California Business Search
About California Business Search
Quick answer. A California business search usually starts at bizfile for the entity, then moves to a county clerk for a fictitious business name and to a city for a business license. A seller’s permit is CDTFA. None of those searches replaces the others.
What this site is for
The Secretary of State business search is bizfile Online at bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov/search/business. It is free and does not require an account. It shows corporations, LLCs, and limited partnerships. It does not show a Los Angeles fictitious business name.
Fictitious business names are filed with the county clerk where the business is located. The county pages here link the clerk we have on file. A city business license is often a finance or tax department record. CDTFA issues seller’s permits for sales tax.
People say “california sos business search” for bizfile and “business license california” for the local or state license. Keep those phrases tied to the office that actually answers them.
What we will not pretend to be
California Business Search is not the Secretary of State, a county clerk, or CDTFA.
Mail and the form reach hello@californiabusinesssearch.us. Ordering a certificate, filing an annual report, or changing an agent happens on the official portal, not here.