LLC Name Search - How To Check LLC Name Availability

Are you looking for the perfect name for your business?

We’ve got some great tips on how to conduct an LLC name search that will help you stand out in the crowd. You’ll also find out what to do if someone already has your dream business name and how to run a corporation/LLC search in your state so you can get started with registering your business.

Also, Read Our Guide On Setting Up A US Company As A Non-Resident

To find out if the name you want is available in your state, simply select your state and follow the instructions. You can also search for a company name or DBA name that already exists. In some states, you can view your LLC’s formation documents and do essential operational activities on your own.

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You’ll lose the non-refundable application fees if you choose a name that’s already taken or otherwise unacceptable, and you’ll have to start over from the start. If you conduct an LLC name search before filling out any business registration papers, you may easily avoid these issues.

Also Read, Top-Rated LLC Formation Services In 2022

It doesn’t matter whether it’s an LLC or Corporation, we’ll show you exactly what steps need to be taken when running a business name LLC search! You don’t want any surprises later down the road, so make sure this is done correctly from day one! Once everything is set up, we’ll walk through each step of setting up bank accounts and credit cards as well as filing taxes properly. This way there are no hiccups along the way – just smooth sailing ahead! Let us take care of all these pesky details while you focus on growing your company.

Also Read, Why EIN Is Important For Your Business?

Read our full guide on choosing the perfect name for your new venture!

Top LLC Services For LLC Name Generator

You’ll need an LLC service to perform an LLC name search. Here are the finest choices:

Do Business Name LLC Search Worth It?
What Is The Cost Required For An LLC Name Search?
Why Is Choosing the Right Business Name Important?
Questions To Ask For LLC Name Search
What Are The Steps For Business Name Search?
Step 1: Choose an appropriate name for your LLC
Step 2: Generate A List Of possible LLC Names
Step 3: Review Your State’s Naming Laws
Step 4: Search For The Name Of An LLC
Step 5: Choose a name for your LLC
How To Search For A Business Name?

Do Business Name LLC Search Worth It?

The value of a good business name is immeasurable. It will not only assist your target customers to recognize your firm from your competition, but it will also help you create your branding. Furthermore, a good business name might help you attract repeat customers if it accurately expresses what you sell and is related to it.

The goal of conducting an LLC name search is to find a unique name while simultaneously complying with a state’s LLC naming standards.

Also, Read Our Guide On 10 Easy Steps To Start An LLC

All 50 states in the United States require LLC owners to choose a name that isn’t already used by another company in the same state. Every state has a dedicated website where LLC owners can conduct a quick name search to see if their desired requirements meet.

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You can also check for URL accessibility while conducting a name search. Today, having a strong online presence is vital. You can strengthen your brand and make a positive impression on your customers by choosing a business name that has an appropriate URL. Experts recommend buying the URL even if you do not intend to construct a company website right away in order to avoid others from doing the same.

What Is The Cost Required For An LLC Name Search?

It’s completely free to lookup possible business names for secretary of state business name search. You don’t have to invest anything to go to your state’s website and do a fast search.

If you want to search for LLC names by mail or fax, several states charge a nominal fee for access to information. But, in this century, who searches for LLC names via mail or fax?

It’s worth noting that merely looking for an LLC name is free. When registering your business or filing for a DBA (“Doing Business As”), you must still pay the required fees.

Why Is Choosing the Right Business Name Important?

Let’s have a look at the importance of a good name for your company before you start coming up with ideas:

Your branding, including logos, taglines, product names, and promotional materials, will benefit from the name.
A memorable business name can help you stand out from the competition and earn customer loyalty.
The proper business name can reflect your company’s offerings and be linked to its products and services.
Considering your company’s name is its public face, it’s worth taking the time to get it properly.

Also Read, Top-Rated Online Incorporation Services

Questions To Ask For LLC Name Search

Instead of thinking up with a fantastic business name out of out of nothing, consider the following questions to help you start:

What is the target market for your company’s products and services, and what kind of name would they like?
Will your clients find you mostly online, through advertising, on the street, or through some other means?
Are you looking for a name that functionally describes what your company performs or something a little more abstract?
What components do you want to include in the name of your company?
What do you hope the name will achieve?

What Are The Steps For Business Name Search?

We’ll guide you through a short step-by-step process for performing an LLC name search and selecting a suitable name for your business.

Before you decide which is a suitable name for your LLC, check out the basics of forming an LLC

You should take a few extra steps to prepare a shortlist of potential names before starting the actual search. That’s how it will go:

Step 1: Choose an appropriate name for your LLC

You should clarify what a suitable name for your business would be before you start thinking about names. Would you like it to be quirky, for example? Or do you want to go with something more traditional? As stated previously, you should evaluate the nature of your business, your intended audience, and, of course, your products and services while choosing a name.

Consider the following questions to get your train of thought moving in the right direction:

Who is your industry’s target audience for its products and services? What kind of name do you think would be the most attractive to them?
What methods will your consumers use to locate you? Will it be through online search engines, through your advertising efforts, on the street—or something else completely?
Do you really want a name that accurately expresses what your company does? Or do you want something more abstract?
What components do you want to include in the name of your corporation?
What do you want your website address to achieve?

Step 2: Generate A List Of possible LLC Names

The next step is to come up with a name for your LLC. The great news is that there are a variety of techniques for coming up with good LLC names. Here are some of our favorite techniques:

Collaborate with your friends and family on ideas.
Take a look at the names of your competitors. Examine them to discover if there’s a common thread.
Always have a notebook with you. Trust us when we say that inspiration can come at any time.
Determine which keywords are linked with the characteristics you wish to highlight in your company.
To get started, use business name generators such as Shopify, Business Name Generator, and Oberlo.

