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How To Search Kansas Business Entities

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How To Search Kansas Business Entities
How To Find the Owner of a Business Entity in Kansas?
Why Conduct a Kansas Entity Search?
Who Holds Data for Kansas Business Entity Search?
What Entities Can You Register in Kansas?
How Do I Check If a Business Entity Name is Taken in Kansas?
How Do I Set Up a Business Entity in Kansas?
How Much Does It Cost To Start a Business In Kansas?
Additional Information Available on the Kansas Secretary of the Commonwealth's Website
FAQs About Business Entity Searches in Kansas

New business entities, from LLCs and corporations to non-profit organizations and sole proprietorships, are constantly registered in Kansas. The leading source for the most accurate information about Kansas business entities is usually the Kansas Secretary of State’s website.

Whether you are conducting an investigation to confirm a company's legitimacy or screening a potential business partner, uncovering detailed information about Kansas business entities is fairly direct.

Choose Your Search Criteria

Generally, the website allows you to search by business name or resident agent name by entering the full or partial name or business ID.

Business Name
Search using the full or partial name of the business.
Resident Agent Name
Search using the name of the resident agent listed on the registration.
Business ID
Enter the unique identification number of the business, if known.

Review Search Results

After inputting the search criteria, click the “Search” button to view a list of matching business entities. In addition to the name, the search results will display the entity ID, city, status, and resident agent name. When you click “Select Business” next to the business name you are inquiring about, more detailed information about the entity should appear.

Access Detailed Information

Once you choose a business in the search results, you should be able to view further details about the business entity, including, but not limited to:

Business Type – Whether it is an LLC, LP, nonprofit, or other type of business.
Formation Date – The date on which the business entity was formed.
Address – The principal office or location of the entity.
Resident Agent Information – The name and contact details of the resident agent responsible for receiving legal documents.
Business Filings – A list of all business entity filings, including articles of incorporation, biennial information reports, and more.
Officers and Directors – Names of the company's officers and directors, if applicable.

Further Assistance

Contact the Kansas Secretary of State's office if you need assistance performing a business entity search.

How To Find the Owner of a Business Entity in Kansas?

While you may be able to find a business’s official website through a simple internet search and garner some public information about company directors and executives, this information is usually not enough to accurately depict the company's ownership structure. For thorough details about the ownership of a business entity in Kansas, you may need to search government records or other public databases.

Start by going to the Kansas Secretary of State’s business search page. This page typically reveals important details about registered businesses in Kansas and often lists the names of owners or officers. You might find the information you seek by following the outlined steps.

Additional local resources that may help you identify local business owners include:

Additional Resources for Business Ownership Info

Chambers of Commerce
Local chambers of commerce often maintain public directories of members, which sometimes include ownership details.
Better Business Bureau (BBB)
The BBB sometimes publishes business profiles, including company ownership, plus customer reviews and complaints.
Other Public Records
Business licenses, real estate records, and court documents involving the business entity may reveal ownership.

Why Conduct a Kansas Entity Search?

Conducting an entity search in Kansas could help verify critical business entity information, whether for personal motives or legal or financial reasons.

Commonly, these searches are frequently used to:

Check a business’s registration status
Confirm ownership or ensure compliance
Protect against scams
Evaluate a company’s legitimacy before entering into an agreement

Consumer Trust + Due Diligence

Individuals or businesses that want to verify a company’s trustworthiness and transparency before entering into a professional relationship commonly depend upon entity searches in Kansas.

Investor Research

Investors regularly perform Kansas business entity searches to gather more information about a business's ownership structure before making important investment decisions.

Supplier Verification

Kansas entity searches may help you confirm the legitimacy of a supplier or partner during a procurement process or contract negotiation.

Fraud Prevention

Entity searches may help you identify potential scams or fraudulent business practices by verifying registration and ownership details.

Who Holds Data for Kansas Business Entity Search?

The following agencies may hold relevant information about Kansas business entities:

What Entities Can You Register in Kansas?

Many business entity types can be registered in Kansas, and the required documentation for filing will depend on the type of business you are registering.

In Kansas, sole proprietorships, businesses owned by a single individual, and general partnerships, where two or more people serve as co-owners of a for-profit business, do not need to register with the Secretary of State’s office. However, they can file a Statement of Partnership Authority if they choose.

Corporations

In a corporation, the business entity is separate from its owners, offering limited liability protection, and is taxed independently at the corporate level.

S-Corporations

An S corporation is a recognized business entity that provides limited liability protection. For taxation purposes, profits and losses pass through directly to shareholders.

Limited Partnerships (LPs)

LPs have general partners who manage the business and non-managing limited partners with liability protection.

Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs)

LLPs offer liability protection to all partners, regardless of management role.

Limited Liability Companies (LLCs)

LLCs protect business owners' liability while allowing profits and losses to be reported on personal tax returns.

