Summarize this article with an AI assistant.
ChatGPT
Perplexity
Claude
Google AI
Grok
Mistral
People starting an LLC often ask questions like “Does a business owner’s LLC name have to match their business name or website name?” or “Does an entrepreneur have to put LLC in their business name?” These questions come up because the term “business name” has many meanings. To help, this guide compiles some top insights from attorneys and startup experts to answer these LLC name questions.
Legal Name vs Tradename
The short answer? An LLC’s name does not have to match its business name or match its website name for marketing purposes. But for the legal and financial aspects of doing business, a business owner should use the exact LLC name registered with their state.
Here’s how it works.
The term “business name” is not a legal designation. It’s a generic term that’s used to refer to a variety of names that are associated with businesses. An LLC or corporate name is a business name. Brand names, trade names, DBAs, assumed names, fictitious names, trademarks, or service marks are all commonly referred to as business names, too.
A small business owner doesn’t have to put their LLC in their business’s trade name, brand name, DBA, fictitious name, or any other type of business name used for marketing. And the LLC name doesn’t have to match the website name. In fact, it’s common for businesses to use one or more names that are different from their official name.
In the end, a legal business name must comply with state requirements and be distinguishable from other registered names, which is crucial for brand identity and legal protection.
When It’s Necessary to Use the Legal Business Name of the LLC
An LLC’s legal name is the company’s name as it’s listed on its state business registration. A business owner will also need to include the designation “LLC” or a similar designator (these vary by state) in their business name on their state business registration application. And, the owner generally needs to use the LLC name exactly as it’s registered with the state for signing contracts, opening a bank account, and other legal and financial dealings.
Read on to learn more about when an LLC name needs to be used, when and how to use a trade name, what the legal requirements for LLC names are, and if an entrepreneur should add their LLC name to their business cards or website.
How to Name an LLC: Legal Regulations, Rules, and Prohibited or Restricted Words
Every U.S. state has slightly different rules regarding names for limited liability companies; however, these legal regulations and rules are common to the majority of states.
State differences tend to be minor, such as allowing different abbreviations for LLC, such as “L.L.C.” or “L.C.” However, most states require an LLC designator to be included in the name of a business structure that is legally registered as an LLC. It’s also important to avoid prohibited or restricted words to help ensure compliance with state laws.
For example, some states list more disallowed professional terms if they’re unrelated to the LLC’s type of service, including Underwriters, Surety, Trust, Insurance, Realtor, and Attorney. Some states also restrict businesses from using profanity or offensive words in their names. Ultimately, each entrepreneur will need to check their state guidelines for a full list of rules.
The following rules apply to most states:
- Must include one of these words – An entrepreneur needs to use a designator such as Limited Liability Company, LLC, or LC (allowed designators vary by state) to indicate that the business entity is an LLC.
- Cannot match an existing LLC name – A new LLC name can’t be the same as one already registered with the state.
- Cannot contain words for other business entity types, such as incorporated or corporation – This would be misleading to consumers.
- Cannot contain words unrelated to the company’s products or services – This includes words like “bank,” “medical,” or “legal.” If the company doesn’t provide these services, it can’t use words implying that it does. If an entrepreneur is planning to start one of these types of businesses, it might be prudent (or even required) to form a professional LLC (PLLC) or a professional corporation (PC) instead (again, state guidance varies).
LLC Name vs Business Name Uses
When does a small business owner have to use their LLC name, and when can they use their business name instead? Whenever it’s required, it’s important for businesses registered as LLCs to highlight their limited liability company status to maintain legal protections and establish brand relevance.
This table shows where a company registered as “ABC Associates, LLC” would have to use its LLC name and when it could choose to use the desired business name “Alex and Cindy Caterers” instead. The word “YES” indicates situations in which the business owner must use the official LLC name. The word “Optional” indicates where they can choose whether to use the LLC name, the business trade name, or both.
| Name Usage | LLC Name | Business Name (or DBA/assumed name/trade name) |
| ABC Associates, LLC | Alex and Cindy Caterers | |
| LLC Business Registration Application | YES | NO |
| Legal Contracts | YES | NO |
| Loan Applications | YES | NO |
| Bank Accounts and Credit Cards | YES | NO |
| Vendor Credit Applications | YES | NO |
| Rental Leases | YES | NO |
| Trademark Registrations | YES | NO |
| Business Cards | Optional | Optional |
| Store Signs | Optional | Optional |
| Logo | Optional | Optional |
| Website Name | Optional | Optional |
How to Do Business Under a Different Name
As noted above, a business owner needs to use the LLC’s name for legal, financial, and regulatory matters. So, how do things work when the name the company is known by is different from the LLC name? How can the business cash a check that a client makes out to the tradename when the bank needs the LLC name to open a bank account? What about signing contracts and other business matters?
