Last Updated: February 16, 2024, 1:06 pm by TRUiC Team


LLC Name Search

Making sure your business name is unique and available is an important first step in setting up your Limited Liability Company (LLC). 

We’ll give you the resources to complete your LLC name search.

Need Help? Use Northwest to verify your name and form your LLC. ($29 plus state fees).

Learn how to do an LLC name search in your state.

How to Check LLC Name Availability

Follow these steps when checking LLC name availability for an LLC:

Step 1: Search LLC Names

In most states, you’ll search for available LLC names on the Secretary of State business entity database, which keeps records of all registered business entities, including limited liability companies, corporations, limited partnerships, and limited liability partnerships.

Find your state’s LLC name search guide in the dropdown menu below.

Step 2: Check Website Domain Name Availability

Searching for a domain name is a great way to find a unique business name and simultaneously acquire the matching website address. The two go hand-in-hand and are complementary to one another.

Confirm that your business name is available as a web domain (website address). Domain registrars or website builders can assist with this. If your preferred domain is already taken, you may need to modify your search until you find an available alternative.

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Step 3: Follow LLC Naming Guidelines

The rules and stipulations for naming an LLC can vary from state to state. However, these general principles commonly apply:

  • Your chosen LLC name must include a distinguishable LLC identifier, such as “LLC,” “L.L.C.,” or “Limited Liability Company.” The name must not incorporate terms that may lead to confusion with other business structures, like "Corp," "Inc.," or "Nonprofit." 
  • Your LLC name should not consist of words that suggest association with government agencies, such as "FBI," "Department of Treasury," or "State Department." 
  • The usage of certain words like "bank," "university," "insurance agency," and others may require special permissions or licenses. 
  • Your LLC's name must be sufficiently distinct to avoid potential confusion with existing businesses in your state. 
  • Choosing a unique, brand-reflective LLC name, and confirming its availability in your state's business search records, is an integral step in the formation process. 

If in doubt, consider consulting an LLC formation service to assist in the process.

Registering Your LLC Name Across the U.S.

When forming a Limited Liability Company (LLC), choosing and registering a unique business name is a critical step. This process varies across different states, but the overarching principles are often the same.

How to Register Your LLC Name in the U.S.

Registering your LLC name is an essential process that takes place when you file your LLC's formation documents, most often called the Certificate of Organization or the Articles of Organization. This is usually done with the Secretary of State in the state where you're forming your business.

Each state's Secretary of State website typically provides in-depth instructions for completing and submitting these documents, including the necessary state filing fees. However, keep in mind that regulations, forms, and filing fees can vary from state to state, so always refer to the specific state's Secretary of State website for accurate information.

For those who prefer to streamline the process, professional LLC formation services are available. These services can handle the registration of your LLC name, as well as assist with filing the formation documents, and provide additional services such as Registered Agent services, compliance reminders, and more.

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Looking for a more convenient option?

Let Northwest ($29 + State Fees) register your business name when you form an LLC.

Reserving Your LLC Name in the U.S.

In many states, the Secretary of State's office allows you to reserve your chosen business name before filing the formation documents. This can be particularly useful if you've decided on a business name but are not ready to form your LLC yet.

Typically, business names can be reserved for a period, often 120 days. The specifics, including duration and the option to renew the reservation, vary by state. It's worth noting that not all states offer name reservation services. In these instances, names are typically awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis at the time of filing the formation documents.

State LLC Name Guides & Searches

Use the table below for state-specific LLC naming guidelines and direct access to each Secretary of State's business name search database. Select a state for naming rules or click 'Business Name Search' link for your state to confirm name availability.

