New York LLC Name Search
Completing a New York LLC name search ensures that your new business name is unique and available before you move forward with forming your New York LLC.
Our guide will make the process of checking name availability simple and hassle-free.
Recommended: Northwest ($29 + State Fees) will register your business name when you form an LLC.
Check LLC Name Availability in New York
1. Do a New York Business Name Search
You can use the New York Secretary of State Business Entity Search to check the availability of your desired name.
To perform the most effective entity search, type in the name you would like to use, excluding identifiers like “LLC.”
The New York business entity database 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 paperwork to avoid rejection.
2. Search Available Domain Names
Another important consideration for limited liability companies 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 New York Naming Guidelines
When establishing a limited liability Company (LLC) in New York, the name chosen must adhere to several specific New York naming requirements.
- The name of the LLC has to include either the full term "Limited Liability Company" or its abbreviations "LLC" or "L.L.C."
- The proposed LLC name must be unique, i.e., it needs to be distinguishable from the names of other LLCs, corporations, or limited partnerships already registered with the Department of State.
- Certain words and phrases are either prohibited or restricted from being used in the LLC's name as stipulated in Section 204 of the Limited Liability Company Law. Also, certain terms may only be used upon receiving consent or approval from other state agencies before the Articles of Organization can be filed with the Department of State.
Before filing the Articles of Organization with the Department of State, you can check if the proposed LLC name is available. This can be done by submitting a name availability inquiry or reserving a name through an Application for Reservation of Name.
However, it's important to note that a positive name availability finding or successful name reservation does not constitute approval of the name by the Department of State.
The final decision on the LLC name's acceptability is only made when the Department of State reviews and files the Articles of Organization.
Therefore, it's advisable not to make any expenditures or commitments based on the name availability inquiry or the filing of an Application for Reservation of Name until the name has been finally approved and the LLC officially registered.
Prohibited Terms
New York State prohibits certain business structures from using particular words in their names. These typically include words that imply that the business is of a different entity type than the one they’re registered as with the state.
The following words are prohibited for just LLCs:
- Attorney
- Corporation
- Incorporated
- Partnership
Other prohibited words for most major business entities (including LLCs) are:
- Board of Trade
- Chamber of Commerce
- Community Renewal
- Cooperative
- Cooperation
- State Police
- State Trooper
- Urban Development
- Urban Relocation
- These prohibitions also apply to any abbreviations or derivatives of the words listed above.
Restricted Terms
Your LLC may be able to use other restricted words in its name that require prior authorization from the state to use, known as “restricted terms.” These are typically words that are tied to professional services such as education, finance, or law.
Some of the boards or departments you may need to receive consent from include:
- New York Department of Education
- Department of Financial Services
- Department of Social Services
- Board of Regents
- Commissioner of Education
- US Olympic Committee
- Office of the New York State Attorney General
- Industrial Board of Appeals
- Secretary General of the United Nations
For a full list of restricted terms, as well as the applicable consent requirements, see New York’s list of restricted words and phrases.
Not sure what to name your business? Check out our free LLC Name Generator.
Registering Your Business Name
When you're ready to launch your New York LLC, or other New York entity you simply complete the New York Articles of Organization document, where you'll list your business name. This action is sufficient to register your LLC's name.
New York, like some states, doesn't require that a name be reserved in advance.
However, if you're not ready to start your business immediately, you might want to register the name to ensure no one else claims it. We'll guide you through both processes.
Register Your New York LLC Name
Registering your business name is a straightforward process. Simply fill out and submit the New York Articles of Organization. This critical document helps you to officially secure your business name and establish your New York LLC, marking a key milestone in setting up your new venture.
Instructions are listed on the page, along with a link to download and fill out the Articles of Organization and instructions for paying the required state filing fee.
Professional LLC formation services will register your LLC name when they form your LLC. Learn more in our Best LLC Services review.
Reserve Your New York Business Entity Name
New York’s Secretary of State Division of Corporations, State Records & UCC handles all LLC naming questions and requests. Business names can be reserved for 60 days.
If a business entity has yet to be formed in the reserved name when the name reservation expires, two extensions of 60 days each may be granted to an applicant who applies for an extension.
To reserve a business name, you must file an application by mail only. When reserving your name, you will have to pay a filing fee. Checks must be made out to the “Department of State.” You may also pay by credit card/debit card by filling out a Credit Card/Debit Card Authorization Form.
After choosing a name for your LLC, take the next step and create a unique logo with our Free Logo Generator.
New York Application for Reservation of Name
File Form 1233-f by Mail With the Department of State
Download FormFee: $20
Mail to:
New York State, Department of State
Division of Corporations, State Records
and Uniform Commercial Code
99 Washington Avenue 6th floor
Albany, NY 12231
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 New York 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 the availability 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 entity 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 New York’s trademark records by contacting the New York State Library to see if your business entity name or associated slogans, logos, or others are in use by another business in your state.
- Search the electronic records from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office 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 entity name is available for use across social media platforms. To do so, search 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 New York'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.