Nonprofit Corporations

Nonprofits are organizations created for public, charitable, educational, or religious purposes. They can qualify for tax-exempt status under federal and state law.

How Do I Check If a Business Entity Name is Taken in Kansas?

It is wise to consider carefully when choosing a business entity name in Kansas. Firstly, the name must comply with all state laws and should not be currently registered.

Also, you’ll want to avoid infringing on copyright or trademark protections.

Although no single comprehensive list of business names registered in Kansas exists, you could potentially search multiple databases to confirm availability, including:

The Kansas Secretary of State’s office notes that its online business search tool should not be used to find name availability because different search logic applies when searching electronically for a name.

How Do I Set up a Business Entity in Kansas?

You can usually set up a business entity in Kansas by filing the appropriate documents with the Kansas Secretary of State. The office generally recognizes the following types, each with its own filing requirements:

Corporations
LLCs, LLPs, and LPs
Nonprofits
Foreign (out-of-state) entities

Next, you’ll typically follow these steps:

Ensure that the business name you choose is available.
File the appropriate documents with the Secretary of State.
Report your company’s beneficial ownership information (BOI).
Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
Register with the Kansas Department of Revenue.

How Much Does It Cost to Start a Business in Kansas?

To start a business in Kansas, you must usually file formation paperwork with the Secretary of State’s office. Generally, the filing fee is $165 ($160 if you file online), except for nonprofits, which cost between $20 and $55.

To register foreign entities (businesses from out of state), the fee is $115 for corporations and nonprofits, and $165 for LLCs, LLPs, and LPs.

Furthermore, all business entities usually file a biennial information report with the Secretary of State. The filing fee is $110 ($100 when filed online).

Sole proprietorships and general partnerships are not required to file with the Kansas Secretary of State’s office to operate.

Additional Information Available on the Kansas Secretary of State’s Website

The Kansas Secretary of State’s website generally offers a variety of services, including:

Service Options: Online searches, filings, document requests, and status reports.
Name Reservations: You may reserve a name for up to 120 days for $35 ($30 by mail).
Forms & Fees: Business forms, document samples, and associated fees.
Statements of Information: Biennial information reports and other important disclosures.
Business Startup Wizard: Step-by-step guidance for starting a business in Kansas.
Service of Process: Information on substituted service of process.
Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) Information: Access to UCC filings and search tools.

FAQs About Business Entity Searches in Kansas

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions and answers regarding business entity searches in Kansas.

Why would I need to search for a business entity in Kansas?
You may need to search for a business entity in Kansas to verify its status or to confirm ownership for legal, financial, or partnership purposes.
What types of entities can I search for in Kansas?
You can search for most registered business entities in Kansas, including corporations, LLCs, LPs, non-profits, and professional corporations. Although sole proprietorships and general partnerships are not required to register with the state, some do so voluntarily, so information on these types of businesses may be unavailable.
Where can I perform a business entity search in Kansas?
You may perform a business entity search in Kansas using the Secretary of State’s business search page or by contacting the Secretary of State’s office directly.
What information do I need to conduct an entity search in Kansas?
To conduct an entity search in Kansas, you typically need the business's full or partial name, the full or partial name of the entity’s resident agent, or its business ID.
How do I find the official name of a Kansas business?
You may find the official name of a Kansas business using the Secretary of State’s business search page. You may search by business name, resident agent name, or business ID.
Can I search for foreign entities in Kansas?
Yes. You may search for businesses registered as foreign entities, which are companies formed in another state but authorized to operate in Kansas.
What information can I find in the Kansas entity search?
You can typically find details such as the entity’s status (active, inactive, or dissolved), its resident agent, filing history, ownership structure, biennial information reports, and more.
How do I verify if a Kansas business is in good standing?
The Kansas Secretary of State's online search tool generally allows you to check a business’s registration status and compliance with all state requirements.
Can I search for an entity in Kansas by its owner’s name?
The Kansas Secretary of State’s business search page does not generally allow searches by an owner’s name. However, you can search by resident agent name.
How often is the Kansas business entity database updated?
The Kansas Secretary of State's database is regularly updated as businesses file new reports or update their information.
Can I obtain copies of business filings in Kansas?
Yes, you may request and download copies of business filings, such as articles of incorporation and biennial information reports from the Kansas Secretary of State. However, there may be fees associated with these requests.
How do I find out who the registered agent of a Kansas business is?
The registered agent's name and address are typically included in the business’s public filings, which can be accessed through the Kansas Secretary of State’s business search page.
How can I search for Kansas businesses by their tax ID number?
The Kansas Secretary of State’s business search page does not allow you to find a business by entering their tax ID numbers. However, other public databases may.
What should I do if I can’t find a business entity in the Kansas search?
Verify the spelling of the business name or search by the entity’s business ID if you have it. You may also need to check foreign entity filings to see if the business is registered in a different state or with a different name. Please note that sole proprietorships and general partnerships do not need to register with the Secretary of State’s office and may not appear in the database.