North Dakota LLC Name Search

Check LLC Name Availability in North Dakota

1. Do a North Dakota Business Name Search

You can use North Dakota’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.

Be sure to conduct a thorough search before completing your application 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 North Dakota Naming Guidelines

When choosing a name for your limited liability company (LLC) in North Dakota, it is important to be aware of the following legal requirements:

Language and Characters

Your LLC name should be expressed using letters or characters from the English language as they appear in the American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII) table.

Required Words and Abbreviations

Your LLC name must contain one of the following:

• “Limited Liability Company”
• Abbreviation: “L.L.C.” or “LLC”

You may use the abbreviation interchangeably with the full phrase for all authorized purposes, including real estate matters, contracts, and filings with the Secretary of State.

Prohibited Words and Phrases

Your LLC name may not contain:

• The word “corporation,” “incorporated,” “limited partnership,” “limited liability partnership,” “limited liability limited partnership,” or any abbreviations of these words.
• The words “limited” or “company” alone, without association to the words “limited liability company” or their abbreviations.

Lawful Purpose

Your LLC name should not imply or indicate that your business is organized for a purpose other than a lawful business purpose allowed under North Dakota law or as stated in your LLC’s articles of organization.

Distinguishability

Your LLC name must be distinguishable from the names of other entities in the Secretary of State’s records. This means it should not be the same as, or deceptively similar to:

• Another limited liability company, corporation, limited partnership, limited liability partnership, or limited liability limited partnership.
• A name reserved, registered as a fictitious name, or registered as a trade name or trademark in accordance with the relevant chapters of the North Dakota Century Code.

The Secretary of State will determine whether a proposed LLC name is distinguishable or deceptively similar to existing names.

Registering Your North Dakota Business Name

Whether you’re ready to launch your LLC or still in the planning phase, the next step is to secure your LLC’s name.

Register Your North Dakota LLC

Registering your LLC name in North Dakota is a relatively straightforward task. Your business name becomes officially registered when you file the North Dakota Articles of Organization. 

This critical document marks the formal establishment of your business in the state.

The North Dakota Secretary of State’s website provides detailed instructions on how to fill out the form and pay the necessary state filing fee.

Reserve Your North Dakota Business Entity Name

North Dakota’s Secretary of State handles all LLC naming questions and requests. Business names can be reserved for 1 year and are renewable for another 1 year period.

North Dakota’s online business services can be found on the North Dakota Secretary of State website. To reserve a business name, you must create a free online account and complete the Reserved Name Application digitally. The state filing fee is $10, which can be paid securely online via credit or debit card at the end of the application process.

North Dakota Reserved Name Application

File Online with the North Dakota Secretary of State

File Online

Fee: $10

Other Considerations

While reserving the name for your LLC 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 North Dakota’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, North Dakota now processes over 8,000 new business applications per year. 

While this number can make finding a distinguishable name for your North Dakota LLC seem quite daunting, you shouldn’t 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.