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Search is how a business enters your flow. Your member types a name, Palm returns the registered entities that match, and they pick theirs. From that point you are working with a real record rather than typed input.
Image showcasing registry search with two results

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What search is for

Search answers one question: which registered business is this? Use it when you have a partial identity and need the real record behind it.
  • Application forms. A member picks their entity from results rather than typing a registration number they do not know.
  • Type-ahead. Resolve a name to a record while the member is still typing.
  • Filling gaps. You have a name but need the registration number, jurisdiction, or formation date.
Search is a lookup, not a verification. It confirms a record exists and returns what the source holds. It does not assess risk, validate a tax ID, or screen against watchlists. That is Verify.

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Search for a business

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Search by name, identifier, jurisdiction, entity type, status, or location, in any combination. Each match comes back with a Palm ID, the core registration data, and the principal address on file. For every parameter and the full response shape, see Search business registries.
Registration and formation jurisdiction are not the same thing. A company can form in one state and register to do business in another. If you are unsure which to filter on, registration_jurisdiction is usually the one you want, because it is where the business actually operates.

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Narrowing results

A common name can match a lot of entities. Filters are how you cut a broad result set down to something a member can pick from: jurisdiction first, then entity type or status. You also do not have to re-pull a record you already hold. Most partners cache results on their side with a freshness window that suits the flow, and refresh on their own schedule.

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Reading a result

Two fields need a closer look. Status. This is the standing of the registration, not whether the company is trading. active means the business has kept up with its required filings and fees and is authorized to operate. A business that has fallen behind may come back suspended or revoked: it still exists, but it is not in good standing, and that is usually worth acting on. Registration number. The authority the business registered with assigns it. It is unique inside that jurisdiction but not across jurisdictions, so a registration number is only meaningful when paired with the jurisdiction it came from.

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Next: the full record

Search returns enough to identify a business and show it in a picker. Pull the detailed record with the jurisdiction and registration number from the result, and you get everything Palm holds on that business: enough to prefill the rest of your application, and enough to screen on standing before you commit to deeper checks. See Registry detail.

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Next steps