Mississippi LLC Name Search
To conduct a Mississippi LLC name search, use the Secretary of State’s Business Entity Search tool.
This is a free online database which allows you to search all registered business entities in Mississippi in order to confirm that your desired name is not already in use.
Found the perfect name? Make sure it’s available as a web domain and secure it today with GoDaddy.
Mississippi LLC Name Search Quick Summary
- To check if your desired Mississippi LLC name is available, visit the Secretary of State’s website and select the “Search Existing Business Records” option.
- You should conduct both an “Exact Match” and a “Sounds Like” search to make sure no other business is using a name that’s identical or too similar to yours.
- If your search returns no matches, your name is likely available. On the other hand, if a similar name already exists, you’ll need to modify yours to make it distinguishable enough from other registered entities in the state.
- If you do find a name that is available but aren’t ready to form your business yet, you can reserve it for 180 days by submitting a Name Reservation application online ($25 fee).
- If you are ready to move forward, you can skip the reservation and file your Certificate of Formation directly with the Mississippi Secretary of State to officially register your LLC.
- Keep in mind that your LLC name must include “Limited Liability Company,” “LLC,” or “L.L.C.” and cannot contain words that falsely suggest a government affiliation or a business purpose your LLC doesn’t have.
- It’s also a good idea to search the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office database to make sure your name doesn’t infringe on any federally registered trademarks.
Check LLC Name Availability in Mississippi
1. Do a Mississippi Business Name Search
You can use Mississippi’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 Mississippi Naming Guidelines
Choosing the right name for your limited liability company (LLC) in Mississippi is a critical step. The name you decide on will represent your business’s identity. As you select your name, keep in mind the following rules and regulations unique to Mississippi.
Unique Business Name
Firstly, your LLC name must be completely unique. It cannot match or closely resemble any existing LLC or other business entity’s name in Mississippi. That’s why it’s crucial to perform a Mississippi business entity search to confirm the availability of your chosen name before you start the filing process.
Avoiding Confusion with Other Business Names
Not only does your business name need to be unique, but it also must not be easily confused with any other business name currently in use in Mississippi. This rule is in place to avoid misunderstandings and potential legal issues down the line.
Inclusion of Certain Words
When you’re coming up with your LLC name, keep in mind that it needs to clearly indicate the nature of your business. Inclusion of specific terms can help clarify your business structure and operations.
General Restrictions on Your LLC Name
In Mississippi, there may be some general restrictions on what your LLC name can be. These could be related to using certain terms or language, so it’s always a good idea to double-check any potential name for compliance with all state rules and regulations.
Not sure what to name your business? Check out our LLC Name Generator.
Registering Your Mississippi Business Name
When you find the right name for your business and confirm its availability in Mississippi, you can reserve it or register it when you form your LLC.
Register Your Mississippi LLC
Registering your LLC name in Mississippi is a relatively straightforward task. Your business name becomes officially registered when you file the Mississippi Certificate of Formation. This critical document marks the formal establishment of your business in the state.
The Mississippi Secretary of State’s website provides detailed 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 Mississippi Business Entity Name
Mississippi’s Secretary of State Business Services Division handles all LLC naming questions and requests. Business names can be reserved for 180 days. If you have yet to form your business entity using the reserved name when the business name reservation expires, you may renew the name reservation.
To reserve a business name, you’ll need to create an online account. Once you do so and login, you will be able to reserve a business name by filing an application online. Mississippi no longer accepts paper applications. When reserving your name, you will have to pay a filing fee.
After choosing a name for your LLC, take the next step and create a unique logo with our Free Logo Generator.
Mississippi Reservation of Name
File Online with the Mississippi Secretary of State
File OnlineFee: $25
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 Mississippi’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, Mississippi now processes over 45,000 new business applications per year.
With this volume, finding a distinguishable name for your Mississippi LLC can seem as daunting as ever. Even so, you shouldn’t rush the process or settle 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 Mississippi, visit the Mississippi Secretary of State’s Business Services website. Enter your desired LLC name in the search field and review the results to ensure that the name is available and not already in use.
Conducting an LLC name search in Mississippi is crucial to ensure that your chosen name is unique and distinguishable from other businesses in the state. This helps you avoid potential legal conflicts and trademark issues in the future.
It is recommended to perform an LLC name search in Mississippi during the early stages of establishing 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 conduct a new search before registration.
In Mississippi, your LLC name must be unique, should include “Limited Liability Company,” “LLC,” or “L.L.C.,” and cannot include words that may confuse your business with a government agency or suggest a purpose it does not have.
After conducting a Mississippi LLC name search and confirming the availability of your preferred name, you can reserve it by filing a Name Reservation application with the Mississippi Secretary of State and paying the required fee. The reservation is valid for 180 days.
In Mississippi, a name is considered distinguishable if it contains a significant difference from existing names. Minor changes, such as adding articles like “a,” “an,” or “the,” changing punctuation, or making a word plural (e.g., “Service LLC” vs. “Services LLC”), are generally not sufficient to make a name available for use.
Yes, you can change your Mississippi LLC name at any time by filing an Amendment to the Certificate of Formation with the Secretary of State. You will need to perform a new name availability search to ensure your proposed new name is free to use before submitting the amendment and paying the $50 filing fee.