The Nevada Secretary of State business search is a free public tool at esos.nv.gov that lets you look up any entity registered in the state, confirm whether it is active or in default, and see its officers, formation date, and registered agent. It runs against the same live database the state uses for official filings, so what you see on screen reflects the current record. No account or login is required, and the tool is available around the clock.1Nevada Secretary of State. Nevada Secretary of State Business
People run this search for two main reasons. The first is due diligence before signing a contract, joining a partnership, or paying a deposit. The second is legal: courts require the exact legal name on file with the Secretary of State for valid service of process, and a company’s trade name is often different from the name in its formation documents. Serving the wrong name can delay or derail a case.
How to Run the Search
The search lives at esos.nv.gov/EntitySearch/OnlineEntitySearch, linked from the main business page at nvsos.gov. You can search by the entity’s legal name or by its Nevada Business ID number. A Business ID pulls up a single record directly. A name search offers three matching modes:
- Starts With returns entities whose names begin with the text you enter. Useful when you know the company name but not the exact suffix, like “Inc.” versus “LLC.”
- Contains returns any entity with your search term anywhere in its name. Wider net, good when you’re unsure of the exact phrasing.
- Exact Match requires the precise spelling and punctuation from the original filing. Use this only when you’re confident in every character.
If the results run long, you can narrow the list by entity type or current status. Click an entity name to open its full detail page.
What the Detail Page Shows
Each entity record pulls from the filings required under Nevada Revised Statutes Title 7. A Nevada corporation’s annual list includes the names and titles of the president, secretary, treasurer, and all directors, with a residence or business address for each.2Nevada Legislature. Nevada Revised Statutes 78.150 – Filing Requirements LLCs file a similar list of managers or managing members.3Nevada Legislature. Nevada Code NRS 86 – Limited-Liability Companies
Beyond officer names, the record typically displays:
- Formation date, meaning when the entity was originally filed with the state.
- Entity type: domestic or foreign corporation, LLC, limited partnership, or other structure.
- Current status: Active, Default, Revoked, Dissolved, or another designation.
- Registered agent name and the physical street address where legal documents can be delivered.
Nevada law requires every corporation and LLC to maintain a registered agent with a physical street address in the state, which serves as the entity’s registered office for service of process.4Nevada Legislature. Nevada Code NRS 78 – Private Corporations A P.O. box alone doesn’t satisfy the requirement, though the agent can list a mailing address in addition to the street address. That’s why the registered agent field always shows a physical location.
How to Read the Status Field
Status is the single most important line on the record for anyone vetting a business. The main designations mean:
- Active. The entity is current on all filings and fees and has full authority to conduct business in Nevada.
- Default. The entity missed its annual list filing or fee payment. For corporations, a $75 penalty is added, and the entity faces revocation if it doesn’t cure the default within about a year.4Nevada Legislature. Nevada Code NRS 78 – Private Corporations
- Revoked. The charter has been revoked and the entity has lost its right to transact business. Revocation takes effect on the first day of the first anniversary of the month following the missed filing.4Nevada Legislature. Nevada Code NRS 78 – Private Corporations
- Dissolved. The owners voluntarily filed to end the entity’s existence.
Default or Revoked isn’t just administrative housekeeping. A defaulting LLC is barred from filing or maintaining lawsuits in any Nevada court until it clears its overdue filings and penalties.3Nevada Legislature. Nevada Code NRS 86 – Limited-Liability Companies Nevada treats continued operations under a revoked corporate charter as conduct that can trigger fines and referral to the district attorney or attorney general.5Cornell Law Institute. Nevada Administrative Code 78.400 – Activities Subject to Fine If you’re about to sign with a company showing one of these statuses, know that the entity may not be able to enforce that contract in court if things go wrong.
When You Need an Official Document
The online search shows you the information on screen for free, but that’s not a document you can hand to a bank or a court. When you need something with the state’s seal, order it separately.
The most common request is a Certificate of Good Standing, which formally confirms an entity is active and current on all filings. Banks, lenders, and out-of-state agencies frequently ask for one. The fee is $50, and you can order online through SilverFlume, by mail, or by fax.6Nevada Secretary of State. FAQs – Commercial Recordings Certified copies of formation documents, such as articles of incorporation or articles of organization, can be ordered through a Copies Order Form on the Secretary of State’s website. Online orders through SilverFlume are processed the same day at no additional expedite charge. Mail requests go to the Secretary of State’s office at 401 North Carson Street, Carson City, NV 89701, with payment to “Secretary of State.”