California: business records and regulators
Where to look a business up in California, where to search the UCC filings against it, and the offices that regulate banks, lenders and securities there.
Last checked: October 20, 2026Links only: nothing you search for reaches us
Each link opens the state's own site in a new tab, so what you type there goes to that site, not to us. Some state searches charge a fee or ask you to make an account. Privacy
California records and regulators
Business search
Look a business up in the state's register of businesses.
UCC search
Find the UCC filings against a business: the financing statements lenders file to record a lien on its assets, such as a blanket lien.
Banking and lending regulator
Oversees the banks the state charters. Check its site for the lender and broker licenses the state requires.
Securities regulator
The state office for securities offerings, brokers and investment advisers.
Find a lender in California
Official lists of the lenders that work in California. Each opens on its own site, filtered to California where the list allows it.
SBA 504 lenders (Certified Development Companies) (opens in a new tab)
The nonprofit lenders that make SBA 504 loans for property and big equipment, from the SBA's own list, filtered to the state.
SBA microloan lenders (opens in a new tab)
Nonprofit lenders that make SBA microloans of up to $50,000, from the SBA's own list, filtered to the state.
SBA Lender Match (opens in a new tab)
The SBA's own matching tool: you answer a few questions about your business on its site, and two business days later it gives you a list of the lenders interested; some may contact you. It is not a loan application. What you type goes to the SBA and those lenders, not to us.
Certified CDFIs (community lenders) (opens in a new tab)
The CDFI Fund's list of every certified community development financial institution (CDFI): loan funds, banks and credit unions. Download the list and sort it by the State column.
The FDIC's BankFind: search for the banks with offices in the state.
Credit unions (opens in a new tab)
The NCUA's credit union locator. Credit unions lend to their members, so check who can join.
Before you sign with any lender, check it is licensed: see the banking and lending regulator above, and Check a lender or platform. A few national lenders and platforms are named, with how they were chosen, in the provider directory.
State rules for California on our route pages
- Accounts receivable financing: A lender that is not a bank or credit union must give you a disclosure before you sign an offer of $500,000 or less, showing the funds you get, the total dollar cost, the term, the payments, the prepayment rules and an APR, and must get your signature on it. Since January 1, 2026, a lender that quotes you a price during an application must also state the APR. State rules in force since October 1, 2023 ban unfair, deceptive or abusive practices in commercial financing to small businesses, farms and nonprofits. (California Financial Code, Division 9.5: Commercial Financing Disclosures (sections 22800 to 22807); DFPI: commercial financing disclosure regulations effective December 9, 2022)
- Business line of credit: A lender that is not a bank or credit union must give you a disclosure before you sign an offer of $500,000 or less, showing the funds you get, the total dollar cost, the term, the payments, the prepayment rules and an APR, and must get your signature on it. Since January 1, 2026, a lender that quotes you a price during an application must also state the APR. State rules in force since October 1, 2023 ban unfair, deceptive or abusive practices in commercial financing to small businesses, farms and nonprofits. Financing secured by real property is not covered. (California Financial Code, Division 9.5: Commercial Financing Disclosures (sections 22800 to 22807); DFPI: commercial financing disclosure regulations effective December 9, 2022; DFPI: Advisory to small businesses on merchant cash advances (April 14, 2025))
- Business line of credit: A lender that is not a bank or credit union needs a California Financing Law license from the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation to make business loans, and a broker who arranges them needs one too. The state constitution limits interest on a business loan to the higher of 10% a year or 5 percentage points above the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco's discount rate, but banks, credit unions and licensed lenders are exempt from that limit. (California Constitution, article XV, section 1: usury; California Financial Code 22100: license required for a finance lender or broker; California Financial Code 22009: finance lender includes a lender making commercial loans; California Financial Code 22002: licensees are a class exempt from the constitution's usury limit; California Financial Code 22050: banks, credit unions and others the law does not cover; California Financial Code 22502: commercial loan defined ($5,000 or more, or open-end credit, for business))
- Business tax breaks (section 179, bonus depreciation and credits): California's California Competes Tax Credit is an income tax credit for businesses that want to locate or grow in California, with over $180 million available each year, awarded competitively on 14 factors including full-time jobs created and investment. For 2026 to 2027, applications are taken from January 4 to 25 and March 1 to 15, 2027. (California GO-Biz: California Competes Tax Credit)
- Commercial real estate loans: The state's commercial financing disclosure law does not cover financing secured by real property, so a commercial real estate loan comes without its cost disclosure. Ask the lender for the rate, fees and total cost in writing. (California Financial Code, Division 9.5: Commercial Financing Disclosures (sections 22800 to 22807); New York Financial Services Law section 802: exemptions; Utah Code 7-27-102: application of the Commercial Financing Registration and Disclosure Act; Florida Statutes 559.9612: scope of the Florida Commercial Financing Disclosure Law; Georgia SB 90 (2023), as passed (Act 78): O.C.G.A. 10-1-393.18(b); Kansas Statutes 75-785: exceptions to the Commercial Financing Disclosure Act (2024); Revised Statutes of Missouri 427.300: Commercial Financing Disclosure Law)
- E-commerce and payment platform finance: A provider that is not a bank or credit union must give you a disclosure before you sign an offer of $500,000 or less, showing the funds you get, the total dollar cost, the estimated term, the payments, the prepayment rules and an estimated APR, and must get your signature on it. The law covers purchases of a business's future receivables and cash receipts as well as loans. Since January 1, 2026, a provider that quotes a price during an application must also state the APR. (California Financial Code, Division 9.5: Commercial Financing Disclosures (sections 22800 to 22807); DFPI: commercial financing disclosure regulations effective December 9, 2022)
