Last updated January 20, 2021
LLC Name Search
How to name your LLC
**Short Answer: Choosing an LLC name has certain state requirements and restrictions. Your LLC name must also be “distinguishable”.**
Video Transcript:
A well chosen LLC name can be essential to your business success.
Your name will last for many years and will be an important part of your brand – your company’s reputation.
Here are a few quick tips to keep in mind when you are brainstorming options for your name.
– Make your LLC name easy to spell. You want to make sure people can find you when they’re looking for you.
– Make your LLC name short. Shorter names are easier for people to remember. It also makes it easy for people to refer you to their friends.
– Make your LLC name have a positive connotation. Leave people with a good feeling when they hear about your business.
Northwest ($39 + state fee) or LegalZoom ($149 + state fee)
LLC Name Availability
In order to make sure your desired LLC name is available for use, you will need to search it against the existing companies on your state’s database.
We will walk you thru this step-by-step in another lesson.
You need to know if your name is taken, so you can:
– Avoid infringing upon someone else’s name rights.
– Differentiate your business name from existing companies.
– Make sure your desired LLC name is available for use before you file your documents.
LLC Name Rules
Your LLC name must end with the words “Limited Liability Company”, or the abbreviations: “L.L.C.” or “LLC”.
Using the abbreviation “LLC” is the most common.
For example, Joe wants to start a company by the name “Joe’s Landscaping Services”.
Since he is forming an LLC, he must use the name “Joe’s Landscaping Services, LLC”.
Again, using the abbreviation “LLC” (or the full word) is a requirement when forming an LLC.
LLC Name Restrictions
Your LLC name cannot imply that it is a corporation.
You are not allowed to use the words “Corporation” or “Incorporated”, or the abbreviations “Corp.” or “Inc.” anywhere in your LLC name.
Let’s look at our example again.
Since Joe wants to form an LLC, he cannot call his company “Joe’s Landscaping Services Inc.” or “Joe’s Landscaping Services Incorporated”.
LLC Name Distinguishability
Your desired LLC name must also be “distinguishable”.
This means it cannot be too similar to the names of existing companies that are found in the results during the search of the database.
The state will not approve your LLC if there is an existing company with your desired LLC name or if your name is too similar to an existing company.
We will now illustrate several examples.
Corporate Designators (Inc. / Corp. / LLC / L.L.C.)
Corporate Designators are the identifiers at the end of a business name.
For example, “Inc.” or “Corp.” (for Corporations) and “LLC” or “L.L.C.” (for Limited Liability Companies).
Differences in designators do not create distinguishability.
Let’s take a look at how this works:
Let’s say your desired LLC name is Smith Investments, LLC
But, during your search of the database, you find an existing company called Smith Investments, Inc.
In this example, your desired LLC name is not available.
You will need to use an alternative LLC name. For example, Smith Financial Group, LLC.
Grammatical Differences
The following do not create distinguishability.
Singular, Plural, and Possessive Words
Differences/variables in singular, plural, and possessive forms of a word do not create distinguishability.
Let’s say your desired LLC name is Apple Farm, LLC.
But, during your search of the database, you find an existing company called Apple Farms, LLC.
In this example, your desired LLC name is not available.
You will need to use an alternative LLC name. For example, Bob’s Apple Orchard, LLC.
“A”, “An”, or “The”
Differences in articles such as “A”, “An” or “The” do not create distinguishability.
Let’s say your desired LLC name is Print Shop, LLC.
But, during your search of the database, you find an existing company called The Print Shop, LLC.
In this example, your desired LLC name is not available.
You will need to use an alternative LLC name. For example, Printing Solutions, LLC.
“And”, “or”, “&”
The following also do not create distinguishability.
The use of conjunctions such as “and”, “or”, and the ampersand symbol (&).
Let’s say your desired LLC name is Night & Day, LLC.
But, during your search of the database, you find an existing company called Night and Day, LLC.
In this example, your desired LLC name is not available.
You will need to use an alternative LLC name. For example, Moon and Sunshine, LLC.
Hyphens, Periods, and Commas
The use of certain punctuation such as hyphens, slashes, periods, commas, etc.
Let’s say your desired LLC name is Peter Paul & Mary Studios, LLC.
But, during your search of the database, you find an existing company called Peter-Paul-Mary Studios, LLC.
In this example, your desired LLC name is not available.
You will need to use an alternative LLC name. For example, PPM Productions, LLC.
Alphanumeric
Differences in numerical or written numbers do not create distinguishability.
Let’s say your desired LLC name is Three Teachers Consulting, LLC.
But, during your search of the database, you find an existing company called 3 Teachers Consulting, LLC.
