When starting or running a business in Utah, it’s important to research and identify other companies that may impact your operations. A business entity search allows you to look up official state records on all types of companies registered in Utah.
Accessing business entity details can help you avoid naming conflicts, find potential partners or competitors, research company leadership, verify legal business status, and gain other useful insights. For example, reviewing financial statements and annual reports of similar companies can provide competitive intelligence to help benchmark your own performance.
Conducting thorough due diligence research through a Utah business entity search is a prudent step for making fully informed business decisions and transactions in the state. It provides transparency into the Utah commercial landscape so you can navigate it successfully.
Types of Business Entities in Utah
Utah recognizes several common types of business entities, each with its own characteristics:
Sole Proprietorship
A sole proprietorship is the simplest business structure, with a single individual owning and operating the business. The business owner has unlimited personal liability for all debts and obligations. No formal filing is required to form a sole proprietorship in Utah.
Partnership
A partnership involves two or more co-owners operating a for-profit business together. Partners share control of the business and have unlimited personal liability. Formal partnership agreements are recommended but not legally required in Utah. A general partnership does not require any state filing.
Limited Liability Company (LLC)
An LLC is a popular entity choice, combining aspects of partnerships and corporations. Owners have limited personal liability and enjoy pass-through taxation like a partnership. An LLC is formed by filing articles of organization with the state. Utah LLCs can be member-managed or manager-managed.
Corporation
A corporation is a legal entity separate from its owners. Shareholders have limited liability but may pay corporate taxes. Corporations require more formalities like adopting bylaws, issuing stock, electing directors and officers, and holding shareholder meetings. Articles of incorporation must be filed to form a Utah corporation.
Nonprofit Corporation
A nonprofit corporation operates for religious, charitable, social, educational, or other nonprofit purposes. It must be formed as a nonprofit corporation by filing articles of incorporation with the state. Nonprofits are exempt from certain taxes.
Utah Division of Corporations and Commercial Code
The Utah Division of Corporations and Commercial Code is part of the Utah Department of Commerce. This government agency is responsible for filing records and maintaining a database for business entities in the state of Utah.
The Division accepts registration documents for corporations, LLCs, LPs, LLPs, business trusts, real estate investment trusts and other business entities. They provide official copies of business filings and certificates of existence/authorization.
Some key responsibilities of the Division include:
- Registering new business entities in Utah
- Receiving annual reports from corporations and LLCs
- Maintaining business entity records and making them available to the public
- Providing certified copies of business filings and certificates
- Registering trade names and trademarks
- Accepting service of process on business entities
- Processing Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) lien filings
The Division maintains an online business entity search database that allows anyone to look up registered businesses in Utah. This provides transparency into company ownership, status and other details.
Searching the Utah Business Entity Database
The Utah Division of Corporations and Commercial Code maintains the Utah Business Entity Database, which contains records for all business entities registered in the state. This public database can be accessed through the division’s website.
To search the business entity database:
-
Go to corporations.utah.gov.
-
Click on the “Business Search” link in the top menu.
-
On the Business Search page, you can search by entity number, entity name, or by an individual’s name connected to the business.
-
To search by entity name, select “Name” and enter the full or partial name of the business. You can enter just a few letters to browse all entities starting with those letters.
-
To search by an individual’s name, select “Individual Name” and enter the first and/or last name of a principal, officer, director, or registered agent connected to the business.
-
Hit enter or click “Search” to run the search.
-
The search results will display basic information about each matching entity, such as the entity number, entity name, entity type, status, registered agent, and filing date.
-
Click on the entity number to access the full entity details and filings.
The online business entity database provides easy and free access to search active and inactive business entities registered in Utah. With just a few clicks, you can find detailed records that are updated in real-time.
Information Available in Business Entity Records
The Utah Division of Corporations and Commercial Code business entity database contains a wealth of information that can be useful for researching companies registered to do business in the state. Some of the key details available in business entity records include:
Names and Addresses
- Legal business name
- Registered agent name and address
- Principal office address
- Mailing address
Registration Information
- Entity number assigned by the state
- Date of formation/registration
- Entity type (corporation, LLC, etc.)
- Status (active, inactive, dissolved, etc.)
Officers and Management
- Names of directors and officers
- Manager/member information for LLCs
- Incorporators for corporations
- General partners for partnerships
Financial Information
- Registered capital amounts
- Annual reports with basic financial information (revenue, assets, etc.)
Company Documents
- Articles of incorporation/organization
- Amendments and mergers
- Statement of dissolution
Other Details
- NAICS industry codes
- Business purpose
- Duration of the entity
The business entity records contain a wealth of details on companies registered and authorized to conduct business in the state of Utah. This information can be invaluable for researching businesses, screening potential partners, obtaining contact details, and gaining insight into company operations and management structure.
Other Resources for Researching Utah Businesses
In addition to the Utah Division of Corporations and Commercial Code’s business entity database, there are other places you can find information on Utah businesses and business entities.
Utah Secretary of State
The Utah Secretary of State’s office maintains records on corporations, LLCs, partnerships, trademarks, notaries, apostilles, and other business-related filings. Their archives can provide historical records beyond what is available through the state’s online business search.
County Clerk Offices
Each county clerk in Utah maintains records on businesses physically located or operating within that county. This includes business licenses, fictitious name registrations (DBAs), and other public records. The county clerk may have additional details on local businesses not found at the state level.