- Equipment loans and finance agreements: A provider that is not a bank or credit union must give you a disclosure, including an APR, before you sign an offer of $500,000 or less. This covers commercial loans of $5,000 or more and leases that include an option to buy the equipment. (California Financial Code, Division 9.5: Commercial Financing Disclosures (sections 22800 to 22807))
- Equipment loans and finance agreements: A lender that is not a bank or credit union needs a California Financing Law license from the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation to make business loans, and a broker who arranges them needs one too. The state constitution limits interest on a business loan to the higher of 10% a year or 5 percentage points above the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco's discount rate, but banks, credit unions and licensed lenders are exempt from that limit. (California Constitution, article XV, section 1: usury; California Financial Code 22100: license required for a finance lender or broker; California Financial Code 22009: finance lender includes a lender making commercial loans; California Financial Code 22002: licensees are a class exempt from the constitution's usury limit; California Financial Code 22050: banks, credit unions and others the law does not cover; California Financial Code 22502: commercial loan defined ($5,000 or more, or open-end credit, for business))
- Equipment leasing and sale-leaseback: A lessor that is not a bank or credit union must give you a disclosure, including an APR, before you sign an offer of $500,000 or less, if the lease includes an option to buy the equipment. (California Financial Code, Division 9.5: Commercial Financing Disclosures (sections 22800 to 22807))
- Invoice factoring: A factor that is not a bank or credit union must give you a disclosure before you sign an offer of $500,000 or less, showing the funds you get, the total dollar cost, the term, the payments, the prepayment rules and an APR or estimated APR, and must get your signature on it. For an agreement covering many invoices, it can show an example transaction instead. State rules in force since October 1, 2023 ban unfair, deceptive or abusive practices in commercial financing to small businesses, farms and nonprofits. (California Financial Code, Division 9.5: Commercial Financing Disclosures (sections 22800 to 22807); DFPI: commercial financing disclosure regulations effective December 9, 2022; DFPI: Advisory to small businesses on merchant cash advances (April 14, 2025))
- State and local grants: California's Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) runs the California Competes program, which offers a tax credit, judged on 14 factors including full-time jobs and investment, and a grant program; and the California Grants Portal lists state grants open to businesses. For 2026 to 2027, tax credit applications are taken from January 4 to 25 and March 1 to 15, 2027. (California GO-Biz: California Competes Tax Credit (and California Competes Grant resources); California Grants Portal)
- Merchant cash advance: A provider that is not a bank or credit union must give you a disclosure before you sign an offer of $500,000 or less, showing the funds you get, the total dollar cost, the estimated term, the payments, the prepayment rules and an estimated APR, and must get your signature on it. Since January 1, 2026, a provider that quotes a price during an application must also state the APR. State rules in force since October 1, 2023 ban unfair, deceptive or abusive practices in commercial financing, including merchant cash advances, to small businesses, farms and nonprofits. (California Financial Code, Division 9.5: Commercial Financing Disclosures (sections 22800 to 22807); DFPI: commercial financing disclosure regulations effective December 9, 2022; DFPI: Advisory to small businesses on merchant cash advances (April 14, 2025))
- Online business loans: A lender that is not a bank or credit union must give you a disclosure before you sign an offer of $500,000 or less, showing the funds you get, the total dollar cost, the term, the payments, the prepayment rules and an APR, and must get your signature on it. This covers commercial loans of $5,000 or more and lines of credit. Since January 1, 2026, a lender that quotes you a price during an application must also state the APR. (California Financial Code, Division 9.5: Commercial Financing Disclosures (sections 22800 to 22807); DFPI: commercial financing disclosure regulations effective December 9, 2022)
- Online business loans: A lender that is not a bank or credit union needs a California Financing Law license from the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation to make business loans, and a broker who arranges them needs one too. The state constitution limits interest on a business loan to the higher of 10% a year or 5 percentage points above the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco's discount rate, but banks, credit unions and licensed lenders are exempt from that limit. (California Constitution, article XV, section 1: usury; California Financial Code 22100: license required for a finance lender or broker; California Financial Code 22009: finance lender includes a lender making commercial loans; California Financial Code 22002: licensees are a class exempt from the constitution's usury limit; California Financial Code 22050: banks, credit unions and others the law does not cover; California Financial Code 22502: commercial loan defined ($5,000 or more, or open-end credit, for business))
- Revenue-based finance: A provider that is not a bank or credit union must give you a disclosure before you sign an offer of $500,000 or less, showing the funds you get, the total dollar cost, the estimated term, the payments, the prepayment rules and an estimated APR, and must get your signature on it. The law covers purchases of a business's future receivables and cash receipts as well as loans. Since January 1, 2026, a provider that quotes a price during an application must also state the APR. (California Financial Code, Division 9.5: Commercial Financing Disclosures (sections 22800 to 22807); DFPI: commercial financing disclosure regulations effective December 9, 2022)
- Spot factoring (single invoices): A factor that is not a bank or credit union must give you a disclosure before you sign an offer of $500,000 or less, showing the funds you get, the total dollar cost, the term, the payments, the prepayment rules and an APR or estimated APR, and must get your signature on it. (California Financial Code, Division 9.5: Commercial Financing Disclosures (sections 22800 to 22807))
Sources
- California Secretary of State: Business Programs (bizfile Online) · checked October 20, 2026
- California Secretary of State: bizfile Online (searching for entities in the portal) · checked October 20, 2026
- California Secretary of State: Uniform Commercial Code (online UCC inquiries and debtor search certificate requests) · checked October 20, 2026
- DFPI: home page (regulated industries include banks, credit unions, non-bank lenders and commercial financing) · checked October 20, 2026