What is a Secretary of State (SOS) Registration?

When you form an LLC or corporation, you register it with your state's Secretary of State office. This registration proves your business legally exists and is in good standing with your state, which is required to open a business bank account with Found and work with other financial institutions.

What does SOS registration include?

Your Secretary of State registration contains important details about your business:

• Your business's legal name

• Your business structure (LLC or corporation)

• Your business address

• The date your business was formed

• Your current status (active, in good standing, etc.)

How do I apply for SOS registration?

To register your LLC or corporation, you'll need to file formation documents with your state's business registration office (often called the Secretary of State). The specific forms and process vary by state:

• For LLCs: You'll typically file Articles of Organization (also called Certificate of Organization or Certificate of Formation in some states)

• For Corporations: You'll file Articles of Incorporation (also called Certificate of Incorporation in some states)

Most states allow you to file online through their business registration website. You can find contact information and filing instructions for your state in our state-by-state directory.

Do sole proprietors need SOS registration?

No. Sole proprietors typically don't have Secretary of State registration unless they've filed a DBA ("Doing Business As") name. If you operate as a sole proprietor under your legal personal name, SOS registration isn't required for your Found account.

How to verify your SOS registration with Found

The majority of businesses are verified automatically when opening a Found account. If we need additional documentation, we'll reach out with specific instructions. 

Common reasons for manual verification include your business showing as Inactive / Dissolved / Not in Good Standing, needing to foreign qualify in the state in which you operate, or Found being unable to locate your business registration. 

Learn more about verifying your Secretary of State registration, including how to resolve these common issues.

Need to contact your Secretary of State office?

You can find contact information for your state's Secretary of State office in our state-by-state directory.