California Business Search
How California Business Search checks a 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.
California splits the file across agencies
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.
California Business Search reviewed these california business search notes on 2026-10-13. A fee or a portal path is cited only when the linked office page is the source. californiabusinesssearch.us does not outrank that office.