Utah LLC Name Search
To conduct a Utah LLC name search, you’ll need to use the Division of Corporations and Commercial Code’s Business Entity Search page. This will allow you to see if any business entity in the state is using a name that is the same as or deceptively similar to the one you want.
Found the perfect name? Make sure it’s available as a web domain and secure it today with GoDaddy.
Utah LLC Name Search Quick Summary
- To find out if your desired Utah LLC name is available, you will need to visit the Division of Corporations and Commercial Code website and use the Business Entity Search tool.
- To start your search, enter your desired LLC name in the search field and select the “Contains” option. This will return the broadest set of results across all entity types.
- If your search returns no results, or if the only matches are dissolved or inactive entities, your name is likely available and you can go ahead with forming your LLC.
- If you are not ready to officially form your business yet, you can reserve your name for 120 days by filing an Application for Reservation of Business Name ($22 fee).
- Keep in mind that your name must be distinguishable from all other registered entities in Utah, and it must include a proper designator like “Limited Liability Company,” “L.L.C.,” or “LLC.”
- It’s important to note that certain words like “Olympic,” “University,” “College,” or banking-related terms require written consent from specific state or federal agencies before you can use them in your business name.
- Remember to also search the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) database to make sure your name doesn’t infringe on any existing federal trademarks.
Check LLC Name Availability in Utah
1. Do a Utah Business Name Search
You can use Utah’s Business Entity Search to check the availability of your desired name.
To perform the most effective search, type in the name you would like to use, excluding identifiers like “LLC.” This will return all entities using the same or similar names. If your business name is several words, you can even search just the first two words to ensure you pull up all possible similar names.
If you reserve a name online, the website automatically prompts you to do a search first. Be sure to conduct a thorough search before completing your paperwork to avoid rejection.
2. Search Available Domain Names
Another important consideration to make when selecting a business name is whether or not your desired web domain name is available.
Having a URL that clearly matches your business name is important. This seemingly small step can make a big difference in how prospective customers find your business.
The best way to determine if your desired URL is available is to search for it online using your preferred domain registry, such as GoDaddy.
3. Follow Utah Naming Guidelines
When establishing a business entity in Utah, it’s crucial to follow specific naming requirements to ensure compliance and avoid potential conflicts with existing entities. Here’s what you need to know:
Naming Conventions and Policies
- The name of an LLC must include one of the following: “limited company,” “limited liability company,” “L.C.,” or “L.L.C.” (Utah Code Ann. § 48-3a-108 (2026)).
- The name of an LLC should not include “association,” “corporation,” “incorporated,” “limited,” “limited partnership,” “L.P.,” or “Ltd.” (Utah Code Ann. § 48-3a-108(8) (2023)).
- A professional limited liability company’s name must contain the words “professional limited liability company” or the abbreviations “P.L.L.C.” or “PLLC” (Utah Code Ann. § 48-3a-1104 & 48-3a-108 (2023)).
- The name of a low-profit limited liability company should contain the abbreviation “L3C” or “l3c”
Distinguishable Names
To determine if a name is distinguishable from others on record, the Division applies specific criteria:
- If one or more key words in the name are different from existing names, it is considered distinguishable. Key words exclude articles, prepositions, conjunctions, or entity identifiers like “corporation,” “incorporated,” “company,” etc.
- The order of the key words can make a name distinguishable even if the words themselves are the same.
- Creative, unusual, or artistic spelling of key words can create a distinction.
- Differences in meaning between similar words in their contexts can make a name distinguishable.
- Certain factors, such as the presence or absence of specific words, punctuation, capitalization, plurals, abbreviations, and special characters, do not make a requested name distinguishable.
Restricted Words
Certain words require written consent from specific agencies before using them in a business name. The following agencies must be contacted for permission to use restricted words:
- Utah Division of Consumer Protection: “College,” “Institute,” “University,” “Institution”
- United States Olympic Committee: “Olympic,” “Olympiad,” “Citius Altius Fortius”
- Department of Financial Institutions: Various banking-related terms and phrases
Additionally, the number sequence “911” cannot be used anywhere in an LLC name formed or renamed on or after May 4, 2022 (Utah Code Ann. § 48-3a-108(8)(d)).
For specific inquiries or concerns regarding your entity’s name, it is advisable to consult legal professionals or reach out to the Utah Division of Corporations and Commercial Code.
Not sure what to name your business? Check out our LLC Name Generator.
Registering Your Utah Business Name
Whether you’re prepared to launch your LLC or still in the planning phase, we’re here to guide you through the process.
