Whether you’re researching the availability of a business name or checking the status of a business entity, find the information you need from the State of Alaska Division of Corporations, Business, and Professional Licensing’s website.
The Division of Corporations, Business, and Professional Licensing Corporate Database search provides information for:
- Corporations
- LLCs
- Limited Partnerships
The database doesn’t include information for sole proprietorships or general partnerships, as those registrations are handled at the local level.
There is no fee for searching the database.
Related: How to start a business in Alaska
Steps To Do an Alaska Business Name Search
Step 1: Visit the Alaska Entity Name Database
Visit the Alaska Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development’s Corporations Database
Step 2: Search for a Business Name
In this example, we will search for “Sew What.”
Here, we see three records. There is an entity name that is an exact match to the one we were searching for. Even so, be sure to look at the status column. If it shows “Expired Name,” this means it was registered at one time but is no longer. The last entry, “Sew What?! Quilting With Attitude, LLC,” has the first part of the business name like the one we were searching for, but the remaining name is different. Approval for a name like this would be on a case-by-case basis but would likely not be approved.
If you want more information about one of the entries, click on the “Entity #.” Let’s look at the last entry, number 122463, for more information. Here, you will be able to see a few things about the business.
- Entity Type: The business in this example is a Limited Liability Company (LLC).
- Entity Number: The number that identifies the LLC with the Alaska Division of Corporations, Business, and Professional Licensing.
- Status: “Good Standing” means the business entity has paid their filing fees, and all reports are up to date.
- AK Formed Date: This is the date when the LLC officially started.
- Duration/Expiration: The members chose the LLC’s operating period. Perpetual is common, meaning it does not plan to close.
- Next Biennial Report Due: In Alaska, LLCs have to file a report every two years.
- Registered Agent: The Alaska Registered Agent is the single point of contact should the state need to contact someone within the LLC. The Registered Agent can be the LLC owner, but note that a physical address has to be used, and it is often the owner’s home address. This is concerning for some people, and that is why they use a Registered Agent Service like NorthWest Registered Agent.
- Officials: The names and titles of the individuals involved with the LLC. You are also able to look at the Articles of Organization and Biennial Reports to see what was entered.
What we really hope to see in a search is when there are no results. In this example, we will look up “Cowboy Cleaners.” As you can see, there are no businesses registered under that name. This means the name is fully able to be registered for your business.
Alaska Business Name Search FAQs
How do I find the business name of an Alaska sole proprietorship?
An Alaska sole proprietorship or partnership can use the business owner(s) full first and last name as the business name, but many will want to operate under a specific business name. Unlike many states, it’s optional to register for a DBA in Alaska, so it may be difficult to find the name.
Similar to the corporation or LLC, if a sole proprietor or partnership wants to register for an Alaska DBA (Doint Business As), they will do so through the Alaska Department of Commerce, which means they can be searched on their website.
How do I form an LLC in Alaska?
Before starting your business and forming an LLC, be sure to do the business entity search first to make sure the name is available to use. Once you know the LLC name is available, check out our step-by-step guide to learn how to form an Alaska LLC.
While not required in Alaska, an LLC operating agreement, which are the rules for how the LLC operates, is a document worth considering, especially for multi-member LLCs.
After forming a Limited Liability Company, be sure to register for any Alaska business licenses and possibly obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN) so the business is legal to operate.
What are the naming guidelines for an Alaska LLC?
In addition to being unique, the LLC’s name must include a special designator such as Limited Liability Company, Limited Liability Co, LLC, L.L.C., Ltd., and it may not use restricted words such as bank or insurance unless the entity is licensed to operate as such.
There are a few name requirements to be aware of as well. For starters, the legal name of the LLC must be one of the following words or abbreviations:
– Limited Liability Company
– Limited Liability Co.
– LLC
– L.L.C.
– Ltd.
Additionally, the LLC name cannot include the words “city,” “borough,” “village,” or any word that could suggest that the business is part of a municipality or government agency.
Can an Alaska LLC name be reserved?
If you find the business name you want but are not ready to register the LLC, you can reserve it for up to 120 days by filing a Business or Corporation Name Reservation Application.
