Missouri LLC Name Search
You'll need to perform a Missouri LLC name search to check name availability for your new LLC.
We’ll help you start your Missouri LLC with a unique and legally compliant name.
Recommended: Claim your domain name before it's gone. Verify its availability with GoDaddy.
Check LLC Name Availability in Missouri
1. Do a Missouri Business Name Search
Be sure to conduct a thorough search before completing your paperwork to avoid rejection.
Before filing your name reservation request, you can use Missouri’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.
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 Missouri Naming Guidelines
When naming your business in the state of Missouri, it's important to follow specific guidelines depending on the type of entity you're forming. Whether you're establishing a limited liability company (LLC) or a corporation, Missouri has requirements to ensure clarity and distinctiveness.
Naming Requirements for LLCs
For limited liability companies (LLCs) in Missouri, your business name must include the phrase "limited liability company," "limited company," or one of their accepted abbreviations: LLC, L.L.C., LC, or L.C. Additionally, the chosen name must not be misleading or confusing to the public.
Unique and ‘Non-Confusing’ Names
To ensure your business name is distinctive, it must not already be in use or too similar to existing names that are already registered or reserved in Missouri. This rule aims to prevent confusion among businesses and consumers, allowing each entity to maintain its unique identity.
It's crucial to conduct a thorough search of existing business names and reserved names to ensure your desired name is available for use. This can be done through the Missouri Secretary of State's website or by utilizing their business entity search tool.
By adhering to Missouri's naming guidelines, you can select a name that accurately represents your business while complying with the state's requirements.
Not sure what to name your business? Check out our LLC Name Generator.
Registering Your Missouri Business Name
After confirming your name’s availability, you can choose to reserve it prior to formation or register it when you file your Articles of Organization.
Register Your Missouri LLC Name
Registering your LLC name in Missouri is a relatively straightforward task. Your business name becomes officially registered when you file the Missouri Articles of Organization. This crucial document marks the formal initiation of your business in the state.
The Missouri Secretary of State's website provides detailed instructions on how to fill out the form and pay the necessary state filing fee.
Opting for a professional LLC formation service can simplify the process by handling the registration of your LLC name and the setup of your LLC. To learn more, refer to our Best LLC Services review.
Reserve Your Missouri Business Entity Name
Missouri’s Secretary of State Business Services Division handles all LLC naming questions and requests. Business names can be reserved for 60 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 for up to 2 more 60 day periods.
To reserve a business name, you will need to create an online account. Once you have created an account and are logged in, you will be able to reserve a business name. Find the link that says “Create a New Entity.” Then select “Name Reservation” in the drop-down menu. You can also reserve a business name by mail.
When reserving your name, you will have to pay a filing fee. Checks must be made out to the “State of Missouri.”
After choosing a name for your LLC, take the next step and create a unique logo with our Free Logo Generator.
Missouri Application for Reservation of Name
File Online with the Missouri Secretary of State
File Online- OR -
File by Mail
Download FormFee: $25
Mail to:
Attn: Corporations Division
P.O. Box 778
Jefferson City, Missouri 65102
Considering Using an LLC Formation Service?
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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 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 Missouri’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. You can do this by simply searching your business name on each major site, or use 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 Missouri'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 an Application for Reservation of Name 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 conduct an LLC name search in Missouri, visit the Missouri Secretary of State's business entity search page. Enter your desired LLC name and review the search results to ensure that your chosen name is available and not already registered.
Conducting an LLC name search in Missouri is crucial to confirm that your desired name is unique and not already in use by another business entity. This step helps you avoid potential legal issues and trademark conflicts down the line.
It is recommended to perform an LLC name search in Missouri during the early stages of forming your LLC. If there has been a significant amount of time since your last search and you haven't registered the name yet, it's wise to conduct a new search before proceeding with registration.
In Missouri, your LLC name must be distinguishable from other businesses, and it should include the words "Limited Liability Company," "LLC," or "L.L.C." The name cannot contain words that may imply the LLC is a government agency or that it has a purpose it does not serve.
While you can’t reserve a name directly from the search tool, once you have confirmed the availability of your preferred LLC name through the Missouri LLC name search, you can file a Name Reservation application with the Missouri Secretary of State's office and pay the required fee. The reservation is valid for 60 days.