Overview

The California Secretary of State’s Business Programs Division has introduced enhancements to the entity numbering system for newly registered businesses. This update affects Corporations, Limited Liability Companies (LLC), and Limited Partnerships (LP), which will now be assigned a new 12-character ID beginning with the letter 'B'.

Existing entities will retain their original numbers, ensuring continuity for those with preestablished entity numbers. The changes aim to standardize and streamline record-keeping, especially for entities undergoing conversions.

Key details

  • Newly registered Corporations, LLCs, and LPs will receive a 12-character ID starting with 'B'.
  • Entities that already have an established entity number will continue using that number.
  • General Partnerships and Limited Liability Partnerships will not see any changes to their entity numbers.
  • Entities that file for continuing conversions will retain their original entity number.
  • Searching for entities in the bizfile Online portal will remain unchanged.
  • When searching for newly established entity numbers, the letter 'B' must be included in the ID.
  • Bulk data requestors will see the new entity numbers reflected in their files.
  • This transition to a character ID is designed to enhance standardization and continuity of records.
  • For inquiries regarding this update, individuals can contact bizfile@sos.ca.gov.

Context

This update reflects an ongoing effort by the California Secretary of State’s Business Programs Division to improve the efficiency and clarity of business registration processes within the state.

What happens next