Wonder who owns a business? As a customer, investor, or researcher, you need to understand who the company’s owners are to make informed choices. Fortunately, there are a lot of trustworthy opportunities to find the people behind the business – through official records, searching on the Internet, and local resources. Here is a step-by-step guide to assist you in getting going.
Reasons to Do a Business Owner Lookup
You may have all the reasons to find out who owns this business. Perhaps you ought to make a legal claim or a complaint. When investing or forming a business partnership, some individuals inquire about ownership verification to conduct business due diligence. Business owners are usually contacted by real estate agents and tenants seeking a lease or property.
Others may also be checking whether a firm is authentic before conducting a big trade. This information can also be required by journalists and researchers in order to write a story or report. No matter what your objective, the correct tools will assist you in developing answers.
How to Find Out Who Owns a Business
It is not necessary to feel complicated about discovering who owns a business. When searching to confirm the owner of a company or compiling information to run due diligence, it is possible to obtain credible information. Search online, use official records, and use local resources to find the owner of a business.
Check the company website
The best place to start is the site of the company itself. A large number of companies provide an About Us or a Team page that lists the owners or take charge executives. It is quick, comes at no cost, and is suitable for small businesses and start-ups who prefer to demonstrate their leadership.
- Go to the official website of the company and search the section called About Us or Team.
- Read staff bios for names and roles that might indicate ownership.
- The additional information, such as the name of the founder, must be checked at the footer or contact page.
Search the state secretary of state database
In the U.S., companies are registered at the state level, which implies that ownership may be tracked frequently in non-secret databases. These databases are correct and official and hence are a good source.
- Visit your state’s Secretary of State website and find the Business Entity Search page.
- Enter the company’s legal name or registration number.
- Review the results for the owner’s or registered agent’s name and contact information.
Use WHOIS domain lookup for business
If the business has a website, a WHOIS domain lookup can reveal who registered it. This is especially useful for small businesses that use personal details to register domains.
- Go to Whois and click on “WHOIS Lookup.”
- Enter the company’s website URL and run the search.
- Look at the registrant’s name, email, or organization to find possible owner details.
Submit a public information request
If basic online searches don’t help, filing a formal public information request can work. This is useful for uncovering business license filings or detailed registration info.
- Find the local or state agency that handles business records in the business’s area.
- Check the agency’s website for instructions on submitting a records request.
- Complete the request form and pay any fees, then wait for the official response.
Check alternative public records
If direct searches fail, alternative public records can be a valuable backup for finding out who owns a business. These documents often contain ownership information linked to operations, property, or legal matters. They’re free or low-cost and add extra proof.
Business license
Checking a business license is a practical way to verify who officially runs or owns a company. Local governments issue these licenses, so they usually list the responsible party. This helps confirm legitimacy and ownership.
- Visit your city or county’s business licensing office website.
- Search for the company’s name in their online database.
- Review the license record to find the listed owner or registered agent.
Real estate records
Many businesses own or lease property, and those records can reveal ownership ties. Property deeds and tax records often list individuals or LLCs connected to a business address.
- Go to your local property assessor’s website or office.
- Enter the business’s address in the property search tool.
- Review the deed or tax details to see the listed owner’s name or business entity.
Court documents
Court records are open records and can provide discretionary information on ownership in terms of lawsuits, disputes, or lawful submissions. They can assist you in locating owners where other avenues lead nowhere.
- Consult either your local courthouse or its online database.
- Search by the name of the business to see a list of any filed cases.
- Find the owner or officer names in documents such as complaints or settlements.
Visit local Chamber of Commerce
Local Chambers usually have lists or can provide simple information concerning the owners of businesses in their respective towns. This is efficient when the business is small and community-based.
- Locate the Chamber of Commerce in your area and see whether they publish a directory of businesses.
- Go to the office or call the Chamber and ask whether they can provide you with business ownership information.
- Ask for referrals or any other sources in case they are unable to provide information.
Executives and owners usually include their profiles in LinkedIn or the company pages. This is intelligent, a simple means of associating names with businesses, particularly those professionals who enjoy publicity.
- Go to LinkedIn and type the company name into the search bar.
- Filter results by “People” to find profiles that list the business in their job title.
- Review profiles for job roles like “Founder,” “Owner,” or “CEO” to spot owners.
Find on Better Business Bureau
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) lists ownership and management information for accredited businesses. It’s useful for checking legitimacy and complaints, too.
- Visit BBB and enter the business name and location.
- Click on the matching listing to open the business profile.
- Look for the “Business Management” or “Ownership” section for names and titles.
Check the business phone number
If you have a business phone number, a reverse phone lookup can link it to owners or related contacts. This is handy for businesses that register numbers under their owner’s name.
Cellphone Location is an online reverse phone lookup tool that helps you identify who owns any U.S. or international phone number. By scanning public records, social media, carrier data, and user-reported information, it reveals names, addresses, and other details linked to unknown or suspicious numbers. It’s quick, secure, and protects your search privacy.
- Visit Cellphone Location.
- Enter the business phone number in the search bar.
- Provide your email address to receive the details.
- Review the search results for linked names, addresses, or other contact details.
How to Look Up Who Owns a Business by Region
If you want to know who owns a business, you can often start by searching official state or regional databases. In the U.S., each state has its own business registry or Secretary of State website where you can look up registered business owners, partners, and company details.
For example, if you want to find who owns an LLC in the southeast, you can easily do a South Carolina business search online using official tools.
Check by state in the USA
The majority of the U.S. states have free online directories where you can search business registrations using names and ID numbers or the agent. These locations tend to display the name of the owner, registered agent, and filing status.
Top 5 tools for the USA states:
- South Carolina Secretary of State Business Entity Search
- California Business Search
- Delaware Entity Search
- Texas Comptroller Taxable Entity Search
- Florida Sunbiz Entity Search
Search by province in Canada
Canada has a provincial corporation registry. These services assist you in the verification of the ownership of the business, directors, and corporate status. In many provinces, you can also order up online comprehensive corporate profiles.
Top 5 tools for Canada:
- BC Corporate Online
- Ontario Business Registry
- Quebec Registraire des entreprises
- Alberta Corporate Registry
- Nova Scotia Registry of Joint Stock Companies
Lookup by country in the EU
Countries that belong to the European Union also have national business registers. A lot of them are available on the internet and disclose company owners, directors and place of registered address. Never forget to make sure there are no limitations in language and access.
Top 5 tools for EU countries:
- UK Companies House
- Ireland CRO Company Search
- French Infogreffe
- German Handelsregister
- Dutch Kamer van Koophandel (KvK)
FAQ
- Who owns an LLC?
An LLC can have one or more owners, called members. Ownership details are usually filed with the state when the LLC is formed.
- Is it legal to look up who owns a business?
Yes. Most business ownership information, like Secretary of State filings or business licenses, is public record and perfectly legal to access.
- Can I find business owners internationally?
Yes. Many countries maintain public business registries. You may need to search local government websites or use international company databases.
Conclusion
Whether for legal, personal, or professional reasons, uncovering who owns a business is doable with the right approach. From official state records to clever online tools, each method adds a piece to the puzzle. Be patient and thorough — the information you need might just be a click or call away.
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