- Some available on line, others are licensed by
county and/or city.
- Not searchable on line. Link to information to
contact the Louisiana Department of Revenue
- Massachusetts only requires a business certificate
for a d/b/a (doing business as), if the business name is
other than your own. These are required to be filed only
in the city where the entity is doing business. If there
is a business location in more than one city, then the
license is required in each city.
- Mississippi does not require a business license (for
most non-professional businesses) as a sole
proprietorship or partnership, but local laws may
require a license. To determine if a license is
required, contact the local Clerk's office.
- New York requires businesses in a name other than
your own to register with the state (this does not mean
there is a LICENSE). Sole proprietorships, partnerships
and others not of the corporate kind are required to
register with the County Clerk.
- The type of business structure determines where a
business name (assumed name) should be registered. A
Certificate of Assumed Name for sole proprietorships and
partnerships must be filed with the Register of Deeds in
the county or counties where businesses plan to operate.
- Not every trade requires a business license in
Oklahoma. And not every business has to be registered
with the Secretary of State.
- If the business activity type is state regulated, a
license may be needed at the state level. Business
licenses in general are obtained from the city in which
the business is transacted.
- Appears only some businesses are required to be
licensed by the state. This link provides a list of
those businesses with links to check their license
status. Others appear to require licensing at the local
city or county level. The Secretary of State website was
down at the time of this entry, so information is
limited for this state.
- Unclear as to whether the Secretary of State's
database includes d/b/a (Fictitious Name) entities.
- South Dakota law requires partnerships and sole
proprietorships that use fictitious names to register
their businesses with the county Register of Deeds
Office.
- Database search may not include sole proprietorships
or partnerships. It is generally necessary to obtain one
or more local business licenses from city or county
where the business operates.
- Operating a business under a name other than the
sole proprietor in Texas requires an Assumed Name
Certificate (d/b/a) must be filed with the county clerk.
- All businesses must obtain a business license from
the local city or county in Utah where the business is
conducted. All businesses are required to register with
the Utah Department of Commerce.
- Unclear if this search also includes sole
proprietorships. Select "Clerks Information System" to
access the database. "Business" in Virginia is defined
as including sole proprietorships, but they are not
listed as included in the database on the website.
- A sole proprietor who wishes to conduct business
under a name other than the real name of the person may
elect to file a Registration of Firm Name with the
county Register of Deeds according to the instructions.
A sole proprietor can also elect to file a trade name
with the Secretary of State. On-line search not
available.
- In Wyoming, sole proprietorships are not required to
register with the Secretary of State's Office. However,
those entities may wish to register their business name
as a Trade Name.
- Licensed by County - links to County page.
- Requires license number to verify
- Delaware businesses are registered in each county at
the Prothonotary Office of the Superior Court in each
county. Information is listed below:
| New Castle County |
Kent County |
Sussex County |
Superior Court
Office of the Prothonotary
500 North King Street, Wilmington
(302) 255-0800 |
Superior Court
Office of the Prothonotary
38 The Green
Dover
(302) 739-3184 |
Superior Court
Office of the Prothonotary
The Circle
Georgetown
(302) 856-5263 |
* Note - registration and licensing mean different things in
different states. We have attempted to provide accurate information
on this page, but we do not have the staff to confirm the
licensing/registration requirements for each state. These links will
get you started on your search and that is the sole intent of this
page. If you cannot verify a business using these links, contact the
county or city to determine if a local business license is required.
This link will help you identify counties in each state: NACO.
After confirming a license exists, you should also check Better
Business Bureau business search and the state's Attorney General's
office, Consumer Protection Division for any complaints against the
business. You may want to contact the state's Department of Revenue
or Taxation Division to confirm business licensing for an entity. If
the business is required to be registered and not registered with
them, they will want to know, as it is likely the business is not
paying taxes. Another source of information in each state is the
Department of Labor. Registration may also be required by that
department.