Many commercial property owners form limited liability companies (LLCs) to protect their personal assets and shield themselves from lawsuits. An LLC can also make it more difficult for people to find out who owns a piece of property.
Learning how to find out who owns an LLC can make it easier for you to purchase commercial and residential properties. With the right tools, you can even pinpoint which owners are ready to sell real estate to make money and avoid upcoming real estate taxes.
There are several ways to discover who owns an LLC. Some are easier than others, so it’s important to understand your options.
Search the State’s LLC Database
States must maintain LLC databases, so they know who owns companies that operate within their borders. The responsibility usually falls on the Secretary of State. Some states refer to the office as the Secretary of the Commonwealth, but they perform the same essential services.
For the most part, you can use your state’s Secretary of State website to see who owns an LLC.
Keep in mind, though, that the Secretary of State’s database may only contain information about LLCs registered within the state. An LLC registered in another state can own property throughout the country or world. This arrangement can make it difficult to determine where the LLC is located, which makes it harder to find out who owns the organization.
If you’re willing to spend a few hours browsing websites and making phone calls, you can contact the Secretary of State offices until you find the right one. You can find a comprehensive list of offices here.
Visit Your County Clerk or Secretary of State
If you don’t mind doing extra legwork and taking time to get information in person, then you can often find out who owns LLCs by visiting your local county clerk’s or Secretary of State’s office.
Not all county clerk offices have this information on hand, so make sure you call ahead to avoid a wasted trip.
Going to an office in person may sound like a pain, but there are some benefits. If you request information often, then going in person can help you form relationships with county and state employees. Once they know you, you may get preferential treatment. Just make sure you treat everyone politely and tolerate the bureaucratic processes without complaining.
Complete Information Request Forms
Not all states have online databases that list the owners of LLCs. In these cases, you will have to submit an information request form to the Secretary of State’s office.
The request forms aren’t complicated. They usually just want you to provide your name, address, contact information, and why you want the information. Still, it takes time for the office to process your request and give you the name of the LLC’s owner.
If you get a response within a few weeks, consider yourself lucky.
Search ProspectNow’s LLC Database
Instead of dealing with government bureaucracy, you can use a paid database that lists information about LLCs. You can find several companies by using ProspectNow’s LLC databases. ProspectNow tends to have lower prices than other databases that help you find out who owns an LLC without spending too much money.
With ProspectNow, you can search 15 million LLCs and corporations. We have been collecting information since 2008, and have a comprehensive list of owners and managing members. Accessing ProspectNow’s LLC database also gives you:
- Email addresses of LLC managing members.
- Phone numbers of LLC managing members.
- Details that reveal an LLC’s complete portfolio ownership.
If you’re looking for an efficient, low-cost option for how to find out who owns an LLC, it makes sense to become a ProspectNow member. A membership can help you close more deals and make more money!
Try ProspectNow’s Database for Free
You don’t have to commit to a ProspectNow membership right now. Our website offers a three-day free trial that lets you access its:
- Likely seller algorithm.
- Nationwide company data.
- Owner contact information.
If you find the service useful, choose a membership plan that matches your needs.
Sign up for your free ProspectNow trial today so you can experience the advantages of getting all of the LLC ownership information that you need within seconds.