How to Check If Your LLC Is in Good Standing (Fast)
How to Check if Your LLC Is in Good Standing: The 3-Step Process
Being in good standing means your Limited Liability Company (LLC) is legally active and compliant with your state’s requirements. If your LLC falls out of good standing, you lose limited liability protection, meaning your personal assets become at risk in the event of a lawsuit. More importantly, you often cannot legally conduct business, open bank accounts, or enter contracts.
Most people assume that if their business is running day-to-day, they are fine. They are not. States aggressively revoke LLCs that miss specific administrative deadlines. Here is exactly how to check your status, what to look for, and how to fix it if you are flagged.
Step 1: Identify Your State Secretary of State Website
LLC compliance is governed at the state level, not the federal level. You must check the records of the state where your LLC was formed, not necessarily where you operate. Search for "[Your State] Secretary of State business search." Most states have a free online portal for this.
Common portals include:
- California: California Secretary of State, Business Search
- Texas: Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, FRANS
- New York: New York State Department of State, Corporations and Business Entities
- Delaware: Delaware Division of Corporations, Search
Step 2: Search for Your Entity
Navigate to the search bar on the relevant portal. Enter your exact LLC name as registered. Do not use trade names or "DBA" (Doing Business As) names; use the legal entity name. If you cannot find your business by name, try searching by your EIN (Employee Identification Number) if the state allows it, or by the registered agent’s address.
Once you find the record, look for the status column. You are looking for terms like Active, In Good Standing, or Active/Current. If the status says Admin Dissolved, Revoked, Inactive, or Inactive/Involuntary, your LLC is out of good standing.
Step 3: Verify Your Registered Agent and Filings
A status of "Active" is a start, but it is not the whole picture. Check two specific areas on the record:
- Registered Agent: The state requires a registered agent to receive legal documents. If your registered agent has resigned, moved, or been terminated, your status may be at risk even if it currently reads "Active." The state sends notices of intent to revoke to this agent, not your home address.
- Annual Reports: Most states require an annual or biennial report. Check the "Last Annual Report Filed" date. If this date is more than 12–18 months ago (depending on the state), you are likely overdue. Some states send reminders; others revoke immediately after the deadline passes.
Why "Active" Can Still Be a Trap
Oregon and a few other states do not use the term "Good Standing" as a formal status. They simply mark entities as "Active." In these jurisdictions, "Active" implies good standing, provided all fees are paid. However, in states like California and New York, an LLC can be "Active" in the database but technically "Delinquent" for unpaid franchise taxes or late annual reports. This delinquency creates a lien against your business and personal credit.
Do not rely on a third-party "compliance tracker" subscription that tells you you are fine. These services often have outdated data. The Secretary of State website is the single source of truth. If you must verify via a document, order a certified "Certificate of Good Standing" (also called a "Certificate of Standing") from the same office. This document is usually valid for 30–90 days and costs between $5 and $50.
What to Do If You Are Not in Good Standing
If your status is revoked or inactive, you must act immediately. The process is called "Restoration."
- Pay All Owed Fees: This includes back annual report fees, franchise taxes, and state penalties. Penalty fees can sometimes exceed the original cost of the report.
- File a Statement of Restoration: Most states require a specific form to be filed with proof of compliance (e.g., proof of registered agent appointment or recent annual report).
- Update Your Registered Agent: If the issue was a failed registered agent, you must reappoint a qualified agent in the state of formation before the restoration is approved.
Ignoring a revoked status is one of the most expensive mistakes a business owner can make. You cannot restore an LLC if it has been administratively dissolved for several years without going through a full reinstatement or forming a new entity and transferring assets, which triggers tax implications. Check your status once a year, ideally on the same date each year, to catch deadline approaches early.
If you want to ensure your LLC is fully compliant without navigating state-specific portals, our LLC Compliance Audit ($39) uses AI to scan your specific entity details against state requirements, flagging any missed deadlines or agent issues instantly at https://harvst.online/llc-compliance-audit. It is a simple way to verify your standing without the manual lookup.