Oregon LLC Name Search
To conduct an Oregon LLC name search, you’ll need to visit the Oregon Secretary of State’s “Find a Business” page. This will allow you to see if any business has a name that is the same or deceptively similar to the one you want.
Found the perfect name? Make sure it’s available as a web domain and secure it today with GoDaddy.
Oregon LLC Name Search Quick Summary
- To find out if your desired Oregon LLC name is available, you’ll need to use the Secretary of State’s “Find a Business” page.
- To start, enter your preferred name in the search bar without designators like “LLC” or “Limited Liability Company” and press “Search.”
- To make sure nothing gets missed, it’s recommended that you click on “Advanced Search” and select the “Exact words in any word order” search method.
- Once your results appear, look through the list for any business names that are identical or closely match the name you want.
- If you do see that the name you want is already taken, check the status of that business. If it’s listed as “Active,” you’ll need to choose something different.
- If it’s listed as “Inactive,” on the other hand, the name may be available, though you should verify that the entity cannot be reinstated before moving forward.
- Keep in mind that the state of Oregon requires all business names to be completely distinguishable from each other (small differences in punctuation, spacing, or entity type are not enough to make a name distinguishable).
- Before finalizing your choice, you should also search the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office database to check for federal trademark conflicts.
- It’s also worth checking if a matching domain name is available for your business website to make sure your customers can easily find you online.
Check LLC Name Availability in Oregon
1. Do an Oregon Business Name Search
You can use Oregon’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 paperwork 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 Oregon Naming Guidelines
When starting a limited liability company (LLC) in Oregon, it’s important to understand the naming requirements set forth by state law.
These guidelines ensure that your LLC’s name is compliant, distinguishable from others, and reflects the nature of your business. Here’s what you need to know:
Name Composition
To meet Oregon’s naming requirements, the name of your limited liability company must include the words “limited liability company” or the abbreviations “L.L.C.” or “LLC.” These terms indicate the legal structure of your business and help differentiate it from other entity types.
Prohibited Words and Abbreviations
Oregon law prohibits the use of certain words or abbreviations in your LLC’s name. The following terms and their derivations are not allowed:
- Cooperative
- Corporation or Corp.
- Incorporated or Inc.
- Limited partnership or L.P.
- Ltd.
- Limited liability partnership or L.L.P.
- Any variation or abbreviation of the above terms
Alphabet and Numerals
Your LLC’s name should be written in the English alphabet, including Arabic and Roman numerals, along with incidental punctuation. This requirement ensures that the name can be easily read and understood.
Distinguishability
To prevent confusion, your LLC’s name must be distinguishable from other registered business entities in the records of the Office of the Secretary of State. This means that your LLC’s name should not be identical or too similar to existing names of limited liability companies, corporations, partnerships, or other active business entities.
Exceptions
There are two exceptions to the distinguishability requirement:
- Certified Copy of Court Judgment: If you can provide a certified copy of a final judgment from a court of competent jurisdiction that establishes your prior or concurrent right to use the LLC name in Oregon, the distinguishability requirement may not apply.
- Assumed Business Name: Your LLC is allowed to conduct business under an assumed business name. This means that you can operate using a different name than the official LLC name as long as you comply with the relevant assumed business name registration requirements.
Legal Protections and Trade Names
The naming requirements outlined in this section do not restrict your rights to protect your trade name or prevent unfair competition or unfair trade practices. You still have legal recourse to safeguard your business’s identity and reputation under applicable laws, common law principles, and equity statutes at both the state and federal levels.
By adhering to Oregon’s naming requirements for limited liability companies, you can ensure that your LLC’s name is in compliance with the law and distinct from other registered entities.
Remember to choose a name that reflects your business, includes the required terms, and avoids prohibited words or abbreviations.
It’s always a good idea to consult legal professionals or qualified advisors to ensure full compliance and protect your business’s interests.
Not sure what to name your business? Check out our LLC Name Generator.
Registering Your Oregon Business Name
Whether you’re prepared to launch your LLC or still in the planning phase, you’ll need to ensure its availability with the state by registering or reserving it.
Register Your Oregon LLC
Registering your LLC name in Oregon is a relatively straightforward task. Your business name becomes officially registered when you file the Oregon Articles of Organization. This critical document marks the formal establishment of your business in the state.
The Oregon 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 Oregon Business Entity Name
Oregon’s Secretary of State Corporation Division handles all LLC naming questions and requests. Business names can be reserved for 120 days. If you have yet to form your business entity when the reservation expires, you’ll need to file a new one, as name reservations in Oregon cannot be renewed.
To reserve a business name, you must file an application online or by mail.
After choosing a name for your LLC, take the next step and create a unique logo with our Free Logo Generator.
Oregon Business Name Reservation
File Online with Oregon’s Business Registry
– OR –
Fee: $100
Mail to:
Secretary of State
Corporation Division
255 Capitol St. NE, Suite 151
Salem, OR 97310-1327
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 Oregon’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, Oregon has seen over 55,000 new business applications filed in the past year.
With this volume, finding a distinguishable name for your Oregon LLC can seem more competitive than ever.
Even so, don’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 check the availability of an LLC name in Oregon, you can use the Oregon Secretary of State’s online Business Name Search tool. Enter your desired LLC name and review the search results to ensure that the name is not already registered or in use by another business entity.
Conducting an LLC name search in Oregon 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.
It is recommended to perform an LLC name search in Oregon during the early stages of forming 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 perform a new search before proceeding with registration.
In Oregon, 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 may mislead the public or imply a purpose it does not serve.
Yes, after conducting a name search and confirming the availability of your desired LLC name in Oregon, you can reserve it by filing an Application for Name Reservation with the Oregon Secretary of State’s office. This allows you to hold the name for a period of 120 days, providing time to complete the necessary filings and registrations for your LLC.
No, conducting an LLC name search using the Oregon Secretary of State’s online “Find a Business” registry is completely free of charge. You only have to pay a state fee when you decide to formally reserve the name or officially register it by filing your Articles of Organization.
Yes, if you decide to rebrand or shift your business focus, you can legally change your Oregon LLC name. To do so, you will need to file Articles of Amendment with the Oregon Secretary of State and pay the $100 filing fee (provided your new desired name meets all state distinguishability requirements).
No, you do not have to use your official, legal LLC name for your website’s domain name or overall branding. Having said that, if you are actively conducting business, marketing your services, or taking payments under a name that is different from your official LLC name, Oregon law requires you to register that name as an Assumed Business Name with the Secretary of State.