Business identity research

Find the legal entity behind a company name

A brand, website, trade name, lead generator, and legal entity can all be different. Build the connection from multiple reliable records instead of assuming the first name you hear is the defendant or owner.

Capture the claimed identity

Save the exact company name, representative name, website, email domain, address, offer, transfer destination, and written follow-up.

Find the legal name

Search the relevant Secretary of State or corporate filing office for entities and assumed names. Compare status, addresses, filing history, and registered agent.

Corroborate the relationship

Use licenses, domains, trademarks, public filings, terms, privacy policies, payment recipients, and agency records to connect the caller's claims to the entity.

Save what each source proves

Record the source URL and access date. State the narrow fact supported and keep unresolved ownership or contractor relationships marked as unresolved.

State entities

Registered agent is not the same as owner

A registered agent receives official notices and service of process. It may be a commercial service with no ownership or operational role.

DBA or assumed name: A public-facing name that usually points to an underlying person or entity.
Organizer or incorporator: The formation filer, who may be a lawyer or filing service rather than an owner.
Officer, director, or manager: A management role that does not necessarily establish ownership.
Beneficial owner: A person who ultimately owns or controls an entity; often not visible in state public records.

Find the legal entity behind a company name

Capture the claimed identity

Find the legal name

Corroborate the relationship

Save what each source proves

NASS corporate-registration directory

SEC EDGAR

ICANN Lookup

FTC cases and proceedings

Registered agent is not the same as owner