# How to Find the Owner of an LLC: 15-State Lookup Guide

URL: https://leadraft.co/blog/find-llc-owner-by-state
Summary: Where to search LLCs in CA, TX, FL, NY, DE, NV, WY and 8 more states, whether members or managers are public, what annual reports show, and what it costs.

[ All articles](https://leadraft.co/blog)

# How to find who owns an LLC, state by state (15 states compared)

Where to search LLCs in CA, TX, FL, NY, DE, NV, WY and 8 more states, whether members or managers are public, what annual reports show, and what it costs.

The Leadraft teamLeadraft

Published

November 3, 2026

Read time

9 min

Category

Guide

To find who owns an LLC, search it in the business entity database of the state where it was formed, then read its filings. Some states list the managers or members on the formation document or the annual report: California, Florida, Nevada, North Carolina, Arizona and Washington do, and Texas does through its franchise tax report. Others, including New York, Delaware, Georgia, Ohio and Colorado, show only a registered agent and an address. When the state record is silent, the business's own website, DBA filings and license lookups usually fill the gap.

Below is a state-by-state table for the 15 states people search most, what each one makes public, and what to do when the trail goes cold. Facts are from each state's official pages, checked in November 2026.

## How do I look up who owns an LLC?[#](#how-do-i-look-up-who-owns-an-llc)

Work from the state record outward. Six steps cover almost every case:

1.  **Find the legal name.** The trading name on the sign ("Ramirez Heating") may differ from the LLC's name ("RHA Services LLC"). Check the website's terms, privacy policy or invoices.
2.  **Search the formation state.** Use the official search in the table below. Note the entity number, status, formation date and registered agent.
3.  **Open the filings.** The formation document, the annual or biennial report, or a statement of information may list managers or members. Many states show document images for free.
4.  **Check foreign registrations.** An LLC formed in Delaware or Wyoming that operates in your state usually registers there as a "foreign" LLC. That second filing may list people the first one doesn't.
5.  **Check the tax record (Texas).** In Texas, the Comptroller's taxable entity search shows the officers, directors or managers from the latest Public Information Report \[3\].
6.  **Confirm outside the filings.** Match the name against the business's website, a professional license or a news story. Filings can be years old.

Don't stop at the registered agent. It's often a commercial agent service, a lawyer or an accountant.

## Which states show LLC owners? (15-state table)[#](#which-states-show-llc-owners-15-state-table)

"Members/managers public" means a person's name appears in a filing anyone can search or view online. Fees are for the LLC's own periodic report, as listed on the state's pages in November 2026.

