Pennsylvania Business Entity Search – Forbes Advisor

A business entity is any organization formed for the purpose of conducting business. A business entity can include a partnership, limited liability company (LLC), corporation or sole proprietorship.

Starting a Business in Pennsylvania

To start a business in Pennsylvania, you need to confirm that the business name you have selected is available for use. If the name is available for use, you then need to register the business with the Pennsylvania Department of State. After registering the business, you need to obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN) for tax reporting purposes. Depending on your industry and type of business, you may also need a Pennsylvania business license.

If you aren’t ready to register the business yet, but want to reserve the business name, you can do so by submitting a Name Reservation form and paying a $70 filing fee.

Forming an LLC in Pennsylvania

To form an LLC in Pennsylvania, you first need to confirm the business name is available by conducting a business entity search. You then file the Certificate of Organization for a Pennsylvania Limited Liability Company with the Pennsylvania Department of State. You also need to pay a $125 filing fee when you register the LLC.

If you plan to use a fictitious name (ie, trade name or DBA), you register this name by filing the applicable form and paying the $70 filing fee with the Pennsylvania Department of State Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations.