State Business Filing Resources

Understanding Business Formation in the United States

Starting a business in the United States requires navigating state-specific filing requirements. Each state has designated agencies responsible for business entity registration, typically either the Secretary of State's office or a Corporation Commission.

What is the Secretary of State?

The Secretary of State is a state-level government official who, among other duties, oversees business registrations and filings. In most states, the Secretary of State's office is responsible for:

• Registering new business entities (LLCs, corporations, partnerships)
• Processing annual reports and statements
• Maintaining official business records
• Processing trade name or DBA ("doing business as") registrations
• Issuing certificates of good standing
• Managing registered agent information

What is a Corporation Commission?

In some states, business filings are handled by a Corporation Commission (sometimes called a "Corporate Commission" or "Corporations Division"). These regulatory bodies are responsible for:

• Overseeing business entity formation and registration
• Regulating corporations, LLCs, and other business structures
• Enforcing state business laws and regulations
• Processing required annual filings and reports
• Managing state business registries

Whether your state uses a Secretary of State or Corporation Commission, these agencies serve as the primary point of contact for business registration, compliance, and ongoing filing requirements.