Finding the LLC owners is an important function of businesses. Reasons for finding the owners of LLCs include commerce and sales. Understanding what an LLC is and why people use it is helpful.
Legal Fiction – Limited liability Company
Corporations and Limited Liability Companies are a legal fiction. The law considers this Limited Liability Company has separate legal entities for lawful purposes. Think of this as another person or being or ‘corpus’. Get it, Corporation.
The reason for creating an LLC is to separate LLC activities and money from the LLC owner. Personal affairs are severed from corporate affairs. LLCs offer LLC owners protection from personal liability. Asset protection, anonymity, and some tax benefits are a few other reasons. In legal entities like LLCs, the administration divides the entity’s ownership. LLCs are one of the easiest ways to have a decent level of protection from liability. You can divide ownership of the entity as well.
The ease of creation causes the creation of many unnecessary entities. You should find out if your business makes money. Test your business concept. Maintaining an LLC with your state and filing yearly tax returns are extra work. If your concept will make money or solve an issue, then create your LLC. You can create your entity and bank accounts if your business concept gets off the ground. You separate your business from your personal affairs when there are reasons to do so.
When you do create your LLC, you must register the name with your state register. Many states file this name with your state’s Secretary of State. The public can access your filing online at the Secretary of State’s website. The ease depends on the individual state.
Who owns the property in an LLC?
LLC owners describe the ownership percentages within the internal documents. Managers create the LLC documents and divide ownership among the members of the LLC. The state’s register of business entities includes the registered agent’s name. The agent’s mailing address is also included. Ownership is explained in the internal documents of the LLC.
LLC Owners
Finding an owner of an LLC is sometimes exactly what the LLC owners do not want. One of the reasons for forming an LLC is for anonymity. Individual state guidelines determine if the members must list their names. The states that have the most anonymity are Delaware, Nevada, New Mexico, and Wyoming. These states allow a further layer of anonymity by creating a “holding company.” A holding company allows other entities to exist within the holding company.
Business Search
The first place to start your search for the LLC owner is a business search on a state’s Secretary of State public records website. If you are in a state where you can search for business filings, go to the SOS (secretary of state) website. If you find what you are looking for, your job is complete. Corporate filings are public records and some information is accessible. Simply do a business name search on the state website and see what you find.
Business Search Online
Information is remarkably easy to access online. Business finder websites are accessed freely or with a paid membership. Put the business name or entity name into your browser search bar and see what happens. You will be amazed. A business entity must be registered publicly. This information can be accessed digitally (usually).
Registered Agent
You will find the registered agent and their address. This is where to start your communication. A registered agent is someone who has agreed to receive mail and correspondence for the entity. Your best hope is to communicate your intention to the registered agent and have them deliver it to one or more of the LLC owners. The registered agent will have prior instructions or the discretion to bring your proposal to the owner of an LLC.
You may be able to access the actual documents of the LLC. Use the information that you find for further investigation. Search the internet for similar names. There is a good chance that extra information exists for you to use. While uncovering this information, you may feel like an investigator. Your tools include; the state’s websites and paid and free reverse directories. You can use this info for future site visits, phone calls, emails, and direct messages.
Public Records Request
You may need to file an official information request form. A scheduled appointment with the state office is necessary for some states. States may need some time to complete your request as an information request form.
Alternative methods
If your official requests yield different results than you want, you should consider alternative methods to find the owners of an LLC. Many searches for an LLC owner surround the desire to find an owner of real property. One idea is to see where the tax bill address is. Reverse directories of addresses are easily accessible. There are free and paid versions of these directories. When you put the address where the tax bill goes, your search may offer additional information you can research further.
Respect and Tact
You are seeking an LLC owner. This person or persons created this entity for the purpose of anonymity. Remember to use your best manners. Be respectful when contacting a potential owner. Good manners may be the difference between success and failure. Embrace empathy when talking with people. Be upfront with your request; it is always the best policy. Use state websites, public records searches, and other means for finding llc owners.
Finding an LLC owner implies that you want something. Remember that an LLC owner and their registered agent deserve your respect.
