Are you forming a corporation, LLC or business entity in Idaho?
How do you do an Idaho Secretary of State Business Search?
Looking for an awesome step-by-step guide?
We are super excited to begin!
Let’s search in the Idaho Secretary of State Business Search database!
Are you ready?
Let’s get started!
Step 1: Business Search Registry
In Idaho, the state offers an online database to the public allowing anyone to perform a search to locate any business entity registered in the state.
To search for a business entity, you’ll need to access the Idaho Secretary of State Business Search registry.
It’s called the Idaho Business Search.
It looks like this:

Through the same link, you can access many other services such as getting business entity forms, a list of commercial registered agents and other online business services.
On the left of the page, you can use the menu to navigate to the intended service.

Once you access the online business database, proceed to the next step.
Step 2: Database search methods
You can search for different types of business registered with the state, such as:
- Domestic Profit Corporation
- Domestic Non-Profit Corporation
- Foreign Profit/Non-Profit Corporation
- Domestic Limited Liability Company
- Foreign Limited Liability Company
- Domestic Limited Partnership
- Domestic Limited Liability Partnership
- Domestic Limited Liability Limited Partnership
- Foreign Limited Partnership
- Foreign Limited Liability Partnership
- Foreign Limited Liability Limited Partnership
- General Partnership
There are different methods that you can use to search for business entities, such as:
- Search by Business Name
- Search by Registered Agent
- Search by File Number
- Search by Filing Date

Let’s look at each of these search methods one by one.
Method 1: Search by Business Name
The search by business entity name function is the most widely used type of business entity lookup.

All you have to do is to enter the name of the business entity you are searching for to see if there is a match in the database or not.
You can further refine your search by using the search filters “Starts With” or “Contains”.
This will help you better narrow down your keyword research.
Once you have entered the required fields, click the button “Search”.
Method 2: Search by Registered Agent
The second method to look up a company in Idaho is by searching for its registered agent.
The registered agent is an individual or entity located in Idaho legally designated by the business entity to receive the legal documents on its behalf.
If you are doing a registered agent search, you’ll need to select the “Registered Agent” checkbox.

Method 3: Search by File Number
In case you have a business entity’s file number, you can do a search using the file number to directly search for the business entity in question.
A file number is a number associated with the business entity.
It’s like a unique business identification number attributed to the business entity by the state.

Method 4: Search by Filing Date
The fourth option given to you by the Idaho Secretary of State is to search using the filing date.
You have the ability to pick a date range “start” date to “end” date with regards to documents filed by a business entity.
This search option should be used with a business entity name or file number.
If not, you will get an error message.

Step 3: Search results
Once you’ve performed your desired search, you will then be presented with the business entity search results.
If you did a search using corporation, LLC or entity name, you will see the following search results page:

The search results page presents to you the following information:
- Business Name
- Business File Number
- Status
- Filing Date
- Agent
If there is a company or business having a name that matches your search query, you will see it on the search results page.
Step 4: Select entity
If you have found a business matching your query or a business entity that you would like to get further information on, you should click on the hyperlinked business entity name from the search results page.

Step 5: Business entity information
To complete your business entity search in Idaho, you’ll end up getting the business entity records or information made available publicly by the state.
The entity information page looks like this:

The business entity information provides some valuable information about the business entity selected.
Here is a quick overview:
- Business Entity Name
- File Number
- Filing Type
- Status
- Formed In
- Term of Duration
- Principal Address
- Mailing Address
- Initial Filing Date
- AR Due Date
- Registered Agent
In addition to that, you can request a certificate directly from the search results page or view history.

Takeaways
There you have it!
You have now performed an Idaho Secretary of State Business Search?
Let’s look at a summary of the process.
Idaho Secretary of State Business Search:
Related articles
How to start a business in Idaho
How to incorporate in Idaho
How to form a Idaho LLC
How to register a trade name in Idaho
Idaho business license
Idaho Certificate of compliance
How to register for an EIN
Registered agent services
Incorporation services
LLC formation services
Document filing services
Idaho name reservation