Massachusetts Business Entity Search (Step-by-Step Guide)

If you are thinking of starting a business in Massachusetts, you’ll need to first determine whether your chosen name is available for business registration.

The business entity search available on the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, business services website will help you determine exactly that.

The website contains a number of search criteria to find registered businesses in the state. You’ll also be able to search a variety of business structures, including limited liability companies, limited liability partnerships, limited partnerships, etc.

The following step-by-step guide will show you how to conduct a Massachusetts business entity search.

For a comprehensive list of search tips, click on the “Search assistance” link.

The Massachusetts online services business search page, also known as the business filings online page allows you to search for registered businesses via the following search types:

Business search by entity name

Refer to the Massachusetts Corporation Search page to begin searching for registered businesses in the state.

Select the entity name option and enter the name of the entity you are searching for.

Use the “search type” drop-down menu to narrow down your results.

Then click on the “Search corporations” button.

Entities with the same or similar names will show up on the search results.

On this page, you will have access to the following:

By clicking on the “entity name,” you will be able to view various company details such as date of organization, principal office, service of process or registered agent’s details, etc.

There’s also an option to view filings.

Additional search options

The corporation search page allows you to search by:

Ultimately, you’ll simply select the relevant search option you’re using and enter the information you have on hand.

If exact matches or partial matches are found, they will be displayed on the next page.

When you click on any of the entity names displayed, it takes you back to the business summary page displaying all the information you had access to when searching using the entity name.

Massachusetts search results

When clicking on the name of the business, you’ll have access to the information below:

Copies of documents and certificates

After conducting your Massachusetts name search, you may want to request copies of business documents and specific certificates. These documents may be plain copies or certified copies.

Certified copies are correct and true copies of business filings which can only be obtained from the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth. The most frequently-issued documents are the Articles of Incorporation, annual reports, and Articles of Amendment.

The certified copies issued by the Massachusetts SOS come along with a stamp, endorsement, or seal verifying that they are true and correct.

Some of the reasons why you may need a certified copy of a business document or certificate include opening a bank account, obtaining business licenses, and applying for a Certificate of Authority.

The following documents may be certified:

To request copies of documents from the Massachusetts SOS, make use of the following information:

Business name availability

One of the points to note when conducting a name search is that even if the results do not reveal similar names or the same name, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the name will be available at the time of filing.

Therefore, it’s best to compile a list of alternatives in the event that your preferred name is already in use by another business entity. Additionally, when naming your Massachusetts business, keep the following naming rules in mind:

For complete naming rules, refer to the Massachusetts state statute.

Additionally, if your name is available but for whatever reason, you cannot initiate the business registration process, you can complete a Name Reservation Application with the Secretary of State. The application Form must include the following information:

The name is reserved for approximately 60 days and may also be extended for a further 60 days. The filing fee for name reservations is $30, and when extending the reservation, you’ll need to pay an additional $30.

Domain name availability

Domain names help people remember your website and also act as a representation of your company’s brand. Therefore, a domain name is just as important as the company it is associated with.

Ultimately, domain names are priceless assets in the age of the Internet and essential to the business registration process.

With millions of websites online, it can be difficult to find and secure your chosen domain name.

This is why you should use a professional domain checking service like Namechk.com.

This professional service checks 36 different domain impossibilities and over 100 social media websites and online platforms. Some of the social networks that are checked include:

Namechk.com checks against 36 domains and more than 90 social media platforms. Therefore, by using the service, you can check the availability of either a username or domain name within seconds.

Additionally, Namechk.com also filters your search options and recommends alternatives in the event that your preferred domain name is unavailable.

Fictitious business name search

As part of the business registration process, you may also want to consider registering a DBA name. A DBA is also known as a doing business as, fictitious, assumed, or trade name. A fictitious name basically lets potential customers know more about what your company does and clearly communicates the purpose of your business.

Ultimately, it’s essential to define your company’s brand and forms a public image that matches the identity of your business as well as its values. You should also note that fictitious names do not protect your company against trademark infringement.

For this type of protection, you’ll need to register a trademark either on the state or federal level. The United States Patent and Trademark Office is handy when it comes to nationwide protection. Alternatively, you can register a state trademark with the Massachusetts Secretary of State.

Feel free to reach out to your Department of State’s office for information on how to go about registering a DBA in the state of Massachusetts.