How to Find LLC Owners: Find the Owner of a Business

You may be wondering how to find the owner of a business. Finding the owner of an LLC or business entity is important for business compliance and transparency in business lending. This guide will walk you through different methods to find LLC owners, leveraging online databases, public records, and more.

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Why You Might Need to Look Up an LLC Owner

Knowing the owners of an LLC is important for compliance with anti-money laundering regulations and ensuring transparency in business transactions. It helps in understanding who you are dealing with and assessing potential risks.

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What is the Owner of an LLC Called?

Owners of LLCs are officially called “members.” Sometimes, members handle the company’s daily operations themselves. Other times, they will elect one or more people to run the company on their behalf, known as “managers.” These terms aren't always indicative of their roles, so they might have titles like:

• Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
• Chief Technology Officer (CTO)
• Chief Information Officer (CIO)
• Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
• President
• Principal
• Managing Director
• Creative Director
• Technical Director

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Methods to Find LLC Owners

1. Consult a Specialized Corporate Database

Using specialized corporate databases like Livesight is one of the most efficient ways to find LLC owners. Livesight aggregates data from tax records, state registries, websites, and more, providing comprehensive information quickly.

Costs: $2-5 (based on volume)

Time Investment: N/A (completed in bulk)

Maximum Simultaneous Search: Millions of records

Compliance Support: Extremely Strong

2. Check Government Registers

Most states in the U.S. require LLCs to register with the Secretary of State. You can access these databases online to find the owners of an LLC. Simply visit the Secretary of State's website for the relevant state and search their business registry.

Costs: Up to $5 per request

Time Investment: 10-15 minutes per record

Maximum Simultaneous Search: 1 at a time

Compliance Support: Strong

3. Submit a Public Information Request

If online searches don't yield results, submitting a public information request can be an effective method. This involves requesting records from government offices that may have the information you need.

Costs: $3-$5 per request

Time Investment: A few days to a few weeks per record

Maximum Simultaneous Search: 1 at a time

Compliance Support: Fairly Strong

4. Look Through Alternative Public Records

There are other places where you may be able to find information on an LLC’s owners, such as vehicle registration organizations, personal property tax databases, and industry-specific licensing authorities.

Costs: Free

Time Investment: Minutes to hours per record

Maximum Simultaneous Search: 1 at a time

Compliance Support: Not Very Strong

5. Check the Company’s Website

Many businesses list their executive team or ownership information on their websites. Look for an "About Us" or "Team" page. You can also call or email the business directly to inquire about ownership details.

Costs: Free

Time Investment: 5-10 minutes per record

Maximum Simultaneous Search: 1 at a time

Compliance Support: Very Weak

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When Do You Need to Know the Names of Who Owns a Business?

Knowing who owns a business is key for complying with anti-money laundering regulations like “Know Your Business” (KYB) and “Know Your Customer” (KYC) identity verification rules. Reasons include:

• Client Authenticity and Transparency: Ensuring identity credentials correspond to a real person.
• Piercing Opaque Corporate Structures: Identifying complex management hierarchies that may hide actual ownership.
• Screening High-Risk Individuals: Identifying owners on financial sanctions lists or involved in risky business practices.

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How to Look Up Who Owns a Business By State:

In the U.S., business ownership information can be found through state-specific databases. These databases, such as the Secretary of State website, provide access to business registration lookup tools, including the names of owners and key executives.

Secretary of State registration is only a part of the data provided by Livesight. We also include additional Business Profile information such as industry codes, estimated revenue, website/social media links, and more.

For businesses operating internationally, ownership information can be more challenging to obtain due to varying regulations and privacy laws. In some countries, ownership information may be publicly available through government registries or corporate filings. However, in other jurisdictions, ownership details may be more closely guarded and require legal assistance to access.

Overall, knowing who owns a business is crucial for regulatory compliance, risk management, and maintaining transparency in business dealings. By staying informed about ownership structures, businesses can better protect themselves from potential risks and ensure they are conducting business with legitimate entities.

Here is a list of Secretary of State business search website portals for all the United States:

1. Alabama Secretary of State Business Search
2. Alaska Secretary of State Business Search
3. Arizona Secretary of State Business Search
4. Arkansas Secretary of State Business Search
5. California Secretary of State Business Search
6. Colorado Secretary of State Business Search
7. Connecticut Secretary of State Business Search
8. Delaware Secretary of State Business Search
9. D.C Secretary of State Business Search
10. Florida Secretary of State Business Search
11. Georgia Secretary of State Business Search
12. Hawaii Secretary of State Business Search
13. Idaho Secretary of State Business Search
14. Illinois Secretary of State Business Search
15. Indiana Secretary of State Business Search
16. Iowa Secretary of State Business Search
17. Kansas Secretary of State Business Search
18. Kentucky Secretary of State Business Search
19. Louisiana Secretary of State Business Search
20. Maine Secretary of State Business Search
21. Maryland Secretary of State Business Search
22. Massachusetts Secretary of State Business Search
23. Michigan Secretary of State Business Search
24. Minnesota Secretary of State Business Search
25. Mississippi Secretary of State Business Search
26. Missouri Secretary of State Business Search
27. Montana Secretary of State Business Search
28. Nebraska Secretary of State Business Search
29. Nevada Secretary of State Business Search
30. New Hampshire Secretary of State Business Search
31. New Jersey Secretary of State Business Search
32. New Mexico Secretary of State Business Search
33. New York Secretary of State Business Search
34. North Carolina Secretary of State Business Search
35. North Dakota Secretary of State Business Search
36. Ohio Secretary of State Business Search
37. Oklahoma Secretary of State Business Search
38. Oregon Secretary of State Business Search
39. Pennsylvania Secretary of State Business Search
40. Puerto Rico Secretary of State Business Search
41. Rhode Island Secretary of State Business Search
42. South Carolina Secretary of State Business Search
43. South Dakota Secretary of State Business Search
44. Tennessee Secretary of State Business Search
45. Texas Secretary of State Business Search
46. Utah Secretary of State Business Search
47. Vermont Secretary of State Business Search
48. Virgin Islands Secretary of State Business Search
49. Virginia Secretary of State Business Search
50. Washington Secretary of State Business Search
51. West Virginia Secretary of State Business Search
52. Wisconsin Secretary of State Business Search
53. Wyoming Secretary of State Business Search

Recommended Resources

• Livesight Entity Search Engine
• Securities and Exchange Commission – EDGAR

By utilizing these resources and methods, you can efficiently find the owner of an LLC and ensure compliance with business regulations. For a more streamlined approach, consider using dedicated services like Livesight to save time and ensure thorough compliance checks.