Pennsylvania LLC Name Search
You'll need to perform a Pennsylvania LLC name search to check name availability for your new business venture.
We will help you establish your Pennsylvania LLC with a distinctive and legally recognized name.
Recommended: Northwest ($29 + State Fees) will register your business name when you form an LLC.
Check LLC Name Availability in Pennsylvania
1. Do a Pennsylvania Business Name Search
You can use the Pennsylvania Business Search to check the availability of your desired name.
To perform the most effective search, select “Corporate Name Availability” under “Type of Search”, and type in the name you would like to use, excluding identifiers like “LLC.” You can also do an extra search by selecting “All Words” under “Type of Search.” 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 Pennsylvania Naming Guidelines
When starting a limited liability company (LLC) in Pennsylvania, it's important to understand the naming requirements established by state law.
These guidelines ensure that your LLC's name is distinguishable, complies with legal standards, and accurately represents your business.
Here's what you need to know:
General Naming Rules
The name of a covered association, including an LLC, can be expressed in any language. However, it must be written using Roman letters or characters, Arabic or Roman numerals, or symbols specified by the Department of State regulations.
The use of characters from other languages may be allowed based on regulations set by the department.
Distinguishability of Names
To avoid confusion, the proper name of your LLC must be distinguishable from other covered associations on the records of the Department of State.
This means it should not be identical or too similar to the name of another existing association. There are exceptions to this rule, which include:
- Statement of Change: If a covered association has stated its intention to change its name, cease operations, be wound up, or a foreign association plans to withdraw from doing business in Pennsylvania, it can adopt a name that would otherwise be non-distinguishable. This requires submitting a statement of intent and obtaining consent from the department.
- Out of Existence: If a covered association or another association has filed a tax return or certificate with the Department of Revenue indicating nonexistence or three successive years of failure to file required reports or returns, the name becomes available for adoption.
- Abandonment: If an association has abandoned its name under the laws of its jurisdiction without a successor adopting it, and an official record of this fact is presented, the name may be used.
- Administrative Dissolution or Cancellation: During administrative dissolution or cancellation of a domestic filing entity, domestic limited liability partnership, or electing partnership, the protection of another covered association's name may not apply.
Reserved or Registered Names
Your LLC's name must not be the same as a name that has been reserved or registered by another association under the relevant sections of Pennsylvania law.
The Department of State's filing of an assumed or fictitious name registration under the Fictitious Names Act may also render a name unavailable.
Prohibited Designations in Name
The proper name of your LLC must not imply that it is a governmental agency, a banking or insurance institution, a public utility, a credit union, or an educational institution conforming to state standards unless specifically authorized by law or certified by the appropriate regulatory bodies.
Additionally, the name must not include words constituting blasphemy, profanity, or words that profane the Lord's name.
Professional Designations
Certain professional designations, such as "engineer," "surveyor," "architect," or any other term related to regulated professions, cannot be used in your LLC's name unless at least one of the individuals signing the initial public organic record or one of the governors of the existing association is properly registered in the relevant field.
Certification from the appropriate regulatory board must be submitted to the Department of State.
Not sure what to name your business? Check out our LLC Name Generator.
Registering Your Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania LLC Name
Registering your LLC name in Pennsylvania is a relatively straightforward task. Your business name becomes officially registered when you file the Pennsylvania Certificate of Organization. This critical document marks the formal establishment of your business in the state.
The Pennsylvania Department of State's website provides detailed instructions on how to fill out the form and pay the necessary state filing fee.
Keep in mind: Utilizing a professional LLC formation service can simplify the process by handling the registration of your LLC name and the establishment of your LLC. To learn more, refer to our Best LLC Services review.
Reserve Your Pennsylvania Business Entity Name
The Pennsylvania Secretary of State's Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations handles all 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 reserve the name again.
To reserve a business name, you must file an application online or by mail. When reserving your name, you will have to pay a filing fee. Checks must be made out to the “Department of State.” Note that to file online you will need to create an account.
After choosing a name for your LLC, take the next step and create a unique logo with our Free Logo Generator.
Pennsylvania Business Name Reservation
File Online with PENN File
File Online- OR -
File by Mail
Download FormFee: $70
Mail to:
Pennsylvania Department of State
Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations
P.O. Box 8722
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17105-8722
Considering Using an LLC Formation Service?
We reviewed and ranked the top LLC formation services.
Find out which is best for you.
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 entity name to see if it's available for use online. 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 state trademark records using the Pennsylvania Business Entity Search organized by entity type 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, search for your business name on each major site, using a tool such as Namecheckr to search across all platforms at once.
Bottom Line
Having a name for your business is an important first step for creating a successful LLC, and one that is incredibly easy to do. Once you have found your preferred name using Pennsylvania's Business Entity Search, you'll want to secure your domain name so that your customers will be able to find your business online.
Reserving your name with a Pennsylvania Name Reservation Form will help you stand out from the competition. With your name secured, you will be ready to take the next steps to formalize your LLC.
FAQs
To perform an LLC name search in Pennsylvania, you can visit the Pennsylvania Department of State's online business entity search tool. Utilize their search feature to enter your desired LLC name and review the results to ensure that the name is available and not already registered by another business entity.
Conducting an LLC name search in Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania, 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.
No, Pennsylvania does not offer a formal name reservation process for LLCs. Once you have confirmed the availability of your desired LLC name through the name search, it's advisable to proceed with the LLC formation and registration process promptly to secure the name.