Register Your Utah LLC
Registering your LLC name in Utah is a relatively straightforward task. Your business name becomes officially registered when you file the Utah Certificate of Organization. This critical document marks the formal establishment of your business in the state.
The Utah Division of Corporations and Commercial Code’s website provides detailed instructions on how to fill out the form and pay the necessary state filing fee.
Form an LLC
If you’ve verified your domain name and are good to go, we recommend using a professional LLC formation service like ZenBusiness ($0+ State Fees).
Reserve Your Utah Business Entity Name
Utah’s Secretary of State Division of Corporations and Commercial Codes handles all Utah LLC naming questions and requests. Business names can be reserved for 120 days. If you have yet to form your business entity using the reserved name when the business name reservation expires, you may renew the name reservation.
To reserve a business name, you must file an application online or by mail. To reserve a name online, you’ll need to create a UtahID account. When reserving your name, you will have to pay a filing fee. Checks must be made out to the “State of Utah.”
After choosing a name for your LLC, take the next step and create a unique logo with our Free Logo Generator.
Utah Application for Reservation of Business Name
Utah Name Reservation Request
File Online with the Utah Division of Corporations
File Online– OR –
File by Mail With the Utah Department of Commerce
Download FormFee: $22
Mail to:
Utah Division of Corporations & Commercial Code
P.O. Box 146705
Salt Lake City, UT 84114-6705
Fax to: (801) 530-6438
Other Considerations
While reserving your entity name is straightforward, there are some other things you should think about when choosing the best name for your business. You may want to do a Trademark and Social Media search for your name to see if it’s available for use across the internet. This will help ensure you have full, unrestricted use of your business name.
Trademark Search
Conducting a trademark search of your business name and associated slogans or logos before registering can help prevent costly litigation in the future. Discovering that another entity has trademarked your business name does not automatically disqualify you from using it.
However, it is important to know who is using the name, what industry they operate in, and where they are located to be sure you do not inadvertently infringe upon anyone’s intellectual property rights.
To complete this step:
- Search Utah’s trademark records to see if your business name or associated slogans, logos, or others are in use by another business in your state.
- Search the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s electronic records to find any federally registered trademarks associated with your business name.
Social Media Search
Just as important, or more so, than finding a domain name that fits your business is ensuring that your business name is available for use across social media platforms. To do this, you can search for your business name on each major site, or use a tool such as Namecheckerr to search across all platforms at once.
Bottom Line
According to recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Utah now processes over 75,000 new business applications per year.
With this record-breaking volume, finding a distinguishable name for your Utah LLC can seem more competitive than ever.
Even so, you should not rush the process or settle for the first available name you find.
Make sure that you take the time to choose something memorable that reflects your brand, works as a domain, and won’t limit you as your business grows.
With your entity name secured, you will be ready to take the next steps to formalize your Utah LLC.
FAQs
To check the availability of an LLC name in Utah, you can use the online business entity search tool provided by the Utah Division of Corporations and Commercial Code. Enter your desired LLC name and review the search results to ensure that the name is not already registered or in use by another business entity.
Conducting an LLC name search in Utah is important to ensure that your chosen name is unique and distinguishable from other registered entities. This step helps prevent potential legal conflicts, trademark infringement issues, and confusion among consumers.
It is recommended to perform an LLC name search in Utah during the early stages of forming your LLC. If a significant amount of time has passed since your last search and you haven’t registered the name yet, it’s advisable to perform a new search before proceeding with registration.
In Utah, your LLC name must be distinguishable from other registered entities, and it should include the words “Limited Liability Company,” “LLC,” or “L.L.C.” It should also avoid using words that could mislead the public or imply a purpose it does not serve.
Yes, after conducting a name search and confirming the availability of your desired LLC name in Utah, you can reserve it by filing an Application for Reservation of Business Name with the Utah Division of Corporations and Commercial Code. This allows you to hold the name for a period of 120 days, providing time to complete the necessary filings and registrations for your LLC.
No. The Business Entity Search checks whether your desired name is already registered as a business entity in Utah. A trademark search checks whether your name is protected as a brand, logo, or slogan at the state or federal level. These are two separate searches, and passing one does not guarantee you will pass the other.
No, checking the availability of an LLC name is completely free. You can use the Utah Division of Corporations and Commercial Code’s online Business Entity Search tool as many times as you need without paying any fees.
Yes. Utah requires that all business names be in English. If your desired name is in another language, it must be written in English letters or use Arabic or Roman numerals. This means that if your desired name uses characters from another language, such as Chinese, Arabic, or Hindi, you will need to transliterate it into English letters before you can register it.