Scroll horizontally if needed →

| State | Official search | Search cost | Members or managers public? | Periodic report and what it shows |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| California | [bizfile Online](https://bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov/search/business) | Free, including document images \[1\] | Yes: the Statement of Information lists managers, or members if there are none | Statement of Information, within 90 days of formation, then every 2 years; $20 \[1\] |
| Texas | [SOSDirect](https://www.sos.state.tx.us/corp/sosda/index.shtml) | $1 per search \[2\] | Yes, via the Comptroller: the Public Information Report must list all managers, and all members if member-managed \[3\] | Public Information Report, filed with the franchise tax report \[3\] |
| Florida | [Sunbiz](https://search.sunbiz.org/) | Free | Yes: the annual report lists each manager or managing member \[4\] | Annual Report, Jan 1 to May 1; $138.75, $400 late fee \[4\] |
| New York | [Public Inquiry](https://apps.dos.ny.gov/publicInquiry/) | Free | No | Biennial Statement: address for service of process only; $9 \[5\] |
| Delaware | [Entity Search](https://icis.corp.delaware.gov/Ecorp/EntitySearch/NameSearch.aspx) | Name search free; status $10, detailed information $20 \[6\] | No: name, file number, formation date and registered agent | No annual report for LLCs; $400 annual tax due June 1 \[7\] |
| Nevada | [Business Entity Search](https://www.nvsos.gov/businesses/business-entity-search) | Free | Yes: the annual list names managers or managing members, and you can search by officer name | Annual List of Managers or Managing Members, plus a $200 state business license |
| Wyoming | [Business Center search](https://wyobiz.wyo.gov/Business/FilingSearch.aspx) | Free | Generally no: filings show the registered agent and addresses | Annual Report with license tax: $60, or two-tenths of a mill per dollar of Wyoming assets if greater \[8\] |
| Georgia | [eCorp Business Search](https://ecorp.sos.ga.gov/BusinessSearch) | Free | No: registered agent and principal office | Annual Registration, Jan 1 to Apr 1; $50 plus a service charge |
| North Carolina | [Business Registration search](https://www.sosnc.gov/online_services/search/by_title/_Business_Registration) | Free | Yes: the annual report lists "Company Officials", and you can search by official | Annual Report, due Apr 15; $203 online |
| Illinois | [Business Entity Search](https://apps.ilsos.gov/businessentitysearch/) | Free | Managers yes; members not consistently | Annual Report; $75 |
| Ohio | [Business Search](https://businesssearch.ohiosos.gov/) | Free, with document images | No: the office doesn't keep owner or officer lists | None: Ohio LLCs file no annual or biennial report \[9\] |
| Pennsylvania | [Business Search](https://file.dos.pa.gov/search/business) | Free | Partly: the annual report names at least one "governor" (director, member or partner) \[10\] | Annual Report (new since 2025), Jan 1 to Sept 30; $7 \[10\] |
| Arizona | [Arizona Business Center](https://arizonabusinesscenter.azcc.gov/businesssearch) | Free | Yes: managers (and members owning 20% or more) for manager-managed LLCs, members for member-managed \[11\] | None: Arizona LLCs don't file annual reports \[11\] |
| Washington | [CCFS](https://ccfs.sos.wa.gov/) | Free, no login | Yes: governors are listed and searchable | Annual Report; $70 \[12\] |
| Colorado | [Business Search](https://www.sos.state.co.us/ucc/pages/biz/bizSearch.xhtml) | Free, with document images | Generally no: principal office and registered agent \[13\] | Periodic Report; $25 \[13\] |

Three patterns stand out:

-   **The "privacy" states don't ask.** Delaware, Wyoming and New Mexico are popular for anonymity because their filings don't require member names. Ohio and Arizona have no LLC annual report at all, but Arizona collects names at formation.
-   **Texas hides it in the tax record.** The Secretary of State's record may show only the organizer and agent, while the Comptroller's record lists managers \[3\].
-   **California's record is the most useful.** The Statement of Information names managers and a principal address, and the images are free \[1\].

## What if the LLC is registered in Delaware or Wyoming?[#](#what-if-the-llc-is-registered-in-delaware-or-wyoming)

Look for its foreign registration in the state where it actually does business. An LLC that operates in another state generally has to register there, and that state's rules decide what's public. A Delaware LLC running a restaurant in Phoenix registers with the Arizona Corporation Commission, which records members or managers \[11\].

If the LLC is a holding company with no operations (common for property), follow the property instead:

-   **County assessor or recorder:** the deed and tax records name the owner LLC and a mailing address. Sometimes the mailing address is the owner's office.
-   **Recorded documents:** deeds, mortgages and liens are signed by a person on the LLC's behalf. Many recorders let you view them online.

## Does the Corporate Transparency Act make LLC owners public?[#](#does-the-corporate-transparency-act-make-llc-owners-public)

No. FinCEN collected beneficial ownership information (BOI) under the Corporate Transparency Act from January 2024, but it kept it in "a secure, non-public database" exempt from Freedom of Information Act requests \[14\]. In March 2025 an interim final rule exempted US companies from reporting. FinCEN's final rule, effective August 14, 2026, made that permanent, and FinCEN said it would delete BOI already reported about US persons \[15\]\[16\].

