Business filings: where to form, report, and prove good standing
Every state has one office that registers businesses. It's usually the Secretary of State. That office handles forming an LLC or corporation, annual or biennial reports, and certificates of good standing. You file with them directly, and the fee goes to the state.
Forming an LLC or corporation
What you typically file and decide before you start.
Annual and periodic reports
Keeping a business in good standing after it's formed.
Certificates of good standing
Proof that a business exists and is current with the state.
Watch for look-alike mail. Several state offices warn about private companies that send official-looking letters asking for money to file annual reports or buy certificates. Check any request against your state's own page before paying.
Directory: state business filing offices
Links checked November 12, 2026. * = the site blocks automated checks, so we could not confirm the page loads. We do not list filing fees here because they vary by entity type and change; see the official page.
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| State | Office | Official page |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Alabama Secretary of State, business filings | www.sos.alabama.gov |
| Alaska | Alaska Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing | www.commerce.alaska.gov * |
| Arizona | Arizona Corporation Commission, Corporations Division | azcc.gov |
| Arkansas | Arkansas Secretary of State, business filings | www.sos.arkansas.gov |
| California | California Secretary of State, business filings | www.sos.ca.gov |
| Colorado | Colorado Secretary of State, business filings | www.coloradosos.gov |
| Connecticut | Connecticut Secretary of State, business filings | portal.ct.gov |
| Delaware | Delaware Division of Corporations | corp.delaware.gov |
| District of Columbia | DC Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection, Corporations Division | dlcp.dc.gov * |
| Florida | Florida Division of Corporations | dos.fl.gov |
| Georgia | Georgia Secretary of State, Corporations Division | sos.ga.gov * |
| Hawaii | Hawaii Business Registration Division (DCCA) | cca.hawaii.gov |
| Idaho | Idaho Secretary of State, business filings | sos.idaho.gov |
| Illinois | Illinois Secretary of State, business filings | www.ilsos.gov |
| Indiana | Indiana Secretary of State, business filings | www.in.gov |
| Iowa | Iowa Secretary of State, business filings | sos.iowa.gov * |
| Kansas | Kansas Secretary of State, business filings | www.sos.ks.gov |
| Kentucky | Kentucky Secretary of State, business filings | www.sos.ky.gov |
| Louisiana | Louisiana Secretary of State, business filings | www.sos.la.gov |
| Maine | Maine Secretary of State, business filings | www.maine.gov |
| Maryland | Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation | dat.maryland.gov |
| Massachusetts | Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, Corporations Division | www.sec.state.ma.us |
| Michigan | Michigan LARA, Corporations Division | www.michigan.gov |
| Minnesota | Minnesota Secretary of State, business filings | www.sos.mn.gov * |
| Mississippi | Mississippi Secretary of State, business filings | www.sos.ms.gov |
| Missouri | Missouri Secretary of State, business filings | www.sos.mo.gov |
| Montana | Montana Secretary of State, business filings | sosmt.gov |
| Nebraska | Nebraska Secretary of State, business filings | sos.nebraska.gov |
| Nevada | Nevada Secretary of State, business filings | www.nvsos.gov |
| New Hampshire | New Hampshire Secretary of State, business filings | quickstart.sos.nh.gov |
| New Jersey | New Jersey Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services | www.nj.gov |
| New Mexico | New Mexico Secretary of State, business filings | www.sos.nm.gov |
| New York | New York Department of State | dos.ny.gov * |
| North Carolina | North Carolina Secretary of State, business filings | www.sosnc.gov |
| North Dakota | North Dakota Secretary of State, business filings | www.sos.nd.gov |
| Ohio | Ohio Secretary of State, business filings | www.ohiosos.gov * |
| Oklahoma | Oklahoma Secretary of State, business filings | oklahoma.gov |
| Oregon | Oregon Secretary of State, business filings | sos.oregon.gov |
| Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania Department of State | www.pa.gov |
| Rhode Island | Rhode Island Secretary of State, business filings | www.sos.ri.gov |
| South Carolina | South Carolina Secretary of State, business filings | sos.sc.gov |
| South Dakota | South Dakota Secretary of State, business filings | sdsos.gov |
| Tennessee | Tennessee Secretary of State, business filings | sos.tn.gov |
| Texas | Texas Secretary of State, business filings | www.sos.texas.gov |
| Utah | Utah Division of Corporations and Commercial Code | commerce.utah.gov |
| Vermont | Vermont Secretary of State, business filings | sos.vermont.gov |
| Virginia | Virginia State Corporation Commission | www.scc.virginia.gov |
| Washington | Washington Secretary of State, business filings | www.sos.wa.gov |
| West Virginia | West Virginia Secretary of State, business filings | sos.wv.gov |
| Wisconsin | Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions | dfi.wi.gov |
| Wyoming | Wyoming Secretary of State, business filings | sos.wyo.gov |