How to Conduct a Mississippi Secretary of State Business Search

Using the Search Tool

To begin a business search in Mississippi, go to https://corp.sos.ms.gov/corp/portal/c/page/corpbusinessidsearch/portal.aspx. The interface supports multiple search criteria: business name, business ID, officer name, or registered agent. You can refine your query with options like "Starting With," "All Words," "Any Words," "Sounds Like," or "Exact Match."

For example, a search under "Starting With" using the word "Delta" may return names such as Delta Magnolia LLC, Delta Trade Group Inc., and Delta Systems of Mississippi. Filtering becomes important when businesses have similar names or when legal suffixes vary—like Corporation, LLC, or LP.

The system accepts partial terms. If you enter a general term, it may return many results. Users who need more accurate matches should start with the "Exact Match" or "All Words" filters.

Once the tool processes your query, it returns a table with five data fields: business name, business ID, registered type (such as LLC or Corporation), status (active, inactive, dissolved, or canceled), and the date the entity was created in the state system.

You can click the "Details" button to view additional data. Each business entry includes:

• Complete name history for that entity, including past DBA names.
• State of incorporation (if it's not Mississippi, it's labeled as a foreign entity).
• Principal office address and mailing address (if different).
• Registered agent's full name and Mississippi-based physical address. PO boxes are not accepted here under state law.
• Listed directors or officers, including names, titles, and, in some cases, linked profiles for related business activity.
• Filing history, such as annual reports, name changes, and certificate records, is available as PDFs.

These documents are stored digitally and match the scanned images filed with the Business Services Division. Some documents are public; others are available after submitting a records request or payment. For example, certified copies of documents like Articles of Incorporation can be retrieved for fees that range from $5 to $25, depending on the number of pages and whether certification is requested.

The database is current as of April 2025 and updates automatically as new filings arrive. Items like business status and address changes are reflected within one or two business days.

Reviewing the Search Results

Once the tool processes your query, it returns a table with five data fields: business name, business ID, registered type (such as LLC or Corporation), status (active, inactive, dissolved, or canceled), and the date the entity was created in the state system.

You can click the "Details" button to view additional data. Each business entry includes:

• Complete name history for that entity, including past DBA names.
• State of incorporation (if it's not Mississippi, it's labeled as a foreign entity).
• Principal office address and mailing address (if different).
• Registered agent's full name and Mississippi-based physical address. PO boxes are not accepted here under state law.
• Listed directors or officers, including names, titles, and, in some cases, linked profiles for related business activity.
• Filing history, such as annual reports, name changes, and certificate records, is available as PDFs.

These documents are stored digitally and match the scanned images filed with the Business Services Division. Some documents are public; others are available after submitting a records request or payment. For example, certified copies of documents like Articles of Incorporation can be retrieved for fees that range from $5 to $25, depending on the number of pages and whether certification is requested.

The database is current as of April 2025 and updates automatically as new filings arrive. Items like business status and address changes are reflected within one or two business days.

Additional Search Features and Legal Considerations

The system includes a name availability check, which is useful during the business formation process. Mississippi does not allow names that are identical to existing records or so similar that they confuse the public. Before filing formation documents, many users reserve a name using the portal. This reservation lasts for 180 days and costs $25. Reserved names are flagged in the database to prevent duplicate filings.

Filters such as "Officer Name" and "Registered Agent" are used to track business footprints. Investigators and analysts use them to find linked entities with shared ownership. This is particularly relevant in cases involving business disputes, bankruptcy, or vetting counterparties in a deal.

Some users rely on this tool to verify if an entity is enforcing proper compliance. Mississippi requires all active corporate entities to submit annual reports. Failure to file results in administrative dissolution. Around 22 percent of listed businesses in the state are currently inactive or revoked for these types of violations.

Privacy is a concern for many users. Every registered business must list a physical street address for its registered agent, which becomes public once filed. Owners operating from home can choose a third-party service to provide an alternative commercial address. This helps avoid listing personal residential addresses on public documents.

The tool does not support batch searching or API access directly from the state. If you want to search multiple businesses or run recurring checks, third-party vendors like Cobalt Intelligence offer parsed versions of Mississippi's data. These services typically charge by volume of records or by software license, starting around $0.10 per record for basic company metadata.

Bulk data exports from the state must be requested formally. These are processed by the Business Services Division or routed through the Secretary's Policy and Research Division, which monitors and handles more technical reviews. As of early 2025, the division charges $50 per hour for document searching and certified data pulls.

Mississippi Business Environment and Common Use Cases

As of 2025, over 266,000 business entities are registered in Mississippi. 99.3 percent fall under the Department of Small Business criteria. These businesses support roughly 45.5 percent of private sector jobs in the state.

Between early 2024 and March 2025, net business growth stood at 1,984 new filings. Over a third of those indicate address updates or officer changes, which the state attributes to ownership changes or operational restructuring since 2020.

Out-of-state entities make up 18 percent of Mississippi's business registry. These foreign registrations are often large employers entering the state for manufacturing or services. Toyota, Walmart, and the State of Mississippi remain top in employment. New foreign corporations must file for a Certificate of Authority in-state and designate a registered agent in Mississippi before operating.

Regular users of the search tool include:

• Entrepreneurs checking name availability
• Legal teams confirming registered status and filing history
• Lenders assessing creditworthiness or compliance
• Journalists researching business ties for reporting
• Government agencies performing fraud checks and procurement due diligence

The system also includes certain automated alerts that flag suspicious activities. This includes businesses that change both their registered agent and primary office address within short timeframes or those that file corporate amendments without supporting financials. This tool has helped reduce threats like business identity fraud, which saw a 41 percent drop since Mississippi's system began using automated screens in late 2023.

The office also tracks unusual cases across filings. In 2024, 127 flagged cases were passed on to law enforcement under fraud suspicions, mainly linked to shell companies linked to out-of-state actors.

For questions or detailed records that aren't accessible online, users may contact the Business Services Office or the Policy & Research Division. The main business location is in Jackson, and a satellite location operates in Biloxi. Staff handles upwards of 300 search requests every business day.

If your needs exceed what the website provides, such as requesting historical data or certified filings for use in court, you'll need to use the contact points listed in the official Secretary of State resources. Those services are handled during standard government office hours and may incur separate fees based on the complexity of the request.