As of November 2026, then, there's no federal list of LLC owners, public or otherwise, for domestic companies. New York's separate LLC Transparency Act, in force since January 1, 2026, applies only to LLCs formed outside the United States that register in New York, and its data is not public \[17\].

## What can I find besides the state record?[#](#what-can-i-find-besides-the-state-record)

Plenty. Filings tell you who set the LLC up; the business itself tells you who runs it today.

Scroll horizontally if needed →

| Source | Tells you | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| The business's website | Owner's name, often in About or Team | The most current, when it's updated |
| County DBA / assumed name filings | The owner behind a trade name | Strong for sole proprietors |
| Professional license lookup | The license holder or qualifier | Contractors, trades, health, real estate |
| BBB profile | "Business Management" names and titles | BBB doesn't verify third-party information |
| Local news, chamber pages | Founder names with context | Can be old |
| A phone call | Who decides, and how to reach them | Often fastest |

Our guide on [how to find the owner of a business](https://leadraft.co/blog/how-to-find-the-owner-of-a-business) covers each of these in detail.

## Is it legal to look up who owns an LLC?[#](#is-it-legal-to-look-up-who-owns-an-llc)

Yes. State business filings are public records, published so people can see who they're dealing with. What you do with the name is where rules apply. If you're contacting owners for sales:

-   Contact them through the business, not at a home address from a filing.
-   In the US, CAN-SPAM covers business email: identify yourself, include your postal address and honor opt-outs within 10 business days \[18\].
-   Calls and texts have their own rules, which are stricter for mobile numbers.

Our [cold email laws guide](https://leadraft.co/blog/cold-email-laws) covers the main ones, and the [owner email guide](https://leadraft.co/blog/how-to-find-business-owner-email) covers getting from a name to an address you can verify. This isn't legal advice.

## FAQ[#](#faq)

### How do I find out who owns an LLC?[#](#how-do-i-find-out-who-owns-an-llc)

Search the LLC in the business entity database of the state where it was formed, then open its filings. Depending on the state, the formation document or annual report lists managers or members. If the state shows only a registered agent, check the business's website, DBA records, license lookups, BBB and local news, or the states where the LLC is registered to do business.

### Which states list LLC members or managers publicly?[#](#which-states-list-llc-members-or-managers-publicly)

Among the 15 states compared here, California, Texas (through the Comptroller's Public Information Report), Florida, Nevada, North Carolina, Arizona and Washington list managers or members in public filings, and Illinois lists managers. New York, Delaware, Georgia, Ohio, Colorado and generally Wyoming do not. Pennsylvania's annual report names at least one governor.

### Can I find the owner of an anonymous LLC?[#](#can-i-find-the-owner-of-an-anonymous-llc)

Sometimes. A Delaware or Wyoming LLC that operates in another state usually has to register there as a foreign LLC, and that state's filings may list managers. Otherwise, look at the business itself: its website, licenses, DBA filings, property records and the person who answers the phone.

### Does the Corporate Transparency Act make LLC owners public?[#](#does-the-corporate-transparency-act-make-llc-owners-public-1)

No. Beneficial ownership information reported to FinCEN was always kept in a non-public database, and FinCEN's final rule, effective August 14, 2026, exempts US companies from reporting at all. FinCEN said it would delete information already reported about US persons.

### Is an LLC's registered agent the owner?[#](#is-an-llcs-registered-agent-the-owner)

Sometimes, in a small LLC where the owner serves as their own agent. Often it's a commercial registered agent service, a lawyer or an accountant. If many LLCs share the agent's name and address, it isn't the owner.

### How much does an LLC search cost?[#](#how-much-does-an-llc-search-cost)

Usually nothing. Most states let you search and view basic records for free. Texas charges $1 per search on SOSDirect, and Delaware's name search is free but charges $10 for status and $20 for more detailed information on an entity.

