The Secretary of State (SOS) is the state government office responsible for registering and maintaining official records for businesses, such as LLCs and corporations, and ensuring they remain in compliance with state requirements.
What is the Secretary of State?
The Secretary of State (SOS) is the primary state-level agency that oversees business entity formation, record-keeping, and compliance. When you form a U.S. company—such as an LLC or corporation—you file your initial formation documents (like Articles of Organization or Articles of Incorporation) with the SOS in the state where your business is registered. The SOS then becomes the official custodian of your company’s records, including its legal name, formation date, registered agent information, and ownership or management details.
Beyond initial formation, the SOS is also responsible for ongoing compliance. This includes accepting and processing annual or biennial reports, recording changes to ownership or company structure, updating registered agent details, and issuing key documents such as Certificates of Good Standing. For non-U.S. residents with a U.S. business, the SOS serves as the main point of contact for maintaining your company’s legal standing in its home state.
Each state’s Secretary of State office operates independently, meaning requirements, fees, and deadlines can vary. Some states also handle additional duties like elections or notary public commissions, but for business owners, the SOS’s core role is ensuring that companies remain legally recognized and authorized to operate. Staying in good standing with the SOS is critical—failure to comply with state filing requirements can lead to penalties, administrative dissolution, or loss of the right to conduct business in that state.
