How To Name A Business In Kansas

Learning how to name your business in Kansas is easy with our guide. We'll help you choose a catchy name that will become the cornerstone of your business.

Recommended: Use our free Business Name Generator to find unique small business names.

When Naming Your Business in Kansas, Follow These Three Steps:

Our guide will take you through the 3 key steps to finding your perfect business name. If you’re unsure of the type of business you would like to start, check out our detailed list of small business ideas, a great resource to start a business.

First, you’ll need to choose your business structure; this will make a difference when choosing a name because there are different naming rules for each structure. Next, you'll brand your business; this will show people who you are and what you are about. Lastly, you'll complete a business name search to make sure your name is unique.

If you'd like to explore business name ideas for your new venture right away, check out our Business Name Generator tool.

Step 1: Choose a Business Structure

First, you need to choose the best business structure for your new venture. This is the first step because different business structures have different naming rules.

Business Structure refers to the way your business is set up, operated, and taxed. Each business structure has its own set of unique naming rules.

There are two categories of business structures:

• Formal Business Structures
• Informal Business Structures

Formal Business Structures

Limited Liability Company (LLC)

LLC stands for Limited Liability Company. Forming an LLC is the simplest way of structuring your business to protect your personal assets in case your business is sued.

Kansas LLC Naming Rules

• Your name must include one of the following terms or abbreviations: Limited Liability Company, Limited Company, L.L.C., L.C., LLC, or LC.

• Your name can include the name of a member or manager of the LLC.

• Your name can also include one of the following words: Company, Association, Club, Foundation, Fund, Institute, Society, Union, Syndicate, Limited, and Trust.

• Your name cannot include words that could confuse your LLC with a government agency (FBI, Treasury, State Department, etc.).

• In many states, certain restricted words (e.g. Bank, Attorney, University) may require additional paperwork and a licensed individual to be part of your LLC.

• Your name must be distinguishable from any existing business in the state. We will help with this step in the search for your business name section below.

You can also read the Kansas state statute that covers LLC naming guidelines for more information.

Corporation

A C corporation (C corp) is a separate legal entity from its owners with a basic operational structure consisting of shareholders, officers, directors, and employees. A C corp business structure will protect your personal assets.

Kansas Corporation Naming Rules

• Unless your corporation is a bank, savings and loan association, savings bank, or public benefit corporation, its name must contain one of the following words or abbreviations: association, church, college, company, corporation, club, foundation, fund, incorporated, institute, society, union, university, syndicate, limited, co., corp., inc., or ltd. (or words and abbreviations in another language with the same meaning).

• Your name must be distinguishable from any existing business in your state. We will help with this step in the search for your business name section below.

• Your name cannot include words that could confuse your corporation with a government agency (FBI, Treasury, State Department, etc.).

• If your company is a public benefit corporation, its name must include one of the following: public benefit corporations, P.B.C., PBC.

You can also read the Kansas state statute that covers corporation naming guidelines for more information.

Informal Business Structures

Sole Proprietorship

A sole proprietorship is the simplest business type in the United States. A sole proprietorship is an informal business structure and it doesn’t provide personal asset protection.

Kansas Sole Proprietorship Naming Rules:

Sole proprietorships must include the surnames of the partners. Kansas has no requirements to register or file the business name of a sole proprietorship.

General Partnership

General partnerships are similar to sole proprietorships. The difference is that a partnership consists of 2 or more people. A general partnership is an informal business structure and it doesn’t provide personal asset protection.

Kansas General Partnership Naming Rules:

General partnerships must include the surnames of the partners. Kansas does not register DBAs for businesses, but the partnership may register a trademark or a service mark to help prevent confusion resulting from deceptively similar business names.

S Corporation

An S corporation (S corp) isn't a business structure, it's a tax structure. If your business is taxed as an S corp, you should follow your state’s naming requirements for your business structure.

Learn More About Business Structures 

To find the business structure that's best for you, read our What Structure Should I Choose for My Business article.

Have a question? Leave a Comment!

Ask us a question, tell us how we're doing, or share your experiences. Join the conversation in our Comment Section.

Have a question? Leave a Comment!

Ask us a question, tell us how we're doing, or share your experiences. Join the conversation in our Comment Section.

Step 2: Create the Best Brand Name For Your Business

Now that you know the rules for naming your business in Kansas, it’s time to work on your business’s brand.

Choose Your Branding Strategy

The next big decision you will need to make is whether your legal business name will be your brand name or if your brand will be separate from your legal name.

Most business owners prefer to use the business’s legal name as their brand name.

Legal Name: Your business's legal name is the name that is listed on your formation documents. 

Brand Name: Your business's brand name is the name that you use to market your company. It is the name that clients see and use.

Informal businesses, like sole proprietors and general partnerships, are almost always required to use their surname(s) as their legal name.

Recommended: Check out our most popular Online Business Ideas and Low-Cost Business Ideas if you’re still looking for a business idea to put a name to.

There Are Three Main Branding Strategies:

1. The business's legal name is also the brand name. If you are forming an LLC or corporation, you will register your legal name when you file your formation documents.