## Sources[#](#sources)

1.  California Secretary of State, [Information requests](https://www.sos.ca.gov/business-programs/business-entities/information-requests) (free online access to business entity images) and [bizfile Online](https://www.sos.ca.gov/business-programs/bizfile).
2.  Texas Secretary of State, [SOSDirect](https://www.sos.state.tx.us/corp/sosda/index.shtml).
3.  Texas Comptroller, [Franchise Tax Public Information Report](https://comptroller.texas.gov/help/franchise/public-info-report.php) and [PIR/OIR filing requirements](https://comptroller.texas.gov/taxes/franchise/pir-oir-filing-req.php).
4.  Florida Division of Corporations, [LLC annual report help](https://efile.sunbiz.org/llc_ar_help.html).
5.  New York Department of State, [Biennial statements for business corporations and LLCs](https://dos.ny.gov/biennial-statements-business-corporations-and-limited-liability-companies).
6.  Delaware Division of Corporations, [DirectWeb](https://corp.delaware.gov/directweb/).
7.  Delaware Division of Corporations, [Alternative entity tax instructions](https://corp.delaware.gov/alt-entitytaxinstructions/).
8.  Wyoming Secretary of State, [Business FAQs](https://sos.wyo.gov/faqs.aspx?root=BUS).
9.  Ohio Secretary of State, [Starting a limited liability company](https://www.ohiosos.gov/assets/business-start-a-llc.pdf).
10.  Pennsylvania Department of State, [Annual reports](https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dos/programs/business/types-of-business-entities/annual-reports).
11.  Arizona Corporation Commission, [Corporations Division](https://azcc.gov/corporations) (LLC member and manager disclosure; no annual report for LLCs).
12.  Washington Secretary of State, [Corporations and Charities Filing System](https://ccfs.sos.wa.gov/) and annual report fee schedule.
13.  Colorado Secretary of State, [Periodic report FAQs](https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/business/FAQs/reports.html).
14.  FinCEN, [Beneficial Ownership Information FAQs](https://www.fincen.gov/boi-faqs) (A.3 and A.6).
15.  FinCEN, [Beneficial Ownership Information](https://www.fincen.gov/boi).
16.  FinCEN, [FinCEN permanently ends beneficial ownership reporting requirements for millions of US businesses](https://www.fincen.gov/news/news-releases/fincen-permanently-ends-beneficial-ownership-reporting-requirements-millions).
17.  New York Department of State, [Beneficial ownership disclosure FAQs](https://dos.ny.gov/beneficial-ownership-disclosure-frequently-asked-questions).
18.  Federal Trade Commission, [CAN-SPAM Act: A Compliance Guide for Business](https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/resources/can-spam-act-compliance-guide-business).

## Lead lists for the trades in this article

-   [Accountants email listAn accountant email list built from Google Maps covers every CPA firm, tax preparation office and bookkeeping service in the area you choose.](https://leadraft.co/leads/accountants)
-   [Lead lists for every industry](https://leadraft.co/leads)

## Keep reading

-   [
    
    November 3, 2026Guide
    
    ### B2B mailing lists: build or buy, for direct mail and email
    
    B2B mailing lists for postal and email: what lists cost per thousand, USPS NCOA, CASS and Marketing Mail basics, compliance, and building one from Google Maps.
    
    Read article
    
    ](https://leadraft.co/blog/b2b-mailing-list)
-   [
    
    November 3, 2026Playbook
    
    ### Commercial insurance leads: how agents build their own prospect lists by trade
    
    How commercial P&C agents build their own lead lists of contractors, restaurants and truckers by county, time outreach to renewals, and follow licensing rules.
    
    Read article
    
    ](https://leadraft.co/blog/commercial-insurance-leads)
-   [
    
    November 3, 2026Playbook
    
    ### How to find businesses to cold call: build the list, time the calls, follow the rules
    
    Build a cold-calling list of local businesses with phone and hours, call at the right time, and follow the B2B rules: the FTC's DNC exemption and the TCPA.
    
    Read article
    
    ](https://leadraft.co/blog/how-to-find-businesses-to-cold-call)

Last built: 2026-11-09