Alabama

Secretary of State

Business Entity Search

Alaska

Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development

Corporations Database

Arizona

Corporations Commission

eCorp Business Entity Search

Arkansas

Secretary of State

Business Entity Search

California

Secretary of State

Business Search

Colorado

Secretary of State

Business Database Search

Connecticut

Secretary of State

Business Records Search

Delaware

Department of State: Division of Corporations

Business Entity Search

Name Availability Search

Florida

Department of State

Sunbiz Division of Corporations Entity Name Search

Georgia

Secretary of State

Business Search

Hawaii

Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs

Business Name Search

Idaho

Secretary of State

Business Search

Illinois

Secretary of State

Corporate and LLC Search

Indiana

Secretary of State

Business Search

Iowa

Secretary of State

Business Entities Search

Kansas

Secretary of State

Business Filing Center – Name Availability Status Search

Kentucky

Secretary of State

Name Availability Search

Louisiana

Secretary of State

Business Filings Search

Maine

Secretary of State

Corporate Name Search

Maryland

Department of Assessments and Taxation

Business Entity Search

Massachusetts

Secretary of the Commonwealth

Business Entity Search

Search Name Reservations

Michigan

Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs

Business Entity Search

Minnesota

Secretary of State

Business Filings Search

Mississippi

Secretary of State

Business Search

Missouri

Secretary of State

Business Entity Search

Montana

Secretary of State

Business Search

Nebraska

Secretary of State

Corporate & Business Search

Nevada

Secretary of State

Business Entity Search

New Hampshire

Department of State

Business Search

New Jersey

Department of the Treasury, Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services

Business Entity Name Search

New Mexico

Secretary of State

Business Search

New York

Department of State

Corporation and Business Entity Database

North Carolina

Secretary of State

Business Entity Search

North Dakota

Secretary of State

Archived Business Records Search

Ohio

Secretary of State

Business Name Search

Oklahoma

Secretary of State

Business Entities Search

Oregon

Secretary of State

Business Name Search

Pennsylvania

Department of State

Business Entity Search

Rhode Island

Secretary of State

Business Entity Search

South Carolina

Secretary of State

Business Name Search

South Dakota

Secretary of State

Business Information Search

Tennessee

Secretary of State

Business Name Availability Search

Texas

Secretary of State or Comptroller of Public Accounts

Taxable Entity Search

SOSDirect Name Search

Utah

Division of Corporations and Commercial Code

Business Name Search

Vermont

Secretary of State

Business Name Search

Virginia

State Corporation Commission

Business Entity Search

Washington

Secretary of State

Corporation Search

Washington D.C.

Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection

CorpOnline Business Search

West Virginia

Secretary of State

Business Organization Search

Wisconsin

Department of Financial Institutions

Corporate Records Search

Wyoming

Secretary of State

Business Entity Search

*Reminder: Make sure your name is available as a website domain and secure it with GoDaddy.

FAQs

To check the availability of your desired business name, you start by searching your state's Secretary of State business entity database. It keeps a record of all registered business entities including LLCs, corporations, limited partnerships, and limited liability partnerships. The search criteria may change depending on the state. Some states have an advanced search option to filter by search type, entity name, entity id number, industry, active or inactive availability, filing date, etc. 

When selecting a business name, it's beneficial to also search for domain name availability because a unique business name and its matching website address are complementary to one another. A business domain name that matches your business name enhances your brand's online presence and is easier for customers to find and remember.

Common guidelines for naming an LLC include the need for a distinguishable LLC identifier such as “LLC,” “L.L.C.,” or “Limited Liability Company,” avoiding terms that may confuse with other business structures like "Corp," "Inc.," or "Nonprofit," and staying clear of words suggesting association with government agencies. Using words like "bank," "university," "insurance agency," etc. to conduct business may require special permissions or licenses. Importantly, your LLC's name should be unique and distinct to avoid confusion with existing businesses in your state.

Registering your company’s legal name is part of the process when you file your LLC's formation documents, most often called the Certificate of Organization or the Articles of Organization, with the Secretary of State in the state where you're forming your business. Each state's Secretary of State website typically provides in-depth instructions for completing and submitting these documents, including the necessary state filing fees.

Yes, professional LLC formation services are available for those who prefer to streamline the process. These services can handle the registration of your LLC name, determine search results and whether your name has the same name or similar names as an existing business or not, assist with filing the formation documents, and offer additional services such as Registered Agent services, compliance reminders, and more.

In most states, the Secretary of State's office allows you to reserve your chosen business name before filing the formation documents. This can be beneficial if you've decided on a business name but are not ready to form your LLC yet. However, the specifics, including duration and the option to renew the reservation, vary by state. 

Our LLC Name Search page provides a comprehensive table that links directly to each Secretary of State's business entity name search database and includes state-specific LLC naming guidelines. By selecting your state, you can find the specific naming rules and conduct a business name search to confirm availability.

To prevent trademark infringement and legal trouble, it's recommended to conduct a thorough search not only on your state's Secretary of State database but also on the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's database before finalizing your business name. This trademark office search can help ensure that your chosen LLC name or trade name doesn't infringe on an existing trademark.