New York Business Record Search

What the public record contains

• Exact legal name as filed, and the DOS ID assigned to the business
• Entity type, county and the date of formation or authorization
• Jurisdiction of formation for out-of-state businesses
• The address New York uses to forward service of process
• Registered agent, where one has been designated
• Filing history, including Biennial Statements on record

Searching by name or DOS ID

The DOS ID is the number New York assigns when a business is formed or authorized, and it identifies one record exactly. A name search is useful when you do not have the number, but names can be similar, so check the county and formation date before you rely on a result. Our search needs either an exact DOS ID or at least three characters of a business name.

Why owners look up their own record

Most owners check the record for one of three reasons: to confirm the service of process address is still somewhere mail is actually read, to find their Biennial Statement filing month, or to see whether a statement is overdue. An out-of-date address is the usual reason a business never learns it has fallen behind.

Obtaining copies of filed documents

Copies of formation documents, amendments and prior filings are ordered from the Department of State, which charges a per-page copy fee with an additional charge for a certified copy. Requests are made by mail, by fax or in person in Albany; confirm the current fees with the state before you order.

Our own service today is Biennial Statement preparation and filing. If your search shows a statement is due, you can prepare and file it here.

This page is general business information, not legal advice. New York Business File is a private service and is not the New York Department of State.