In this example, your desired LLC name is not available.
You will need to use an alternative LLC name. For example, A Few Good Teachers Consulting, LLC.
Deceptively Similar
Names that are too similar to existing companies also do not create distinguishability.
Let’s say your desired LLC name is Speedy Delivery Services, LLC.
But, during your search of the database, you find an existing company called Speed Delivery Services, LLC.
In this example, your desired LLC name is not available.
You will need to use an alternative LLC name. For example, At Your Door Quick, LLC.
Searching the States’ LLC Name Databases
When you search the LLC name database, you should search your desired LLC name every way you can think of.
Every state has their own database. After you determine the best state to form your LLC, you can either follow our 50-state LLC tutorials (which include LLC name search instructions) or just go right to the state LLC name search database below:
Alabama LLC name search
Alabama Secretary of State: Business Entity Records
Alaska LLC name search
Alaska Division of Corporations: Search Corporations Database
Arizona LLC name search
Arizona Corporation Commission: eCorp Business Entity Search
Arkansas LLC name search
Arkansas Secretary of State: Business Entity Search
California LLC name search
California Secretary of State: Business Search
Colorado LLC name search
Colorado Secretary of State: Business Database Search
Connecticut LLC name search
Connecticut Secretary of State: Business Registry Search
Delaware LLC name search
Delaware Division of Corporations: Business Entity Search
Florida LLC name search
Florida Department of State: Search Records
Georgia LLC name search
Georgia Secretary of State: Business Search
Hawaii LLC name search
Hawaii Business Registration Division: Search for Businesses
Idaho LLC name search
Idaho Secretary of State: Business Search
Illinois LLC name search
Illinois Secretary of State: Corporation & LLC Search
Indiana LLC name search
Indiana Secretary of State: Business Search
Iowa LLC name search
Iowa Secretary of State: Business Entities Search
Kansas LLC name search
Kansas Secretary of State: Business Entity Search Station (BESS)
Kentucky LLC name search
Kentucky Secretary of State: FastTrack Business Organization Search
Louisiana LLC name search
Louisiana Secretary of State: Business Filings Search
Maine LLC name search
Maine Secretary of State: Corporate Name Search
Maryland LLC name search
Maryland Department of Assessments & Taxation: Business Entity Search
Massachusetts LLC name search
Massachusetts Corporations Division: Business Entity Search
Michigan LLC name search
Michigan Department of Licensing & Regulatory Affairs: Business Entity Search
Minnesota LLC name search
Minnesota Secretary of State: Search Business Filings
Mississippi LLC name search
Mississippi Secretary of State: Business Name Search
Missouri LLC name search
Missouri Secretary of State: Business Entity Search
Montana LLC name search
Montana Secretary of State: Business Search
Nebraska LLC name search
Nebraska Secretary of State: Corporate & Business Search
Nevada LLC name search
Nevada Secretary of State: Business Search
New Hampshire LLC name search
New Hampshire Secretary of State: Business Search
New Jersey LLC name search
New Jersey Division of Revenue: Business Entity Name Search
New Mexico LLC name search
New Mexico Secretary of State: Business Search
New York LLC name search
New York Division of Corporations: Corporation & Business Entity Database
North Carolina LLC name search
North Carolina Secretary of State: Business Search
North Dakota LLC name search
North Dakota Secretary of State: Business Search
Ohio LLC name search
Ohio Secretary of State: Business Name Search
Oklahoma LLC name search
Oklahoma Secretary of State: Business Entities Search
Oregon LLC name search
Oregon Secretary of State: Business Name Search
Pennsylvania LLC name search
Pennsylvania Department of State: Business Entity Search
Rhode Island LLC name search
Rhode Island Secretary of State: Search for an Entity
South Carolina LLC name search
South Carolina Secretary of State: Business Name Search
South Dakota LLC name search
South Dakota Secretary of State: Business Information Search
Tennessee LLC name search
Tennessee Secretary of State: Business Information Search
Texas LLC name search
Texas Comptroller: Taxable Entity Search
Utah LLC name search
Utah Secretary of State: Business Name Search
Vermont LLC name search
Vermont Secretary of State: Business Search
Virginia LLC name search
Virginia State Corporation Commission: Business Entity Search
Washington State LLC name search
Washington Corporations & Charities Filing System: Advanced Business Search
Washington D.C. LLC name search
Washington D.C. Department of Consumer & Regulatory Affairs: Business Filings Search
(you need to create a CorpOnline account)
West Virginia LLC name search
West Virginia Secretary of State: Business Entity Search
Wisconsin LLC name search
Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions: Search Corporate records