, several federal databases provide useful company information:
- SEC EDGAR: Public company filings (10-K, 10-Q, 8-K) for any company that issues securities - includes financial statements, officer compensation, and major shareholders
- SAM.gov: System for Award Management - lists all companies registered to do business with the US federal government
- USPTO: Patent and trademark filings that can reveal a company's IP portfolio
- IRS Tax Exempt Search: Database of tax-exempt organisations (nonprofits, charities)
Multi-State Search Tools
Given the fragmented nature of US company data, several aggregation services exist:
- OpenCorporates: Free aggregator covering most US states (and 140+ jurisdictions worldwide)
- Cobalt Intelligence: API-based access to Secretary of State data
- State-specific APIs: Some states (like California and Florida) offer their own APIs
Comparing US and UK Company Data
| Feature | UK (Companies House) | US (State Registries) |
|---|---|---|
| Single registry | Yes | No (50+ registries) |
| Free public accounts | Yes | No (only SEC filings for public companies) |
| Director/officer names | Always public | Varies by state |
| Beneficial ownership | PSC register (public) | BOI reporting (law enforcement only) |
| Free API access | Yes | Rare (few states offer APIs) |
Tips for Researching US Companies
- Start with the company's website - the footer often lists the state of incorporation
- Check Delaware first - it's the most common state of incorporation for larger companies
- Use OpenCorporates as a starting point to identify which state a company is registered in
- For public companies, go straight to SEC EDGAR - it has far more detail than any state registry
- Remember foreign qualification: A company incorporated in Delaware but operating in California will also have a filing in California
NewcoHunter currently focuses on UK company data through Companies House, but we're planning to expand our coverage to include US state registries - starting with key states like Florida, Delaware, and California. Sign up to be notified when US company monitoring goes live.