2. The business has a legal name that is different than its brand name. If you choose to have a different brand name, you will need to file a DBA. To learn more, visit our easy step-by-step Kansas DBA guide on StartupSavant.com.

3. The business has a legal name and multiple brand names. If you choose to have multiple brand names, you will need to file for DBAs. To learn more, visit our easy step-by-step Kansas DBA guide on StartupSavant.com.

Brainstorm Business Names

You should start by brainstorming at least 4-5 potential names. The goal is to come up with at least a few catchy and creative names. Then, we will help you make sure the names you chose are available.

A good brainstorming session lasts for about 15-45 minutes and it’s important that you are comfortable in all ways— think snacks and water, a comfortable chair, your favorite pen.

Use a timer and then stop when it goes off. If you need more time, take a 15-minute break and start your timer again. The more you brainstorm, the better.

Creative Brainstorming Techniques:

• Free Writing. Keep your pen on the paper until your timer goes off. Don’t limit your ideas, don’t analyze whether they are good or bad. Just keep writing.
• Word-association. Start by writing a couple of random words. Next, write down words that tie your two random words to your business's mission, service or product. This exercise is meant to tease-out buried ideas.
• Mind Map. Start with a circle containing the words “my business name”. Draw a line off of the main circle with each new idea. A web of ideas will form during your brainstorming session.

12 Questions to Ask When Choosing a Brand Name

Now that you’ve come up with name choices, it’s time to think about some important tips for naming a business.

12 Important Questions to Ask Yourself:

1. Is my name simple?
2. How does the name sound when I say it out loud?
3. Is the name easy to pronounce and spell and does the acronym look ok?
4. Is my business name shorter rather than longer?
5. Did I include a geographic location in my name? Usually, you shouldn't.
6. What do other people think of the name?
7. How does the name compare to other business names in the industry?
8. Does the name convey my mission as a business?
9. Did I avoid trends?
10. Does my name contain obscure words?
11. Is my name too narrow or too literal?
12. Is my name memorable?

Consider Using a DBA to Brand or Rebrand Your Business

Most states allow you to set up a DBA (doing business as). However, Kansas has no requirements or process to register a DBA. If you want to protect a brand in Kansas, you will need to file a trademark registration. 

DBA For Your Business Structure 

You may be able to file a trademark with the state to protect the name, but getting approval for this can be much more difficult than registering a DBA in other states.

After you get your business name, your next step is getting a unique logo. Get your unique logo using our free Logo Maker.

Step 3: Complete Name Searches

The final step for naming your business is making sure it's unique at the state and federal levels and as a domain name.

We will give you the step-by-step instructions to search:

• Business Name Availability in Kansas
• Domain Name Options
• Federal Trademark Records

State Business Name Search

The first and most important search is on the Kansas business name database. Search requirements can vary depending on your business structure.

LLC

You can search the business name availability database on the Kansas Business Center website to see if your desired LLC name is available.

Not sure what to name your business? Check out our LLC Name Generator.

Corporation

You can search the business name availability database on the Kansas Business Center website to see if your desired corporation name is available.

Sole Proprietor

A state-level name search is not required for a sole proprietorship in Kansas.

General Partnership

A state-level name search is not required for a general partnership in Kansas.

Domain Name Search

We recommend that you check to see if your business name is available as a web domain (URL). Even if you don't plan to make a business website today, you may want to buy the web address in order to prevent others from acquiring it. It’s free to search.

Federal Trademark Search

Next, a quick search on the U.S. Trademark Electronic Search System will tell you whether someone else has already trademarked your name. Once you know the name is available, you can choose to apply for a trademark for your business although the cost is sometimes too high for a startup or fledgling business.

Regardless of whether you will be registering, it’s good to know if your name is already taken.

To learn more about trademarks and the steps you will need to get one, read our How to Trademark Your Business article.

What’s Next? Starting Your Business In Kansas Is Easy!

Now that you’ve created a name for your business, it’s time to make it official!

Forming your business will help protect your name from being used by another business in your state.

How to Form Your Business

There are two types of business structures: formal and informal. We will give you directions for starting both types of businesses.

Formal Business Structures

If you will be using a formal business structure like an LLC or corporation, you will need to file your formation documents in order to secure your legal name. 

If you’d like to operate a formal business structure under a brand name that’s different from your legal name, you will need to file for a DBA.

Form a Limited Liability Company

If you are starting a limited liability company (LLC), visit our Form an LLC in 6 Easy Steps guide for Kansas.

Form a Corporation

If you are setting up a corporation, visit our Kansas How To Set Up a Corporation Guide on StartupSavant.com.

Informal Business Structures

If you will be using an informal business structure like a sole proprietorship or general partnership, your legal name will be your personal name.

Form a Sole Proprietorship

In Kansas, you can operate your sole proprietorship without filing with the state. This can simplify starting your business, but a sole proprietorship will not protect your personal assets.

Form a General Partnership

In Kansas, you are required to register your general partnership with the state. General partnerships must complete the General Partnership Statement of Partnership Authority and mail it to the address listed on the form.