To find the business names, check our guide on How To Check LLC Name Availability?

You should have a list of potential business names after a brainstorming session and using a business name generator tool. Consider the following list of questions before deciding on a name from your list:

How simple is it to incorporate your company name into a logo or other branding?
Is it simple to recall your company’s name?
Is it simple to pronounce the word the company name?
Is the company name appropriate for the tone, approach, and image you want to project for your LLC?
Is the company name appropriate for the products and services you plan to offer?
Is a URL for the company name available?
Is the business name available for social media accounts and usernames on popular social networking platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter?

Step 3: Review Your State’s Naming Laws

When it comes to LLE names, each state has its own set of laws. Some of these rules are as follows:

The name of the LLC must be unique and not already be in use by another business.
The name of the LLC should be distinct from the name of another company.
The name of the LLC must be distinct from the names of other LLCs, companies, and partnerships.
The phrase “limited liability company” or one of its abbreviations must be in the LLC name (LLC or L.L.C.)
The name of your LLC cannot contain any words that may confuse people with a government agency (Treasury, FBI, State Department, etc.)
The term “Olympic” or any other terms that are trademarks of the Olympic organisation should not be used in the LLC name.
The name of your LLC should not imply a purpose that is illegal for your company to pursue.
To distinguish your firm from another, you can’t use definite articles (“a,” “an,” “and,” “&,” “the”), abbreviations, symbols, fonts, or pluralization.
You shouldn’t use your LLC name if it could be confused with another company’s name.
All of the above are specific regulations, which implies that if your LLC name breaks even one of them, you run the risk of getting in trouble with the law, which might result in substantial fines and fees.

Step 4: Search For The Name Of An LLC

You must comply with all relevant state legislation because your LLC will be formed at the state level. One of these criteria is to double-check that your company name isn’t already in use by someone else.

An LLC name search can be done in a few different ways:

Make use of a business name lookup and search tool. IncFile’s Business Name Search tool, for example, is incredibly user-friendly and accurate.
Do a quick search on the website of your state’s business formation agency. Search for the opportunity to search for a “business entity” or an “LLC name.” Depending on your state, the terminology will be different.
Contact directly the agency responsible for business creation in your state.

Step 5: Choose a name for your LLC

You now have a list of unique names that haven’t been used by another company in your state and meet all legal standards.

Go over the questions again for each name on your list to determine which choice best suits your business’s goals. Consult with your family, friends, and acquaintances. You can even speak to potential customers to gather their opinions.

To see whether the name you desire for your limited liability company is available.
Check the status of an existing corporate entity with the state and get general details about it.
Check to see if your own LLC has been formed in your state.
Carry out essential administrative tasks for your company.

How To Search For A Business Name?

Almost all state websites have an online search tool—usually on the secretary of state’s website that you may use to see if the business name you’ve chosen is already in use by another company.

If you really want to run a name search on your state’s website, here’s a list of all the state-specific name search links:

If you want to change your business name, you can read the guide on how to change your business name.

Conclusion

Start looking up the LLC name requirements in your state. Then think about your own brand, customers, and the products and services you provide.

You can reserve a name when you really like it. Many states allow companies to register a name in order to avoid it from being licensed by another company when submitting documentation. Of course, there is a small charge involved, but considering how crucial a strong name is to your business’s success, it’s an worth making effort.

Another useful action is to purchase the URL of your new LLC name, or something close to it. That way, no one else will be able to mimic your company or acquire the name you’ve worked extremely hard to obtain before you.

We hope that this guide has been useful in determining the right name for your LLC. Still not sure how to conduct a LLC name search? Leave your queries below!

FAQs On LLC Name Search

1. Can I name my LLC anything?

Doing a business entity search in your state, verifying Federal Trademark Records, and searching the web for firms with the same or similar identities are the best ways to find out if your business name is taken.

2. Is my business name taken?

No, several states have limitations on what an LLC can call itself; for example, it cannot include terms that could be misconstrued for a government organization, and other restricted words may require extra documentation.

3. How do I research an LLC name?

The best way to be sure that you’re not doing business with someone else is by checking the secretary of state’s office. Most states have a name search feature on their website and will provide information about any companies in that area with similar or identical names, so it should only take seconds before there are no more surprises!

4. Where can I check if a business name is taken?

Doing a corporate entity search in your state, verifying Federal Trademark Records, and searching the web for firms with the same or similar names are the best ways to find out if your business name is taken.

5. Is the owner of an LLC public record?

An online search can usually be used to do this. Because LLC filings are public records, you should be able to find the information you need by looking through the documentation.

6. How do I find out if a brand name already exists?

The Trademark Electronic Search System of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) allows you to search all applied-for and registered trademarks for free (TESS). If your mark has a design element, you’ll need to use a design code to find it.

7. Can I register a business name and not use it?

When you register a company name with Companies House, it is legally protected and cannot be used by anybody else. Trading names are not protected, which means that if someone wanted to register your trading name as a limited company while also demanding that you stop using it, they could do so.

8. Does an LLC protect your business name?

When you incorporate, form an LLC, or file a DBA (Doing Business As), the secretary of state in that state registers your business name. It makes it illegal for anyone else to use the name within the state, but it provides no protection in the other 49 states.