Idaho business entity search and name check

Searches for Idaho run live against SOSBiz, the Secretary of State's business search, so what you see here is what the state's own system returns at that moment. Idaho's annual report costs nothing, but it is due every year by the end of the month you formed in, and skipping it can get the business administratively dissolved. Assumed business names (DBAs) sit in the same search as companies, so a name check here covers both.

Registry: Idaho Secretary of State, Business Services
Official search: SOSBiz
How we search Idaho: Live search of the official registry. Idaho Secretary of State SOSBiz search. Live: queried at the time of your search.
Working in our latest automated check (Oct 30, 2026, 4:00 PM ET).
What a result can tell you: Whether Idaho's records contain the same or a similar name. Idaho decides acceptance when you file.
State fee to form an LLC: $100 (Certificate of Organization)
Ongoing LLC filing: Annual Report, $0. Due every year by the last day of the month you formed or registered in, starting the year after formation

What the Idaho search covers

A single search covers Idaho and out-of-state corporations, LLCs, limited partnerships, LLPs, nonprofits, assumed business names and other filing types; each result shows its filing type. Inactive and historical records, including dissolved, forfeited and merged entities and filings going back to the 1950s, are included unless you choose active records only. Notaries, UCC filings, trademarks, apostilles and lobbyists have their own separate searches on SOSBiz.

By default the search finds names with a word that starts with what you type: "smith" finds both "4318 E. Smithfield, LLC" and "A. O. Smith Corporation". You can switch to a "contains" search, or search registered agent names instead. The search returns at most 500 results.

When you search Idaho here, keep in mind:

The official search returns at most 500 records; very common words can exceed that.

Each record has a File Number (record number) (for example 0000408878 (numeric ID 408878)). Choose “Look up an existing business”, then “Registry number”, to search by it.

How to read Idaho results

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

Status	What it means
Active-Existing	The entity is active and exists on the state's records.
Active-Good Standing	The entity is active and in good standing.
Active-Current	The entity is active and its filings are up to date.
Inactive-Dissolved (Administrative)	The Secretary of State dissolved the entity, for example because an annual report wasn't filed. An Idaho entity can reinstate within 10 years for $30 plus any fees owed (Idaho Code 30-21-214(b)(27)). Source: legislature.idaho.gov
Inactive-Forfeited	The entity forfeited its status, the older-law equivalent of administrative termination.
Inactive-Dissolved	The entity chose to dissolve.
Inactive-Withdrawn	An out-of-state entity withdrew its Idaho registration.
Inactive-Revoked (Administrative)	The state revoked an out-of-state entity's Idaho registration.
Inactive-Cancelled	The filing was cancelled, for example an assumed business name that was cancelled.
Inactive-Merged Out	The entity merged into another entity.
Inactive-Domesticated Out	The entity converted or moved to another state or jurisdiction.

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.

Idaho business name rules

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

Your name must be distinguishable on the Secretary of State's records from existing Idaho entities, LLPs, registered out-of-state entities, and reserved or registered names. An entity that has been administratively dissolved for more than six months no longer counts. (Idaho Code 30-21-301(a),(c)) Source: legislature.idaho.gov

When comparing names, Idaho disregards: entity-type words and abbreviations (corporation, corp., Inc., LLC, L.L.C., LP, LLP, Ltd., PC, PA and similar). Our name check applies these same rules.

Words that need approval or are restricted

Words	Requirement
words that falsely state or imply a connection to government	Not allowed. Source: legislature.idaho.gov

Professional LLCs

Professional corporations may use "chartered", "professional association", "professional corporation", "P.A.", "P.C." or "CHTD" instead of the usual corporate ending (Idaho Code 30-21-302(a)). Professional LLCs can add "professional" before "limited", or a "P" before the abbreviation, as in PLLC (30-21-302(d)). Source: https://legislature.idaho.gov/statutesrules/idstat/Title30/T30CH21/SECT30-21-302/

Using a similar name with consent

Yes. The existing entity can consent and agree to change its own name (Idaho Code 30-21-301(b)). If the two names differ only by the entity-type ending, consent alone is enough (30-21-301(d)). The Application for Use of Deceptively Similar Name costs $20 (30-21-214(b)(31)).

Reserving a name in Idaho

Idaho lets you reserve a name before you form the business for $20, held for 120 days (the Secretary of State's pages say four months). The law doesn't say whether it can be renewed, but you can transfer a reservation to someone else for $20.

