California Business Registry (2025 Update)
California has one of the most modern business registries in the USA, but the data is limited.
There are APIs and open data sets, but the data itself is basic, providing details on entity name, number, registration date and address, but not ownership structure.
This article is for financial crime professionals trying to navigate the California Secretary of State (CA SOS) business registry. It covers the available data, how to access it, its shortcomings, and its reliability.
Need US secretary of state company registry data? Kyckr provides live access to live US business registry data and data from 99 other countries.
What Is the California Business Registry?
The California Secretary of State (CA SOS) manages the registration and dissolution of private companies in California, USA, under the ‘Business Entities’ section of its website.
On its online database Bizfile Online, the business registry houses over 17 million corporate, limited liability company (LLC), and limited partnership (LP) records.
What Data Is Available?
California’s BizFile Online makes available rather limited company information:
Basic Information: entity name, entity number, registration date.
Advanced Information: status (active, suspended or dissolved), jurisdiction (for example, Delaware), and registered address.
Registered Agent: The person or corporation legally required to submit filings.
Management (for LLCs): E.g., director or CEO.
Important to know: California doesn’t provide shareholder information. Shareholding data is only legally available to shareholders – not the public.
How to Use BizFile Online
Using Bizfile Online
California’s business registry offers a free, publicly searchable database.
1. Go to the Website.
Navigate to Bizfile Online and click ‘Search’. https://bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov/search/business.
2. Search by Name or Number.
Search by entity name or number.
Remember: Remove the ‘C’ at the start of the number when searching.
3. See Results.
The 500 closest matches will appear.
Name.
Number.
Initial filing date.
Registration Agent.
Status.
Formation date.
4. Enhance Search.
Select the company. On the right-hand bar, you will see a more in-depth corporate view, including:
Corporate filing due dates.
Registration agent employees who are authorised to handle company information.
Registration agent good standing.
5. See History.
By clicking ‘View History’ at the bottom of the right-hand bar, you can take a limited look at corporate filing history.
Changes to Annual Report due date (time, date and details).
Changes to principal address (time, date and details).
Downloading company extracts on Bizfile Online
Snapshot available: You can download the filings themselves by clicking ‘Download’ under each entry.
Available Documents
Under ‘History’, you will find multiple free corporate filings, including:
Statement of Information: This contains addresses and management details (e.g., CEO), address and Member Name (e.g., the holding company).
Initial Filing: This shows the date of incorporation. It shows you where the company was formed. Particularly useful for out-of-state-registered companies.
For Certified Copies: You must fill out an e-form – the Business Entities Records Order Form ($5.00 per entity).
APIs and Open Data
California’s business registry does make company information accessible as data via API and bulk downloads.
The BE (Business Entity) Public Search API
A RESTful API that provides basic entity details in JSON format.
Access is gated. Developers must register on the API Management Portal and obtain a subscription key for this to work.
Bulk Data
The bulk data is provided via "Master Unload" files, typically flat text or CSV files that require significant data engineering to parse and ingest into a relational database.
Master Unload (Data), $100.00, Contains the text data of the registry.
Master Unload (Images), $800.00, Contains the bulk image files (PDF/TIFF) of filings.
Master Unload (Data & Images), $900.00, The complete repository.
Useful to know: The Department of Justice (DOJ) has implemented a "Bulk Data Transfer Rule" regarding "countries of concern". While CA SOS data is public, aggregators who compile "sensitive personal data" in bulk (which can include combined personal identifiers found in these records) may face restrictions on transferring this data to foreign adversaries.
Reliability: A Note on Time Lags
BizFile Online is only as reliable as the data it ingests from registered companies – and California is particularly sensitive to this.
Domestic corporations are only obliged to file every year (even when officers have been changed).
LLCs need only file every 2 years. So, if the LLC changes its officer 1 day after incorporation, that might not be reflected for 24 months (unless they do so voluntarily).
In short: Company data might be up to 24 months out of date.
Beneficial Ownership Information in California
Corporate transparency has been on pause in the US.
State level: Senate Bill 1201 aimed to make UBO information public and was voted on by the Senate in May 2024, but faced opposition in the Assembly, and the bill ultimately died that year.
Federal level: The federal government ended mandatory beneficial ownership reporting in March 2025.
Looking forward: Since the federal government’s March 2025 decision, the appetite for corporate transparency has increased in California. Expect similar bills.
Access US Business Registry Data in Real Time
Kyckr provides instant access to US company registry data via our online portal or API, including California, and company data from 100+ countries.
Save your team the man-hours and resources required to set up API access to multiple company registries. With just one access point, Kyckr provides access to 300+ official company registers – in real time.
Book a demo to verify cross-border structures instantly.