What Is the California Secretary of State

 Business owners use the office to form an LLC or corporation, file a Statement of Information, search for a company, and order certain records. Voters use its election information to check statewide election rules and results. The Secretary of State does not issue every business license or collect every business tax.

If you are trying to find a California business, start with the state business search. If you are trying to file a document, use the state’s bizfile Online portal. This guide explains what the office does, what its numbers mean, and where to get help without confusing a business filing with a tax account or local permit.

Who Is the California Secretary of State in 2026?

Shirley N. Weber, Ph.D., is the California Secretary of State as of September 2026. She took office in January 2021 and was elected to a full term in November 2022. When someone asks “who is California Secretary of State,” they usually mean the person holding this statewide office.

The phrase can also mean the agency she leads. A business filing stamped by the California Secretary of State is processed through that agency, rather than personally by the elected official. The agency has divisions for business records, elections, political reform, notary and apostille services, and historical records.

What Does the Secretary of State of California Do?

The state of California Secretary of State receives and maintains several kinds of official records. Its Business Programs Division processes many business entity filings. Its Elections Division publishes voter information and statewide election material. Other parts of the office manage campaign and lobbying disclosures, notary programs, and the State Archives.

For a business owner, the most common tasks are forming an entity, changing information on a state record, searching the business database, and obtaining copies or a certificate. The office records what was filed and makes eligible records available to the public. A filing with this office does not by itself grant a city business license, professional license, or federal tax identification number.

What Is the California SOS Website?

The official California SOS website is sos.ca.gov. It organizes information under Business, Elections, Notary & Apostille, Archives, and other programs. The state business filing portal is bizfileOnline.sos.ca.gov. A person searching for “CA SOS website” often needs the portal for a filing and the main site for instructions, fees, and contact details.

Bizfile Online lets people search certain business records, submit eligible filings, and order available documents. A search and a filing are different tasks. You can inspect public business information through the search feature; you need an account to submit corporation, LLC, or limited partnership filings online. Check the domain carefully before entering payment or business details, since private services can resemble official state pages.

How Does the CA Secretary of State Login Work?

The CA Secretary of State business login belongs to bizfile Online. Create an account or sign in when you need to submit an eligible online filing, manage access, or follow an order. Search for the business first if you need its exact legal name or entity number before filing a statement.

A login is not the same as your company’s identification number. The login identifies the portal user; the entity number identifies the registered business. If several people work on one company, use the portal’s access process instead of assuming that each user has a different number for the company.

How Do You Search California Business Entities?

A CA Secretary of State entity search helps you find corporations, limited liability companies, and limited partnerships in the public business database. Enter a business name or available entity number in the state’s search tool. Then open the matching record to review its name, registration date, status, jurisdiction, and other displayed details.

A broad name search can return similar companies. Compare the legal name and number before filing against a record or ordering a certificate. An “Active” status is useful, but it does not prove that a business holds every required local or professional license. A foreign entity’s California status describes its registration in California, not necessarily its standing in its home state.

What Can You Find in a CA Secretary of State Search?

A business record can show the entity number, type, registration date, status, addresses, and agent for service of process. Depending on the record and available documents, you may also find filing history or order copies. The agent is the person or registered company designated to receive legal papers for the entity.

A search result is a starting point for verification. For example, if a vendor gives you an LLC name, compare its exact state record and status. If you need formal proof for a bank or transaction, a certificate or certified copy may be more suitable than a screenshot of a search result.

What Is a California Secretary of State Entity Number?

The entity number is the identifier the Secretary of State assigns when it registers a business entity. It links a company’s state record to later filings and searches. You may also see “Secretary of State file number,” “SOS number,” “state ID,” or “Entity (File) Number” on forms and correspondence. In this business-record context, those phrases often point to the identifier shown on the entity’s official record.

Do not confuse it with an EIN. The Internal Revenue Service issues an EIN for federal tax use. The California Secretary of State issues the state entity number for its business registry. An LLC can have both numbers, and a form asking for one should not be filled with the other.

What Does a California SOS Number Look Like?

The format depends on when and how the entity was registered. Older corporation records commonly show a “C” followed by seven digits; many earlier LLC and limited partnership records show 12 digits. The Secretary of State has introduced a newer 12-character ID beginning with “B” for newly registered corporations, LLCs, and limited partnerships. Existing entities retain their established numbers.

That change is why an old article claiming that every California LLC number is “12 digits with no letters” can mislead a new business owner. Use the exact number on your current state record. Do not add a “B” or change a legacy number to make it fit a newer format.

How Do I Find My California Secretary of State File Number?

Search your company’s legal name in the state business database and open the correct record. Read the field labeled “Entity Number” or the corresponding number on your official state documents. Your formation paperwork, filed statement, certificate, or state correspondence may also display the entity or file number.

If you see several similar names, compare the entity type, registration date, and address before copying the number. This matters when an accountant, bank, or state form asks, “What is my California Secretary of State entity number?” A wrong number can point to another company even when the names look alike.

What Is a California Secretary of State Statement of Information?

A Statement of Information is a state filing that updates key facts about an existing business. For an LLC, it can identify addresses, management details, and an agent for service of process. The state uses the statement to keep its public record current, so an owner should review each field rather than simply repeat an old filing.

A California LLC files its first Statement of Information within 90 days of registration and generally files again every two years. Corporations follow their applicable filing schedule. Missing a required statement can lead to notices, penalties, and eventually suspension or forfeiture of the state record. Keep your business address current so reminders have a better chance of reaching you.

