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Importing Businesses (Entities)

Open the import screen

From Entities, choose Import. Select the import type, CSV or Excel, choose your file, then Import. Use Download Templates for the correct column headers.

Create an entity manually

  • Go to Entities → Add entity (or from a user’s profile, Add entity to tie an owner).
  • Fill in the form and save.

Use a file import when you have many rows or spreadsheet data already prepared.

Import entities only (one sheet)

For entity rows only (no separate business-profile sheet).

  • Import type: Entities
  • Format: CSV or Excel
  • Download the Entities template, fill it, upload, then Import

Matching: Each row matches on name. The same name as an existing entity updates that record.

Columns

  • name — required
  • owner_first_name, owner_last_name — optional; both must match an existing user’s first and last name to attach that user as owner
  • description, dbas, email, website_url, import_context — optional text
  • phone_number — optional; numeric (10-digit style)
  • type, tax_classification — optional; use enum keys from Allowed enum values (not the display labels)
  • naics_code — optional; must be a code that already exists in RISE (see note under that section)
  • state, locality, town — optional; see State, locality, and town under Allowed enum values
  • Social URLs — optional; one column each: facebook_url, twitter_url, instagram_url, linkedin_url, youtube_url, meetup_url (valid URLs)
  • comments — optional; creates a comment on the entity

Import entities and business profiles (two worksheets, Excel)

One workbook for entities plus business profiles.

  • Download Entities and Profiles (Multiple Sheets)
  • Import type: Entities and Profiles (Multiple Sheet)
  • Format: Excel (.xlsx), upload, then Import

Worksheet 1 — same columns and behavior as Import entities only.

Worksheet 2 — one business profile per row.

  • entity_id — optional; RISE entity ID (used first if present)
  • entity_name — optional; exact entity name if entity_id is not used (must match sheet 1 or an entity already in RISE)
  • entity_stage — optional; enum key (see Entity stage)
  • registered_on_va_scc — optional; 0 or 1
  • chamber_link — optional; URL
  • target_market — optional; text
  • import_context — optional; text

If neither entity_id nor entity_name resolves to an entity, that row does not create a profile.

Business profiles only

If entities already exist, use the Business Profiles shortcut on the entity import page and its single-sheet templates.

Errors

Failed rows may list on the screen with a short message; fix the file and import again.

Allowed enum values for imports

Imports expect the key (left column). Labels are for reference when reading the UI or exports.

Entity type (type)

Key Label
sole-proprietorship Sole Proprietorship
s-corp S-Corporation
c-corp C-Corporation
b-corp B-Corporation
corporation-type-unknown Corporation (Type Unknown)
llc Limited Liability Company (LLC)
partnership Partnership
pllc Professional Limited Liability Company (PLLC)
llp Limited Liability Partnership (LLP)
pc Professional Corporation (PC)
cooperative Cooperative
501c3 Nonprofit - 501(c)(3)
nonprofit-other Nonprofit - Other
not-yet-formed Not yet formed
government Government
other Other

Tax classification (tax_classification)

Key Label
disregarded-entity Disregarded Entity
partnership Partnership
c-corp C-Corporation
s-corp S-Corporation
501c3 Nonprofit - 501(c)(3)
llc Limited Liability Company (LLC)
trust Trust
estate Estate
exempt Exempt
not-applicable N/A

Entity stage (entity_stage, worksheet 2)

Key Label
ideation Ideation
startup Startup
growth Growth
expansion Expansion
mature Mature

NAICS code (naics_code)

Not a fixed list in this manual: the value must match a NAICS code already stored in RISE. If import fails on naics_code, use a code from the app’s NAICS list or leave the column empty.

State, locality, and town (state, locality, town)

These follow RISE region configuration (states such as VA and NC, with locality and town keys under each—for example county keys like halifax, mecklenburg, and town keys nested under the locality). The importer may normalize some human-readable county or town names to the correct keys when state is set. When in doubt, use the same keys as on an exported entity or as shown when editing an entity in the UI.

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