District of Columbia business entity search and name check

What the District of Columbia search covers

All businesses formed in DC or registered here from elsewhere: corporations, LLCs, partnerships, nonprofits, cooperatives and statutory trusts, in every status. Trade names are kept on a separate register.

When you search District of Columbia here, keep in mind:

• Published by the District as open data and refreshed daily; the newest filings may not appear yet.
• Trade names are a separate DC register and are not included in this search.

Each record has a File Number (for example L50576). Choose “Look up an existing business”, then “Registry number”, to search by it.

How to read District of Columbia results

District of Columbia uses its own status labels. We always show the official wording; here is what the common ones mean according to the state:

A status describes the registry filing only. It isn’t evidence of a license, tax compliance or reputation, and a record with the same name as a company you know may be a different business. More on statuses.

District of Columbia business name rules

An LLC name must include one of: limited liability company, limited company, L.L.C., LLC, L.C., LC, ('Ltd.' and 'Co.' as abbreviations). A corporation uses one of: corporation, incorporated, company, limited, Corp., Inc., Co., Ltd..

Your name must be distinguishable on DC's records from DC businesses and LLPs, out-of-state businesses registered here, reserved and registered names, and registered trade names. (D.C. Code 29-103.01(a),(c)) Source: code.dccouncil.gov

When comparing names, District of Columbia disregards: entity-type words and abbreviations such as Inc., LLC, LLP, LP, Ltd., PC and PA. Our name check applies these same rules.

Words that need approval or are restricted

Professional LLCs

A professional LLC must use "professional limited liability company", P.L.L.C. or PLLC. A professional corporation uses "professional corporation", P.C., "chartered" or Chtd., and may not use corporation, incorporated, company or limited.

Using a similar name with consent

Allowed if the business holding the similar name consents in writing and changes its own name (D.C. Code 29-103.01(b)). If the names differ only by the entity ending, such as LLC versus Inc., consent alone is enough (29-103.01(d)).

Reserving a name in District of Columbia

District of Columbia lets you reserve a name before you form the business for $50, held for 120 days. DC law doesn't say whether a reservation can be renewed, but it can be transferred to someone else.

File the reservation online through BOSS at boss.dc.gov.

District of Columbia name reservation Source: dlcp.dc.gov

Searching on this site doesn’t reserve anything. Only DLCP Corporations Division can.

Forming an LLC in District of Columbia

Document

Articles of Organization (Form DLC-1)

State filing fee

$99
Faster service costs extra: $50 for 3-day processing or $100 for same-day or 1-day. Walk-in filers must pay an expedite fee.

File online

DLCP Corporations Division filing

Processing

Standard filings are processed within 5 business days.

Registered agent

Every business formed or registered in DC must keep a registered agent with a physical DC street address. A PO box isn't accepted.

Out-of-state LLC registering here

$220 (Foreign Registration Statement (with home-state good standing certificate dated within 90 days))

Fees change. Confirm them on the official District of Columbia fee schedule before you file.

Keeping a District of Columbia LLC in good standing

Biennial Report: $300. Due April 1 of the year after the LLC is formed or registered, then every 2 years by April 1. The fee is $80 for nonprofits, with a $50 late fee. Late fee: $100. Source: dlcp.dc.gov

Register with DC's Office of Tax and Revenue on Form FR-500 at MyTax.DC.gov. LLCs and other unincorporated businesses pay the unincorporated business franchise tax (Form D-30), and corporations pay the corporation franchise tax (Form D-20), both at 8.25%. The minimum tax is $250, or $1,000 if DC gross receipts are over $1 million. Unincorporated businesses with gross income of $12,000 or less are exempt. Source: https://otr.cfo.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/otr/publication/attachments/2025_D30_Book_Final_wLinks_02232026.pdf

DC can administratively dissolve a business that doesn't pay a fee, doesn't file its biennial report within 5 months of the due date, or goes 60 days without a registered agent. After notice, the business has 60 days to fix the problem. Sources: https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/29-106.01 and https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/29-106.02

Proof of status: Certificate of Good Standing ($50). Source: boss.dc.gov

Assumed names (DBAs)

Every trade name used in DC must be registered with DLCP for $55. Registrations are renewed every 2 years by April 1 for $55 (late renewal adds a $55 fee), and amending or cancelling one also costs $55. Registered trade names are included in DC's open data. Source: dlcp.dc.gov

Good to know about District of Columbia

• You must register the business with the Corporations Division through BOSS before you can get a DC business license or register for DC taxes. BOSS replaced CorpOnline in August 2026, and filing requires an Access DC account. Source: dlcp.dc.gov
• Reports are filed every two years, not annually: $300, due April 1, with a $100 late fee. Source: dlcp.dc.gov
• A new business name must be distinguishable from registered trade names, not just from other businesses' legal names. Source: code.dccouncil.gov
• DC's franchise tax has a $250 minimum that applies even if the business loses money, unless it is an unincorporated business with gross income of $12,000 or less. Source: otr.cfo.dc.gov
• The corporation filing fee depends on authorized capital: $99 up to $100,000, $550 up to $500,000, $1,100 up to $1 million and $1,650 above that. Source: dlcp.dc.gov
• DLCP's full corporate registry, trade names and beneficial owners are published daily as free open data under a CC BY 4.0 license. Source: opendata.dc.gov

Sources and accuracy

We checked this page against official District of Columbia sources on October 30, 2026. Our monitor rechecks the official search, filing portal and fee pages daily and flags changes for review.

See something wrong? Tell us. We can fix how we present information, but only DLCP Corporations Division can change an official record.