North Carolina LLC Name Search
To find out if your desired LLC name is available in North Carolina, you will need to conduct a North Carolina LLC name search. You can do this using the Business Registration Search tool on the North Carolina Secretary of State’s website.
Found the perfect name? Make sure it’s available as a web domain and secure it today with GoDaddy.
North Carolina LLC Name Search Quick Summary
- You can use the Business Registration Search tool on the North Carolina Secretary of State’s website to determine if your desired NC LLC name is available.
- To start, select “Company By Name” from the “Search for” dropdown and enter your desired name into the “Organizational name” field without identifiers like “LLC” or punctuation marks.
- Remember to use the “All” search filter under the “Words” dropdown. This will return the widest range of results and help you spot any registered names that could be too similar to the one you want.
- If your search does not return any matching results, your desired LLC name is likely available; if you do find a match, you will need to choose a name that is distinguishable enough to avoid being flagged as deceptively similar.
- Once you find a name that is available, you can either file your Articles of Organization to officially register your LLC, or reserve the name for up to 120 days by submitting a name reservation application ($30 filing fee).
- Keep in mind that North Carolina requires your LLC name to include an approved identifier like “LLC,” “L.L.C.,” or “Limited Liability Company” and be distinguishable from all other registered entities in the state.
- It’s also a good idea to search the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office database to make sure your desired name isn’t already federally trademarked.
Check LLC Name Availability in North Carolina
1. Do a North Carolina Business Name Search
You can use North Carolina’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”, and leave all other boxes blank. 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 North Carolina Naming Guidelines
When choosing a name for your limited liability company (LLC) in North Carolina, it is important to consider the following legal requirements:
Purpose and Lawfulness
Your entity name should accurately reflect the lawful purpose of your LLC as stated in its formation documents, such as the Articles of Incorporation. Avoid including language that implies an unlawful purpose for your business.
Distinguishability
Your LLC name must be distinguishable from the names of other entities listed on the Secretary of State’s business registry. This means that your name should not be identical or too similar to another business’s name. Note that the use of entity designators (e.g., “inc.”, “LLC”) does not affect distinguishability.
Decency and Offensiveness
Ensure that your chosen name does not include words or language that go against accepted standards of decency. Avoid using offensive or inappropriate terms that may reflect negatively on your LLC.
Entity Designators
Different entity types have specific requirements regarding the use of entity designations or endings, such as “inc.” or “LLC.” For a limited liability company, your name must include one of the following:
- “Limited Liability Company”
- Abbreviation: “L.L.C.,” “LLC”
- Combination: “Ltd. Liability Co.”, “Limited Liability Co.”, “Ltd. Liability Company”
By following these naming requirements, you can choose a suitable name for your LLC in North Carolina.
Not sure what to name your business? Check out our LLC Name Generator.
Registering Your North Carolina Business Name
Whether you’re prepared to launch your LLC or still in the planning phase, you’ll need to secure your name.
Register Your North Carolina LLC
Registering your LLC name in North Carolina is a relatively straightforward task. Your business name becomes officially registered when you file the North Carolina Articles of Organization. This critical document marks the formal establishment of your business in the state.
The North Carolina 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 North Carolina Business Entity Name
North Carolina’s Secretary of State Business Registration Division handles all LLC naming questions and requests. Business names can be reserved for 120 days. This name reservation is nonrenewable.
To reserve a business name, you must file an application online or by mail. If you file online, you’ll need to create an online account and upload the application. You’ll find under PDF Filing a link to Upload a New Name Reservation.
When reserving your name, you will have to pay a filing fee. Checks must be made out to the “Secretary of State.”
After choosing a name for your LLC, take the next step and create a unique logo with our Free Logo Generator.
North Carolina Application to Reserve a Business Entity Name
File Online with the North Carolina Secretary of State
File Online– OR –
File by Mail
Download FormFee: $30
Mail to:
Business Registration Division
PO Box 29622,
Raleigh, NC 27626-0622
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 North Carolina’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, North Carolina now processes over 170,000 new business applications per year.
With this record-breaking volume, finding a distinguishable name for your North Carolina LLC is more competitive than ever.
Even so, you shouldn’t rush the process or settle for the first available name you find. Make sure you 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 perform an LLC name search in North Carolina, visit the North Carolina Secretary of State’s online business search portal. Use their search tool to enter your desired LLC name and review the results to ensure that the name is available and not already registered by another business entity.
Conducting an LLC name search in North Carolina is crucial to ensure that your chosen name is unique and distinguishable from other registered entities. This step helps prevent potential legal conflicts, trademark infringement issues, and confusion among consumers.
Yes, you have the option to use your personal name as the LLC name in North Carolina. However, it’s still recommended to conduct a name search to ensure its availability and to ensure that it meets the state’s requirements for distinctiveness.
Yes, in North Carolina, your LLC name must be distinguishable from other registered entities, and it should include the words “Limited Liability Company,” “LLC,” or “L.L.C.” It should also avoid using words that could mislead the public or imply a purpose it does not serve.
Yes, you can reserve an LLC name in North Carolina prior to registration. If you have confirmed the availability of your desired name but are not quite ready to file your Articles of Organization, you can file an Application to Reserve a Business Entity Name with the Secretary of State. This reserves the name exclusively for you for a nonrenewable period of 120 days and requires a $30 filing fee.
Yes, North Carolina restricts certain words from being used in LLC names without special approval. Words related to banking, trusts, insurance, engineering, and architecture usually require official permission or licensing from the respective state regulatory boards before the Secretary of State will allow you to include them in your business name.
No, you are not required to use a comma before “LLC” in North Carolina. Whether you register your business as “Blue Mountain, LLC” or “Blue Mountain LLC” is entirely a matter of personal preference. The Secretary of State treats both formatting variations as the exact same legal name.
No, registering your LLC name with the North Carolina Secretary of State does not grant you federal trademark protection. State registration only prevents other businesses from registering the exact same entity name within North Carolina. To protect your brand name on a national level, you must file for a trademark with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.