How to Check if a US Company Is Legitimate

Step by step

1. 1

   Get the exact legal name and state

   Ask for the full legal name (with “LLC”, “Inc.” or “Corp.”) and the state of formation. A company is often formed in Delaware or another state even if it operates elsewhere. Invoices, contracts and W-9 forms usually show the legal name.

2. 2

   Search the state business registry

   Every state runs a business entity search, usually at the Secretary of State. Look for the exact name and check the entity type, formation date and status. “Active” or “Good standing” is what you want; “Dissolved”, “Revoked”, “Forfeited” or “Inactive” is a red flag for a company that claims to be trading.

3. 3

   Compare the details

   The registered agent, principal address and (where the state publishes them) officers or managers should be consistent with what the company told you. A formation date a few weeks old for a firm claiming “20 years in business” deserves a question.

4. 4

   Screen for sanctions

   Check the name against the US Treasury OFAC sanctions lists. A match on a common word is not proof of anything, but a near-identical name must be resolved before you pay or ship.

5. 5

   Look for lawsuits

   Federal court records (PACER, or the free CourtListener/RECAP archive) show whether the company is a party to federal cases. State court records are searched court by court.

6. 6

   Check federal filings where they apply

   Public companies and many private fundraisers (Form D) file with the SEC — search SEC EDGAR. Companies that sell to the federal government register in SAM.gov, and their contracts appear on USAspending.gov. Nonprofits appear in the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search.

Red flags

• No registration found under the exact name in any state the company mentions.
• Status is dissolved, revoked or administratively forfeited.
• The name on the invoice or bank account differs from the registered legal name.
• The company was formed very recently but claims a long track record.
• A registered agent or address shared with a large number of unrelated companies, combined with other warning signs.
• A near-identical name on a sanctions list.

Doing it in one place with USACIP

USACIP (usacip.com) pulls these public sources into one company page: state registry records (status, entity type, formation date, registered agent), SEC EDGAR filings, the IRS exempt-organization list, an OFAC SDN name check, SAM.gov registration, USAspending.gov awards and federal court records from CourtListener. Search and the registration details, including address and registered agent, are free; a free account adds a full report of one company — everything on its page (sanctions, liens, court cases, SAM.gov and officers), and financials and federal contracts require a plan.

Registry coverage differs by state and is still growing. If a company is not found, search the official registry of its state directly — and for any decision that matters, confirm the record at the official source.

FAQ