Utah State Courts
Court records can provide information on Utah businesses and company principals involved in litigation. This includes civil suits, bankruptcy filings, tax warrants, and other cases that entered the court system. These records are available through the Utah State Courts website or by visiting clerk offices.
News and Media Sources
Searching Utah news outlets and business publications can uncover details on local companies, executives, events, and more. These sources can provide independent reporting and context beyond official state and county records.
Public Libraries
Many public and university libraries have special business reference sections. These include directories, regulatory filings, association rosters, and other resources to research Utah enterprises. Libraries are a good place to find historical business records.
Searching by Business Name
Searching for a Utah business entity by name can yield useful information, but there are some tips to keep in mind for effective searches:
-
Try different variations of the business name in your search. The officially registered name may be slightly different from the operating or “doing business as” name.
-
Search on portions or keywords in the name rather than the full name. This allows for matches even if the official name is longer or arranged differently than expected.
-
Use wildcards like asterisks () if unsure of exact spelling or name order. For example, “Acme” or “Acme” may find matches for “Acme Inc” or “Acme Widgets LLC.”
-
Consider alternative legal entity designations like Inc, LLC, Corp, etc. A company may officially be “ABC Corp” even if it operates as “ABC.”
-
Search names both with and without words like Corp, Incorporated, Company, etc. Sometimes the legal entity is omitted in informal usage.
-
Try searching by state registration number if you have it, as this will return an exact match.
-
Double-check results for similarly named businesses to find the correct match. There may be multiple entities with similar names.
-
Still can’t find a match? The business may be registered in another state or haven’t registered formally. Additional research may be required.
Taking the time to try different search strategies can help locate the official registered details for a Utah business when searching by name.
Searching by Individual Names
You can search for utah business entity search associated with a specific individual by searching the name of an officer, owner, or registered agent. This allows you to find businesses that a person may be involved with in a leadership, ownership, or official capacity.
To search by individual name, use the “Officers/Owners Search” option on the business entity search page. Enter the first and last name of the individual you wish to search for. You can narrow the results by also entering a city if known.
The results will display all active and inactive business entities that have the searched individual listed in their records. This includes businesses where the person is a registered agent, officer, director, member, manager, partner, or trustee. Records will display the individual’s position title at each associated business.
Searching business entity records by individual name can be useful for:
-
Finding all the businesses a person has a leadership or ownership stake in. This gives insight into their professional interests and business involvements.
-
Discovering connections between businesses that share common officers or owners. This sheds light on which entities may have overlapping leadership.
-
Tracing a person’s career progression and history serving in various business roles over time. The records provide historical snapshots as well.
-
Uncovering relationships between individuals who co-own or manage multiple business ventures together.
-
Learning more about an individual’s background if you know little about them besides their name.
-
Confirming or verifying an individual’s role at a particular company.
So if you need to learn about someone’s business dealings in Utah, searching by their name in the state’s business entity database can provide valuable information. Just keep in mind that the records may not fully reflect private ownership stakes, informal partnerships, or minor unofficial roles. But they present a helpful starting point for research.
Third-Party Utah Business Data
In addition to the Utah Division of Corporations and Commercial Code’s free public database, there are paid services that provide more in-depth information on Utah businesses. These third-party databases can be useful for conducting comprehensive research on companies and business owners in the state.
Some of the benefits of using a paid database service include:
-
More detailed data – Third-party services may have additional information that is not included in the state’s free database, such as complete employee counts, revenue estimates, corporate family trees, and more.
-
Advanced search capabilities – Paid databases allow complex searches across multiple fields and criteria. This makes it easier to pinpoint specific companies or people.
-
Integration with other data – Many third-party services aggregate Utah business data with other public and proprietary sources. This provides a more complete picture by combining state records, credit reports, phone/address info, and more.
-
Analysis tools – Some paid platforms provide analytics to identify trends, visualize connections, and benchmark performance. These insights go beyond just accessing raw data.
-
Customer support – Subscribers can rely on customer service to help construct searches, decipher data, and overcome any issues accessing or using the database.
-
Downloadable datasets – Paid users often have the flexibility to download and manipulate Utah business data in various formats for integration with other tools.
-
Reputable accuracy – While not perfect, large paid databases are known for having accurate, up-to-date information monitored by dedicated research teams.
Some of the leading third-party services for Utah business data include Dun & Bradstreet, Experian, Cortera, and LexisNexis. While the state’s free database provides a solid starting point, these platforms can take research to the next level.
Conclusion
Thoroughly researching Utah business entities is an important process for a variety of reasons. This content provided an overview of the major resources available for finding information on companies registered in the state.
The Utah Division of Corporations and Commercial Code maintains a searchable online database for looking up business entity records. These filings contain details like company names, addresses, registered agents, filing history, and leadership names. Searching by business names or individual names associated with an organization can surface helpful data.
In addition to the state’s official company directory, third-party data providers compile business information from various public sources. Their databases can complement the Division’s records with additional details on companies in Utah.
Conducting comprehensive research using both state and third-party sources allows you to compile a complete profile of a utah business entity search. This is useful for due diligence, competitive analysis, finding contact information, and more. Proper research also helps verify the legitimacy and standing of organizations you may be evaluating.
Thorough business entity research provides insights you simply can’t get from a quick web search. Taking the time to utilize available public records can end up saving you time, money, and frustration in the long run. The resources and strategies covered in this guide serve as a starting point for investigating Utah companies.
