How to get a company extract in United States
Free, official, source-cited — updated 2026-06.
Search Company Records in United States
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How do I get an official company extract in United States?
An official United States company extract is issued by SEC EDGAR at https://www.sec.gov/edgar. Free public search covers most verification needs; a paid certified company extract is normally only required for banking, tenders, court filings or notarised transactions.
Step-by-step
- 1
Confirm the entity first
Search by name or registration number and confirm you have the right legal entity before paying for anything.
- 2
Decide whether you need a certified copy
For internal due diligence, the free public record is usually sufficient. Certified extracts are for banks, tender submissions, courts and notaries.
- 3
Request the extract from SEC EDGAR
Extracts are issued by the register itself at https://www.sec.gov/edgar. Third parties cannot issue a certified document.
https://www.sec.gov/edgar - 4
Check the issue date
Most counterparties require an extract issued within the last three months, so request it close to when you need to submit it.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a paid extract to verify a United States company?
Usually not. The free public record from SEC EDGAR confirms legal name, registration number, status and registered address. A certified extract is only needed when a bank, court or tender explicitly requires one.
What does a United States company extract contain?
Typically the legal name, registration number, incorporation date, registered address, entity type and current status — the same core fields visible in the free record, but issued as an official document.
Can a third-party site issue an official extract?
No. Only SEC EDGAR can issue a certified extract for United States. Third-party tools help you find and monitor the record, not certify it.
How do I look up a US company?
For public companies, search SEC EDGAR by company name to find filings like 10-K annual reports and 8-K material events. For private companies, you'll need to search the specific state's Secretary of State website where the company is incorporated.
People also ask about get an official company extract in United States
The exact questions searchers type into Google — answered from the primary source.
Is the United States company register free to search?
Yes. Basic company lookups on the SEC EDGAR / State Registries are free — you can search by company name or registration number, view legal status, registered address and (usually) directors at no cost. Some jurisdictions charge a small fee only for downloading full filed documents.
What is the official United States business registry?
The SEC EDGAR / State Registries is the official public register of companies incorporated in United States. It is operated by the government and is the primary source cited on this page — https://www.sec.gov/edgar.
Related guides and tools
More United States guides
- Search companies by name
Find any registered company from a partial name — free, no signup.
- Search the company register
What the official register holds, and how to search it free.
- Search the business registry
Match a trading name to the registered legal entity behind it.
- Find the right entity
Tell apart several entities registered under near-identical names.
United States data
- United States company search
Search every SEC EDGAR / State Registries record.
- SEC EDGAR guide
SEC Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval