2025 BOI rule update US entities are now exempt. Check if you still need to file →
We answer most inquiries within one business hour during US business days.
Start filing →
Texas . Business search

Search Texas business records like a pro.

Texas businesses are recorded publicly through Texas Business + Public Filings (SOSDirect). This guide explains how to search by name, document number, registered agent, or officer; what each status means; and how to avoid the most common search mistakes.

Search Texas businesses now →
Search techniques

Four ways to find a Texas entity

1. By entity name

Type the name without the LLC/Inc/Corp designation. "Acme Holdings" returns more than "Acme Holdings LLC". For exact match, include the designation.

2. By document number

The unique identifier Texas Business + Public Filings (SOSDirect) assigns. Best for unambiguous lookup. Document numbers do not change over the entity's lifetime.

3. By registered agent

Useful for due-diligence: see every entity using a specific registered agent. Helps identify related-party structures.

4. By officer or director name

Find every entity where a specific person is listed. Common in litigation prep, background checks, and investor due diligence.

Public records

Texas Business Search: at a glance.

Lookup tool for any entity on file with the Secretary of State, including officers, agent, and standing.

Filing details

How Texas handles Business Search.

Where to fileSecretary of State office, online portal, or by mail with the required fee.
TurnaroundStandard processing: 5-10 business days. Expedited service available for an additional state fee.
Required informationEntity name + ID, current officers and registered agent, principal office address.
Common pitfallsMismatched officer addresses, expired registered agent, missed prior reports causing administrative dissolution.
Frequently asked

Texas Business Search questions.

What is the Texas Secretary of State business search?

It is the public Texas database where anyone can look up a registered entity's name, status, registered agent, and filing history. You use it to check name availability, confirm good standing, or research a company. We run Texas searches for you and interpret what the results mean for your plans.

How do I search for a business in Texas?

You use the Texas Secretary of State's online business search by name or entity number to pull up the public record. Results show status and basic details but not everything, ownership is often private. We run the Texas search and explain what it does and does not reveal about a given entity.

Can I check if a business name is available in Texas?

Yes, the search is the first step: you look for existing Texas entities with the same or a similar name, though availability also depends on the state's naming rules and similarity standards, so a quick search is not a guarantee. We do a proper Texas availability check before you commit to a name and branding.

Does the Texas search show who owns a company?

Usually not directly: the Texas record typically shows the registered agent and sometimes managers or officers, but member ownership of an LLC is often private, which is why owners use agents and structures for privacy. We explain what Texas actually discloses about an entity you are researching.

How do I confirm a company is in good standing in Texas?

The search shows a status, active, in good standing, delinquent, or dissolved, but for official confirmation third parties want a Certificate of Good Standing. We can pull the Texas status and order that certificate when you need authoritative proof for a deal or lender.

Can I see a company's filing history in Texas?

Often yes: many Texas searches show past filings, formation, amendments, annual reports, which is useful for due diligence on a partner or competitor, though depth varies by state. We pull and interpret the Texas filing history for you when you are vetting an entity before doing business with it.

Why can't I find my own business in the Texas search?

Common reasons: it was just filed and not yet indexed, the name is slightly different, or the entity was dissolved and dropped from active results. We check the Texas record, confirm your status, and fix anything, like a lapse needing reinstatement, that is keeping you from appearing correctly.

Is the Texas business search the same as a trademark search?

No: the Texas search only covers entity names registered in that state, not trademarks, which are protected separately at the state and federal level, so a name free in the Texas search can still infringe a trademark. We flag the difference so you do not assume availability equals legal clearance.

Can File.Business run a Texas business search for me?

Yes. We search the Texas Secretary of State record for name availability, status, or due diligence, interpret the results, and take the next step, reserving a name, ordering a certificate, or fixing your standing, so the search leads to action rather than just raw data.

Related

Related services

Texas Secretary of StateOverview, contact, full filing index. Annual reportDue dates, fees, and how to file. Registered agentRequirements and renewal. Compliance calendarEvery deadline that touches your entity.

Start your business in the next 5 minutes.

No state-fee markup. Pay only the state fee. 60-day money-back guarantee.

No state-fee markup 60-day money-back Cancel anytime