Washington Business Entity Search
Find a registered business through Washington Secretary of State, Corporations and Charities Division. Use the official link below, then check the search options and name rules for Washington.
Official website: ccfs.sos.wa.gov · Opens in a new tab
Washington search options and record coverage
Washington CCFS searches by business name or UBI and exposes entity status, expiration, registered agent, principal office, filings, and public documents. The online system supports domestic and foreign formation/registration, annual reports, amendments, agent updates, assumed names, reinstatement, and closure.
Checking a business name in Washington
Washington requires names to be distinguishable under applicable RCW rules. Punctuation, capitalization, spacing, translations, and generic designators may not cure confusing similarity; a name filing does not resolve trademark conflicts, licensing, or Department of Revenue trade-name requirements.
Washington name reservations
Washington permits foreign name registration and entity name reservations through the Corporations and Charities Division; the reviewed 2026 page did not expose one universal reservation fee/duration in the accessible extract. The name must be distinguishable and reservation is not trademark clearance.
DBA, trade names, and fictitious names
Washington trade-name registration is coordinated through the Department of Revenue Business Licensing Service rather than solely the Secretary of State. Begin at https://dor.wa.gov/open-business/apply-business-license and use CCFS for entity filings; fees and renewals depend on the business-license account.
What do you need after the search?
- Official proof of standing — find certificate fees and ordering instructions.
- A missed report or inactive registration — check deadlines and reinstatement rules.
- A new business registration — compare Washington formation and filing fees.