The business filings division under the office of the Kentucky Secretary of State provides business services to legal entities, registered LLCs, public companies, and private-owned corporations. For all of the aforementioned corporations to carry out business legally in the county, they must be registered with the division. Although this does not apply to foreign corporations doing business here, it is, however, compulsory for them to file their entity names, service marks, or trademarks too. To fully exploit the services offered online and for further understanding, hiring a financial expert for consultation on business startup, management, and expansion, is recommended. The office is a repository of records, corporate filings, documents, certified copies, and certificates, all available online for users and interested businesses. It only provided support services, it has no authority to resolve conflicts between businesses and clients. The Secretary of State of the city is Micheal G. Adams. 

What is it for

The office assists residents and non-residents in registering their corporations. It offers all types of registration services. The office’s business filings division has aided local businesses to comply with statutory obligations from the time of incorporation, and existence, to final dissolution. The office issues the certificate of registration which authorizes persons to carry out commercial activities in the state. It also handles all applications for service marks, hence keeping a database of all trademarks and service marks registered. 

Why is it made

The purpose of the filings division is to offer all of the following services to residents and non-residents doing business here. 

• Starting a business
• Register foreign entity
• Corporation Search
• FAQs

Filing of annual reports

All corporations with active status here have to file their annual report by June 30 every year, after the year of incorporation. 

Business resources available

• Rules and Regulations 
• Active entities data
• Uniform Commercial Code
• Startup business guides
• Business forms library
• Prepaid accounts
• Business records
• Entity fillings data

Online filings and services

Filings can be done online without the guidance of any agent. The documents are automatically generated when you enter the information required in the right spaces. However, if you have prepared your document already, you can choose to upload it directly without having to key in details. Either of the processes is more timely and simple to use than the in-person or by-mail submission. 

Business security and protection

This service is focused on providing security and protection to legal entities here to avoid identity theft. Further resources, and tools on prevention and recovery, are available at www.IdentityTheft.gov/. Services offered to include the following:

• Identity Theft guide
• Entity Identity Verification

FAQS 

Information on how to use the site is available under FAQs as responses to questions asked by users. This can aid new users to the site, and navigate easily without much stress. Forms, online tools, fees, and research resources are available on this website. Please reference the list of frequently asked questions for further information.

Other services offered

• Filing Fees
• News & Announcements
• Business resource center
• Apostilles
• Notary Public
• Trademarks
• Bulk data service
• UCC

Search online

The Kentucky One Stop Business Portal is a resource center that helps people plan, start, launch, manage and grow their businesses within the city. Some of the services it provides are listed below.

• How-to Guides
• Business starter
• How to register an entity
• Modifying a business name

Whenever there is a change in an entity such as a new principal office, registered agent, or business address, it has to file for a statement of change at the office. This is usually done to update entity records in the database. 

Contact information

Address: Office of the Secretary of State business filings, 700 Capital Avenue P.O. Box 718, Frankfort, KY 40602

Phone: (502) 564 3490

Fax: (502) 564 5687

Website: https://www.sos.ky.gov/bus/Pages/default.aspx)