VerifySOS is a 50-state business-verification tool for credit and underwriting in trucking and commercial finance. One search merges Secretary of State registration, FMCSA/USDOT authority, OFAC sanctions, UCC liens, ownership, and county DBA filings into a single PDF packet.

How do I look up a business across all 50 states?

Enter the company name and its 2-letter state code (or a USDOT number) on verifysos.com. It searches the Secretary of State and FMCSA SAFER side by side, screens OFAC, and generates a verification packet PDF.

How much does VerifySOS cost?

There is a free tier, a Starter plan at $14.99/month (about 250 searches), and a Pro plan at $25/month with unlimited searches plus API access, UCC, and DBA.

Does VerifySOS show business ownership and officers?

Yes. Where a state publishes officers, members, or managers in its free public records, VerifySOS pulls them into the packet, separate from the registered agent, which is not the owner.

← All posts June 28, 2026

Pima County DBA search — how to look up a fictitious business name (AZ)

A DBA (doing business as) or fictitious business name filed in Pima County, Arizona is not the same as a registered business entity. It’s a name registration filed at the county level. A credit underwriter looking at an Arizona borrower doing business under an assumed name must understand what a DBA search reveals, what it doesn’t, and why you need to trace back to the underlying legal entity to make a credit decision.

What a Pima County DBA filing actually is

A fictitious business name in Arizona is registered at the county recorder’s office. It’s a public record stating that a person or entity is conducting business under a name other than their legal name. If a sole proprietor named Maria Garcia wants to run “Garcia Cleaning Solutions,” she files a DBA. If an LLC wants to operate under a trade name, it files a DBA. The filing is inexpensive, quick, and does not create a business entity · it merely notifies the county that a name is in use.

For underwriting purposes, a DBA is not a substitute for business registration. It does not replace an Arizona Corporation Commission filing, an LLC formation, or a partnership agreement. It is a courtesy notice to the public. When you search for a DBA in Pima County, you are looking at a name claim, not proof of legal standing or ownership structure.

What you’ll find in a Pima County DBA record

A fictitious business name filing in Pima County shows several key fields. The record lists the assumed name (the DBA itself), the owner’s legal name, the owner’s address, the date the name was filed, and the expiration date. Arizona DBAs are valid for five years from the filing date and must be renewed to remain active.

The owner field is critical. If the DBA shows a person’s name, you know the business is a sole proprietorship. If it shows an LLC name or a corporation name, the DBA belongs to that registered entity, not to an individual. When you look up a DBA, read the owner line carefully. That tells you who holds the license to use the name and, by extension, who is legally responsible for debts incurred under it.

You will also see the filing date and expiration date. If a DBA has expired and has not been renewed, the name registration is no longer active. An expired DBA does not mean the business has shut down · it means the name is no longer officially registered. For a credit file, an expired DBA is a red flag. It suggests either the business closed or the owner did not renew the filing, which raises questions about operational consistency and attention to detail.

How to search for a DBA in Pima County

The Pima County Recorder’s Office maintains the public record of fictitious business names. You can search the county’s business records portal directly online. The search is free and open to the public. Enter the assumed name (the DBA) or the owner’s name and run the search. Results will show any filings on record.

If you do not find a DBA, it means no fictitious business name has been registered in Pima County under that name. This does not mean the business is illegal or unregistered · it means either the business is operating under its legal entity name (e.g., the LLC or corporation name itself) or the DBA was filed in a different Arizona county.

Note that a DBA can only be registered in the county where the primary place of business is located. If your borrower operates from Tucson (Pima County) but also does business in Maricopa County (Phoenix area), they may have DBAs filed in both counties.

Why a DBA search is not enough for credit underwriting

Many small-business borrowers file a DBA but do not incorporate or form an LLC. They operate as sole proprietorships. For these borrowers, the DBA search is a starting point, but you must also verify personal credit, personal tax returns, and business bank account ownership. A DBA gives you a name and a filing date · it does not give you financial history or legal liability protection.

If the DBA is filed in the name of an LLC or corporation, you must pull the Arizona Corporation Commission filing for that entity. The DBA alone does not tell you whether the LLC is in good standing, whether the members are in dispute, or whether the entity has been dissolved. It also does not show you the officers, managers, or registered agent of the underlying company.

For equipment-finance or commercial credit decisions, search the DBA first to confirm the name is registered and to find out who owns it. Then cross-check the owner against the Secretary of State filing to verify the legal structure. If the owner is a person, run a personal background and credit check. If the owner is a company, verify that company’s standing and ownership chain.

Common pitfalls when reading a Pima County DBA

The person whose name appears as the owner of the DBA is the one responsible for the name. If the DBA owner is different from the person applying for credit, you need to understand the relationship. A spouse’s name on a DBA does not mean both spouses are personally liable for a commercial debt · only the named owner is. If you are underwriting a loan to a borrower who claims to own a business but the DBA is filed in someone else’s name, ask for documentation of why the name is registered to a different person.

Also watch for expired DBAs. If a borrower claims to operate under a certain name but the DBA search shows the name expired two years ago, the borrower is either operating without a current registration or the registration exists in a different county. Either way, clarify the situation before moving forward.

Finally, do not assume a DBA search gives you beneficial ownership. If an LLC is the named owner of the DBA, you still need to pull the LLC’s Arizona filing to see the members. The DBA search will not show you who actually controls the LLC.

Bottom line

A DBA search in Pima County is a quick way to confirm that a business name is registered and to learn the filing date and owner. It is not a substitute for verifying the underlying legal entity, checking the owner’s background, or confirming that the borrower is authorized to use the name. Always treat a DBA as one data point · not as proof of business legitimacy or legal standing. Cross-reference it with the Arizona Corporation Commission and with the borrower’s personal credit and tax records to build a complete underwriting file.