Vermont business entity search and name check

Vermont business records are kept by the Secretary of State's Business Services Division and searched through Vermont Business Services Online. We don't search Vermont from this site; we link you to that official search, which asks for a CAPTCHA check. Forming an LLC costs $155 under state law, and the $45 annual report is far cheaper than the $170 a foreign LLC pays each year.

Registry: Vermont Secretary of State, Business Services Division
Official search: Vermont Business Services Online (bizfilings.vermont.gov)
How we search Vermont: Official site only (we hand you off). Vermont's official search requires a CAPTCHA check on every search, so we send you to the official site instead of searching it for you.
What a result can tell you: Searching the official site shows names on record. Vermont decides acceptance when you file.
State fee to form an LLC: $155 (Articles of Organization)
Ongoing LLC filing: Annual Report, $45

What the Vermont search covers

The Business Services system holds domestic and foreign corporations, LLCs (including low-profit L3Cs), partnerships, nonprofits, trade names, and name reservations and registrations. We couldn't confirm whether inactive and dissolved businesses appear in results.

The search offers more than one search method, but we couldn't confirm whether it matches names that begin with or contain your words. Try a few variations of the name.

Each record has a Business ID. Search by number on the Vermont Business Services Online (bizfilings.vermont.gov).

How to read Vermont results

Vermont does not publish definitions for its status labels in one place. We show the official wording exactly as the registry gives it.

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.

Vermont 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), L3C (low-profit LLC).

An LLC name must be distinguishable in the Secretary of State's records from the names of businesses formed or registered in Vermont and from names already reserved. (11 V.S.A. § 4005(b)) Source: legislature.vermont.gov

Vermont doesn’t publish a list of the differences it ignores, so our check treats only capitalization and punctuation as insignificant and flags other close names as similar for you to judge.

Using a similar name with consent

Yes. The business that already holds the name can give written, signed consent and agree to change its own name to one that is distinguishable. Alternatively, you can file a court judgment that establishes your right to the name.

Reserving a name in Vermont

Vermont lets you reserve a name before you form the business for $25, held for 120 days.

File an application to reserve the name with the Secretary of State. The fee is $25 and the reservation lasts 120 days.

Vermont name reservation Source: legislature.vermont.gov

Searching on this site doesn’t reserve anything. Only Business Services Division can.

Forming an LLC in Vermont

Document: Articles of Organization
State filing fee: $155
Set by 11 V.S.A. § 4012(a)(1), as amended in 2023. Some third-party sites say online filing costs less; we couldn't confirm that on an official page.
File online: Business Services Division filing
Out-of-state LLC registering here: $155 (Application for Certificate of Authority)

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

File it yourself or use a service

File directly with Vermont

$155 state fee

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

File with Business Services Division

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 Vermont LLC in good standing

Annual Report: $45. Source: legislature.vermont.gov

A foreign LLC's annual report costs $170. For corporations, the annual report is $60 for a Vermont corporation and $250 for a foreign one. Reinstating an LLC costs $35.

Proof of status: Certificate of Existence or Authorization (LLC) / Certificate of Good Standing (corp) ($35). Source: legislature.vermont.gov

Assumed names (DBAs)

Trade names are registered statewide with the Secretary of State's Business Services Division. We couldn't confirm the fee. Source: bizfilings.vermont.gov

Good to know about Vermont

A foreign LLC pays $170 for its annual report, compared with $45 for a Vermont LLC. Source: legislature.vermont.gov
Vermont allows low-profit LLCs, which must use the abbreviation "L3C" in their name. Source: legislature.vermont.gov
To let you use a similar name, the business that holds it must not only consent but also agree to change its own name. Source: legislature.vermont.gov
The Secretary of State says all of its business data is free to the public, including a full bulk data download updated weekly. Source: legislature.vermont.gov
Changing a designated agent costs $35 per filing, but no filer pays more than $1,000 in a calendar year for these changes. Source: legislature.vermont.gov

Sources and accuracy

We checked this page against official Vermont 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)

We couldn't confirm the annual report due date or late fee on an official page.
We couldn't confirm whether online LLC filings cost less than the $155 set in statute.
We couldn't find official definitions for Vermont's status labels or the format of a Business ID.
We couldn't confirm the trade name fee or Vermont's DBA rules.
We couldn't confirm Vermont's corporation name endings, registered agent rules or the division's phone number.
A certificate of good standing for a corporation may cost $25, compared with $35 for an LLC's certificate; we couldn't confirm the corporation figure.

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