File an Application for Reservation of Legal Entity Name in SOSBiz. It costs $20 online or $40 on paper, which includes the $20 paper-filing surcharge.

Idaho name reservation Source: legislature.idaho.gov

Searching on this site doesn’t reserve anything. Only Secretary of State can.

Forming an LLC in Idaho

Document: Certificate of Organization
State filing fee: $100
$100 online; $120 on paper, because Idaho law adds a $20 manual data-entry surcharge to paper filings (Idaho Code 30-21-214(f)).
File online: Secretary of State filing
Processing: You can pay extra for faster handling: $40 to get evidence of filing within 8 working hours, or $100 for same-day service if you submit before 1:00 p.m. Mountain time (Idaho Code 30-21-214(d),(e)).
Registered agent: Your registered agent can be an individual or a business with a physical street address in Idaho; a P.O. box isn't allowed. Commercial registered agents file their own listing statement.
Out-of-state LLC registering here: $100 (Foreign Registration Statement (plus home-state Certificate of Existence dated within 90 days))

Fees change. Confirm them on the official Idaho fee schedule before you file.

File it yourself or use a service

File directly with Idaho

$100 state fee

You fill in the Certificate of Organization yourself and pay only the state. You’ll need a registered agent with a Idaho street address; that can be you if you have one.

File with Secretary of State

Use a formation service

A service prepares and files the paperwork, and most can act as your registered agent and send compliance reminders. You still pay the state fee on top of their price, and the state still decides whether to accept your name.

Bizee: $0 plus the state fee (Basic); Standard $199, Premium $299, plus state fee
LegalZoom: $0 plus state fees (Basic); Managed Service $249 plus state fees
Northwest Registered Agent: $39 plus the state fee
ZenBusiness: $0 plus the state fee (Starter); Pro $199 plus state fee, renews $199/yr

We don’t currently earn commissions from these providers. Prices from each provider’s site on Oct 30, 2026. We never send them your proposed name. Compare what each includes · Disclosure

An EIN (federal tax ID) is free from the IRS; you don’t need to pay anyone for one.

Keeping a Idaho LLC in good standing

Annual Report: $0. Due every year by the last day of the month you formed or registered in, starting the year after formation. Source: sosbiz.idaho.gov

The Secretary of State charges no franchise tax and no annual report fee. Idaho State Tax Commission obligations are separate and aren't covered here.

The annual report is free by law (Idaho Code 30-21-214(b)(7)). If you miss it, the entity can be administratively dissolved; reinstating within 10 years costs $30 plus any fees owed. Sources: https://legislature.idaho.gov/statutesrules/idstat/Title30/T30CH21/SECT30-21-214/ ; https://legislature.idaho.gov/statutesrules/idstat/Title30/T30CH21/SECT30-21-213/

Proof of status: Certificate of Existence ($10). Source: legislature.idaho.gov

Assumed names (DBAs)

An assumed business name is registered with the Secretary of State on a Certificate of Assumed Business Name: $25 online or $45 on paper. It never needs renewing and stays in effect until you cancel it, which is free online. Assumed names appear in the same SOSBiz search as entities. Source: sos.idaho.gov

Good to know about Idaho

The annual report is free, but it's due every year by the end of your formation anniversary month. Source: legislature.idaho.gov
Paper filings cost $20 more than online filings because state law adds a manual data-entry surcharge. Source: legislature.idaho.gov
A name that has been administratively dissolved for more than six months no longer blocks a new filing. Source: legislature.idaho.gov
LLC names can use the short endings L.C. or LC, as well as LLC. Source: legislature.idaho.gov
Assumed business names never need renewing and show up in the same official search as companies. Source: sos.idaho.gov
An administratively dissolved entity can reinstate up to 10 years later for $30 plus back fees. Source: legislature.idaho.gov

Sources and accuracy

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

Items we couldn’t confirm on an official page (6)

Idaho law says a name reservation lasts 120 days, while the Secretary of State's pages say four months.
Idaho doesn't publish definitions of its status labels; the meanings above are our plain reading of the labels.
We couldn't confirm the price or contents of the state's bulk data request service.
We couldn't confirm whether a name reservation can be renewed.
We don't cover Idaho State Tax Commission minimum taxes for LLCs and corporations.
Idaho law sets no late fee for annual reports; the consequence of not filing is administrative dissolution.

See something wrong? Tell us. We can fix how we present information, but only Secretary of State can change an official record.