Even small businesses might choose to incorporate.
Incorporation means that a business is registered with a state government as a separate legal entity from its owners and can sue and be sued in its own right. The owners of unincorporated businesses such as partnerships and sole proprietorships are personally responsible for the debts and liabilities of the business. A company can incorporate as a limited liability company or as a corporation in any state. The incorporation document and information are publicly available once you've identified the state in which incorporation took place.
Instructions
1. Check the company's name as it appears on its official stationery or website. The full company name should be on the business's letterhead, invoices, business cards and products. It's illegal for a company to use the term "Inc." or "LLC" in its name unless it is legally incorporated.
2. Check if the company's details are in Dun and Bradstreet's online database. Type the company name in the search box, choose "All" from the State drop-down list and check the "Other Business" box. Click the "Search Now" button. If Dun and Bradstreet have a credit listing for the company, the search will display the company's name and the address of its headquarters (see Resources).
3. Contact the Secretary of State's office for the state in which the company has its headquarters. Many states have an online search facility where you can find out the incorporation status of the company and in some cases the names of its owners. If the state doesn't offer this service online, call or write to the Secretary of State's office and request the information (see Resources).
4. Search the Secretary of State's databases in Nevada and Delaware if you can't find an incorporation record in the company's home state. Nevada and Delaware are popular choices for incorporation because their laws are favorable to corporations.
Tags: company name, Secretary State, Check company, find incorporation, Nevada Delaware