Is the California SOS Filing Fee $20 or $25?

The fee depends on the entity. The Secretary of State lists 20 *  * foraStatementofInformationforLLCsandCalifornianonprofitcorporations.Thestandardfeeis * *25 for California stock corporations and foreign corporations. That is the answer behind searches such as “CA Secretary of State 25 fee.” It is not a universal $25 charge for every entity.

A Statement of Information fee is separate from a formation fee or tax payment. For example, California’s Articles of Organization for an LLC cost $70, while the LLC’s initial Statement of Information costs $20. Check the form and entity type before paying, especially if a third-party letter demands a much larger amount for a routine filing.

Where Are California Secretary of State Offices Located?

The main California Secretary of State office is at 1500 11th Street, Sacramento, CA 95814. Its listed office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., excluding state holidays. The Sacramento office handles many business-program matters; specific documents may have separate mailing instructions.

The office also has a Los Angeles location at 300 South Spring Street, Room 12513, Los Angeles, CA 90013. That location currently provides limited in-person services, chiefly apostilles and domestic partnership filings. Business entity requests outside its listed services should be directed to Sacramento or completed through the appropriate online process.

Is There a Secretary of State Office in San Diego?

A search for “Secretary of State San Diego” does not mean there is a full-service California SOS business filing office there. The agency lists Sacramento as its main business office and Los Angeles as a limited-service location. Occasional outreach or pop-up events in other communities are different from a permanent filing office.

If you are in San Diego and need a business search, filing, or Statement of Information, start with bizfile Online. If you need an in-person service, check the current office page and the exact service offered before traveling. A county clerk or city office in San Diego handles different tasks from the statewide Secretary of State.

How Do You Contact the California Secretary of State?

The main California Secretary of State phone number is (916) 653-6814. For business entity questions, the listed Business Entities number is (916) 657-5448. Tell the office whether you need help with an LLC filing, entity search, Statement of Information, certificate, or another program so you reach the right team.

Have the exact business name and state entity number ready when asking about an existing record. If you need to mail a form, read the instructions for that particular filing first. A general Sacramento street address does not replace a program’s dedicated mailing address or payment directions.

California Secretary of State FAQs

What is the California Secretary of State?

It is both a statewide elected office and the state agency responsible for several public records and services. Business owners use it for entity filings and searches. Voters use its election resources. The office also oversees other programs, including notary and archival work.

Who is the California Secretary of State now?

As of September 2026, the officeholder is Shirley N. Weber, Ph.D. She began serving in 2021 and won election to a full term in 2022. Check the official state site if you are reading this guide after another election or appointment.

What does the California Secretary of State do for an LLC?

The office accepts LLC formation and other eligible documents, assigns an entity number, and maintains the public state record. It also receives the LLC’s Statement of Information. It does not issue the federal EIN or replace local and professional licensing agencies.

Is the California SOS business search free?

You can use the public business search to look up available entity information without paying a filing fee. Formal copies, certificates, and certain filings may have fees. Confirm what document a bank or another requester needs before ordering anything.

What is my California Secretary of State identification number?

It is usually the entity or file number assigned to your registered business by the state. Find it on the business search record or official filing paperwork. It differs from the federal EIN issued by the IRS.

Are file number and entity number the same thing?

California forms and records sometimes use “Entity (File) Number” or “Secretary of State file number” for the identifier linked to a business entity. Follow the label on the specific form and use the number shown on your current state record. A separate document or transaction can have its own reference number.

Why does my California entity number begin with B?

The Secretary of State introduced a 12-character B-prefixed ID for newly registered corporations, LLCs, and limited partnerships. Older entities keep their existing numbers. The different format does not mean your state registration is invalid.

Do I need a CA Secretary of State login to search a company?

Use the public business search to look up a company. An account is required to submit eligible corporation, LLC, or limited partnership filings online through bizfile Online. Your portal login and the company’s entity number serve different purposes.

How much is a California Statement of Information?

The standard filing fee is $20 for LLCs and California nonprofit corporations, and $25 for California stock and foreign corporations. The due date and form depend on the entity type. Check the state’s current fee instructions before submitting payment.

Can I file business documents at the Los Angeles office?

The Los Angeles office lists limited services, mainly apostilles and domestic partnership filings. Direct other business entity requests to the Sacramento office or use bizfile Online where available. Check the office’s current service list before visiting.

What phone number should I call about a California business entity?

Call the Business Entities line at (916) 657-5448 for questions about business entity records or filings. The general agency number is (916) 653-6814. Keep the company’s legal name and entity number handy if you are calling about an existing filing.

Does the Secretary of State issue business licenses or EINs?

It does not issue a federal EIN, which comes from the IRS. It also does not replace city, county, or professional licensing authorities. Registering an LLC creates a state entity record; operating the business may require additional steps.

The Simple Way to Use the California SOS

Start with the task, then choose the matching service. Search the public registry to identify an existing business. Use bizfile Online and an account to submit an eligible filing. Read the form instructions for the correct entity number, fee, and due date. Call the Business Entities team when a record or filing question remains unclear.

The California Secretary of State connects a legal business name to a state record, keeps many of that record’s updates, and makes public information searchable. That is its role in the business process. Taxes, EINs, local permits, and professional licenses belong to other agencies and should be handled separately.