Maryland LLC Name Search
To conduct a Maryland LLC name search, you’ll need to visit the Maryland Business Express Entity Search page. This is the state’s official database which you can use to cross-reference your desired LLC name against every registered entity in Maryland.
Found the perfect name? Make sure it’s available as a web domain and secure it today with GoDaddy.
Maryland LLC Name Search Quick Summary
- You can check if your desired Maryland LLC name is available using the Business Name Search tool on the Maryland Business Express website.
- To search effectively, enter the core part of your name into the search field, but leave out identifiers like “LLC” and avoid using punctuation (commas, periods, or apostrophes).
- If your search returns results, review the status column carefully. While “Active” names are off-limits, names marked “Forfeited” or “Dissolved” may be available for registration.
- If your search returns no matching or deceptively similar results, your name is likely available and you can move forward with filing your LLC formation documents.
- Keep in mind that your final LLC name must include a legal designator like “Limited Liability Company,” “L.L.C.,” or “LLC” in order to be accepted.
- If you aren’t ready to start your business yet, you can reserve your name for up to 30 days by filing a name reservation with the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation ($25 fee).
- Before finalizing your choice, it’s a good idea to search the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) database to make sure the name doesn’t step on any nationally registered trademarks.
Check LLC Name Availability in Maryland
1. Do a Maryland Business Name Search
You can use the Maryland 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.
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 Maryland Naming Guidelines
Starting a business in Maryland requires adherence to specific regulations when naming your Limited Liability Company (LLC). Understanding these requirements ensures your business name is approved during the registration process.
This guide provides the essential information for naming an LLC in Maryland, simplified from the original legal jargon.
Appropriate Purpose
The name of your LLC should not imply that it is organized for a purpose that is not explicitly mentioned in your articles of organization. This requirement seeks to ensure that your LLC’s name is reflective of your actual business operations.
Distinguishability
Your proposed LLC name should be unique and distinguishable from any other entity names recorded by the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation. The name should not be similar to another entity organized or authorized to transact business in the state.
The name also shouldn’t resemble a name that has been reserved or registered under Maryland laws or an assumed name used by a foreign entity doing business in the state.
Foreign Entities
Foreign entities doing business in Maryland can register their entity name, provided the name meets Maryland’s naming requirements and is distinguishable from other entity names on record.
The entity must provide its original name, the state or country of its organization, and a brief description of its business nature. The name is registered for exclusive use upon the effective date of the application.
Regulations
Maryland’s Department of Assessments and Taxation has the authority to adopt regulations necessary to implement these guidelines, ensuring that LLC naming practices adhere to state laws.
Remember to check these guidelines before settling on a name for your LLC in Maryland to ensure a smooth registration process. You can find more information or confirm the most recent naming requirements by checking the official state sources.
Not sure what to name your business? Check out our LLC Name Generator.
Registering Your Maryland Business Name
Regardless of whether you’re ready to launch or still fine-tuning your business plan, you’ll need to secure your name through registration or reservation.
Register Your Maryland LLC
In Maryland, registering your LLC name is a straightforward process. The official registration of your business name occurs when you file the Maryland Articles of Organization. This key document marks the formal establishment of your business in the state.
The Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation website provides comprehensive 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 Maryland Business Entity Name
Maryland’s Business Express handles all LLC naming questions and requests. Business names can be reserved for 30 days.
You can file by email, phone, or via mail by submitting a Corporate Name Reservation. You will have to pay a filing fee. Checks must be made out to the Department of Assessments and Taxation.
After choosing a name for your LLC, take the next step and create a unique logo with our Free Logo Generator.
Maryland Application for Reservation of Name
File via Mail or In-Person: Corporate Name Reservation Application
Fee: $25 + $20 for expedited services (optional)
For questions, contact SDAT’s Charter Division at [email protected] or call 410-767-1330.
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:
- Do a Maryland trademark search 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, Maryland is seeing over 150,000 new business applications filed annually.
With this volume, finding a distinguishable name for your Maryland LLC can seem more competitive than ever.
Even so, we recommend not rushing the process or settling for the first available name you find.
Take the time to choose something memorable that reflects your brand, works as a domain, and won’t limit you as your business grows.
FAQs
To conduct an LLC name search in Maryland, visit the Maryland Business Express’s business entity search tool. Enter your desired LLC name and go through the results to ensure that your selected name is not already registered.
A Maryland LLC name search is crucial to confirm that your proposed LLC name is unique within the state. This step is key to avoid potential legal disputes and trademark infringement issues, which could arise if your LLC name is too similar to an existing entity’s name.
You should ideally perform a Maryland LLC name search during the early planning stages of your LLC. If a considerable amount of time has passed since your last search and you haven’t registered the name yet, it’s advisable to conduct a new search before registration.
In Maryland, your LLC name must be distinct, should include “Limited Liability Company,” “LLC,” or “L.L.C.,” and avoid words that might confuse it with a government agency or suggest a purpose it does not serve.
You cannot directly reserve your name through the state’s business entity search tool. But, once you have confirmed that your preferred LLC name is available through the Maryland LLC name search, you can reserve it by submitting a Name Reservation application to the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation and paying the applicable fee. This reservation lasts for 30 days.
Yes. If you want to operate under a name that is different from your registered LLC name, you will need to register a Trade Name (often referred to as a “DBA” or “Doing Business As” in other states). You can search for and register a Trade Name through the same Maryland Business Express portal.
Yes. Certain words that imply a specialized industry, such as “Bank,” “Trust,” “Insurance,” or “University,” are restricted. To use these in your LLC name, you must provide approval from the appropriate governing agency when you file your documents. For example, using “Insurance” requires approval from the Maryland Insurance Administration.