How to Find Out Who Owns an LLC

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Search for LLC members in every state with this simple guide
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An LLC, or Limited Liability Corporation, is legally required to be registered in the state in which it conducts business. This means that the state likely has a record of the owners of the LLC, who are called members. If you want to identify the owner of an LLC for business or legal reasons, search for the business online using the state's Secretary of State website. If the website doesn’t list the owner's name, we’ll walk you through other easy ways to get their identity. Keep reading to learn more!

Ways to Look Up LLC Owners

  1. Search for the LLC on the state’s Secretary of State website.
  2. File an Information Request about the LLC on the Secretary of State website.
  3. Look for an “About Us” page on the LLC’s website.
  4. Search for records about the LLC on the County Clerk or Recorder website.
Method 1
Method 1 of 4:

Finding the LLC Owner Using the Secretary of State's Website

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    Visit the Secretary of State's website where the LLC was formed. Most LLCs are required to register as a business through the Secretary of State's (SOS) office where they conduct business. Each SOS office maintains current, public records regarding the ownership of every LLC registered in that state. [1]
    • Check out this list of each state’s SOS website .
    • If an LLC conducts business in more than 1 state, the corporation should be registered with the SOS office in each of the states where the LLC operates.
    • Alternatively, visit the Secretary of State’s office in person, if you’d prefer.
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    Most SOS websites have a “Business” tab on the homepage. On some sites, the tab might be labeled “Business Services,” “Services,” or “Corporations.” [2]
    • For example, the Colorado SOS page has a prominent tab labeled “Business.”
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    Look for a “Search Business” link after clicking the “Business” tab. You may have to scroll down on the page or click through other tabs to find the search function. The link should be easy to find, since this is one of the main uses of the “Business” tab. [3]
    • For example, once you click the “Business” tab on the Colorado SOS site, you're presented with a variety of link selections. The first option is “Search business database,” which takes you to a search bar.
    • On some sites, there is a drop-down to search for businesses in the state when you hover over the “Business” tab.
    • Clicking the “Business” tab may open up a search bar directly.
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    Enter the LLC’s full name to get more accurate results. Then, click “Search” and look through the list of businesses the SOS’s website presents you. [4]
    • For example, if you're searching for the popular burrito restaurant Chipotle, type in “Chipotle Mexican Grill.”
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    Once you click on the name of the LLC, the website should include a link with documents that the LLC filed with the SOS. Look for one titled the “Articles of Organization.” This document should include the LLC's name, its street address, and the name of its members, which are the owners.
    • The owner of an LLC is called a member. [5]
    • You may see “Registered Agent” listed on the document. This is the official contact person for the LLC. The agent might be the owner, but you can’t assume they are. Look for a person titled “member” to determine who the owner is. [6]
    • You might see people listed as “Managers.” These are people hired to manage the LLC and they may or may not be owners, too. [7]
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    If you don’t see the “Articles of Organization” for the LLC, you might see an “Operating Agreement” file. This is a document that some states require LLCs to file. It includes each member’s responsibilities, so it should tell you who the owners are.
    • Not all states require an LLC to complete an “Articles of Organization” or “Operating Agreement” document. Click through the other documents to see if the owner/member is listed.
    • If you don’t see the owner/member listed, file an Information Request or try one of the other methods below to find their identity.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 4:

Filing an Information Request to find the LLC Owner

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    The quickest way to find the Information Request form is to click the “Search” button at the top of the SOS’s website and type in “Information Request.” An Information Request is a legal document by which citizens can request public information from the state. [8]
    • Some states (including California) only provide minimal information regarding LLC ownership online. This is done to protect the identities of LLC owners. The information is still public, but must be procured through a legal Information Request.
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    Some states allow you to submit the form online. Other states may ask you to print a paper copy, fill it out by hand, and mail it to the state SOS office.
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    The Information Request processing time may vary widely by state. In general, the SOS office should receive, process, and send you your request within 30 days. [9]
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    If you're unable to find the necessary web forms to file an Information Request, reach out to a representative on the SOS website. They'll provide you with the necessary information and paperwork so that you can file the Request for the LLC owners' names. [10]
    • Look for a link labeled “Contact Us” on the top or bottom of the SOS website’s home page.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 4:

Finding the Owner Through the LLC’s Website

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    Many LLCs have official websites for their business. Look for an “About” or “About Us” tab on the website and click it. This page might list the owners of the LLC.
    • The people listed might have titles like “CEO,” “CFO,” or “COO.” These are corporate titles that may indicate they’re owners/members of the LLC.
    • If you don’t know the LLC’s website, search the name of the business on Google.
    • If the LLC doesn’t have an official website , search for it on Facebook or LinkedIn. Their social media page might list officials involved with the business.
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    Once you have a few names that might be the owners of the LLC, search for them on Facebook or LinkedIn. They might indicate that they are the owner or a member of the LLC on their social media pages.
    • If you still aren’t certain who the owner of the LLC is, send them a message.
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Method 4
Method 4 of 4:

Searching Public Records to Find the Owner of the LLC

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    If you know the county where the LLC conducts business, go to the County Clerk or County Recorder’s website. These government offices maintain public business documents that might include the LLC owner’s name. [11]
    • Search for the name of the county plus “County Clerk Office” or “Recorder Office” on Google to find the official website.
    • If you live close to the county office, visit it in person if you’d prefer.
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    On the Clerk or Recorder’s website, look for a tab or link titled “Records,” “Records Search,” or something similar. Then, enter the name of the LLC in the search bar. [12]
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    If any records populate for the LLC, click on them and search for the names of the LLC owners. They’re likely listed as “Member” or “Owner” in the files.
    • For instance, you might see files about deeds, tax information, or property records. The owner of the LLC might be listed as a member in the document or sign their name at the end of the document.
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      Tips

      • In some states, LLCs can register anonymously to hide the owners’ identities. If you want to find out who they are, you may need legal help from an attorney and provide a legitimate legal reason why you want to know their identities.
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      Expert Interview

      Thanks for reading our article! If you'd like to learn more about finding the owner of an llc, check out our in-depth interview with Alan Mehdiani, CPA .

      References

      1. ↑ https://www.sba.gov/business-guide/launch-your-business/register-your-business
      2. ↑ https://www.sos.ca.gov/
      3. ↑ https://youtu.be/w9BVwOR6bkI?t=1m31s
      4. ↑ https://www.coloradosos.gov/biz/BusinessEntityCriteriaExt.do
      5. ↑ https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/limited-liability-company-llc
      6. ↑ https://sos.wyo.gov/Business/Docs/HowToFindOrBecomeARegisteredAgent.pdf
      7. ↑ https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/expert-insights/llc-members-vs-llc-managerswho-are-they-and-how-are-they-different
      8. ↑ https://www.sos.alabama.gov/public-records-request-form
      9. ↑ http://www.sos.ca.gov/business-programs/business-entities/processing-times/
      1. ↑ https://bizfluent.com/how-5748680-out-owns-llc-company.html
      2. ↑ https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/small-claims/before-you-start/find-business-name-address
      3. ↑ https://www.miamidadeclerk.gov/clerk/official-records.page

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