There are two ways to conduct business under a name that’s different from the official LLC name. For one, entrepreneurs can register the alternative name as a “doing business as” name with state or local officials. Alternatively, it’s possible to form a separate LLC or corporation for the alternate business name.
The next section talks through the merits and drawbacks of both options.
Option 1 – Register the name as a DBA of the LLC
The easiest and least expensive solution for a business owner is to register the alternative name as a “doing business as” (DBA) name with state or local officials. In some locations, a DBA is called a fictitious name, a trade name, or an assumed name, but all these titles refer to the same idea.
Registering the alternative name as a DBA does not make it a separate business entity. Instead, it’s a legal acknowledgment that a registered LLC and the DBA are the same company with the same ownership. It’s a bit like a permission slip from the state, giving an entrepreneur the go-ahead to operate under a business nickname.
Once a business owner officially registers their DBA, they can provide their bank with whatever documentation it needs to let them cash checks made out to the DBA. If the owner wants to use the assumed name when signing a contract, they’ll sign it with the business’s official name plus the words “doing business as” and the DBA name.
DBA Name Example
Suppose a programmer, John Smith, has a business idea to build websites for other entrepreneurs. He picks a name, hires a registered agent, and forms a limited liability company, Smith Websites LLC. He even opens a business bank account for it. The business acquires a lot of customers, and Smith discovers there’s a need for other IT services he could provide. So, he sets up and operates a website at SmithITandWebServices.com. He uses the name “Smith IT and Web Services” on his business cards, sales literature, and other marketing materials. There’s usually no problem doing those things.
But that’s not the official name of his business. So, in most locations, he wouldn’t be able to cash checks made out to Smith It and Web Services. And he wouldn’t be able to conduct any other legal or financial transactions under that name.
To solve the problem, he registers “Smith IT and Web Services” as a DBA. Once the DBA registration is approved, he’ll be able to deposit checks made out to “Smith IT and Web Services” in his business bank account.
If John Smith needs to use his DBA on a legal document or anywhere else, he’d include the business’s official name and the DBA. For instance, he might sign a document as John Smith, President, Smith Websites LLC, DBA Smith IT and Web Services. If clients ask for a W-9 form, he puts the official name of the LLC on line 1 and enters the DBA name on line two, labeled “Business name/disregarded entity name, if different from above.”
How much does it cost to get a DBA?
The state fees (or local ones) for registering a DBA range from under $10 to about $150, depending on where a business is located. However, in most localities, the fees are under $100. Depending on a business’s location, getting the DBA approved may take several months, so it’s prudent for a business owner to register the name as soon as they suspect they’ll be using it.
Find out what it costs to get a DBA in each state.
Option 2 – Form a separate LLC for the alternate name
In some circumstances, a business owner might want to set up the alternative business name as a completely separate LLC. Doing so would allow them to operate it as a totally separate business from the original name.
Setting up the alternative business name as its own LLC or corporation is a more expensive option than registering the name as a DBA. However, doing so is sometimes desirable.
Examples of when a separate LLC might be advisable for the alternative name include:
- The owner wants to maintain separate income, expenses, and profit records for each name.
- The owner wants to separate the liabilities of each business from the other.
- One operating name represents a spinoff of a line of products and has different owners or investors.
Using a Trademark or Service Mark
If a business makes a number of products, the owners may have created marketing names for each of them, just like cereal manufacturers have names for different types of cereals they sell. In this case, the name of the product would be a trademark (or a service mark, if it’s a service). The business owners wouldn’t sign contracts with the trademark name and couldn’t cash a check made out to the trademark name (unless they had also filed a DBA for it). The owners would include a disclosure on packaging, sales literature, the company website, and other places indicating that the product is a trademark of the LLC.
How to Search for LLC Name Availability
As discussed above, one of the legal requirements and rules for LLC names is that they must be unique and not taken by another business registered in the state.
Here’s how to search: Use the state’s business registration database to search for LLC name availability. It’s usually available on the Secretary of State’s website or wherever the state’s business registry is hosted. Below are links to pages describing how to conduct a name search in all states:
Search business names in these states
Know that there are complex legal rules that differ by state. These types of slight word variations listed below do not qualify as creating a distinguishable name. So these terms usually won’t make an LLC name unique enough because they’d qualify as “deceptively similar”:
- Making a word singular or plural
- A, an, or the
- And, or, and &
- Hyphens, periods, and commas
- Writing numbers as spelled words or numerals
FAQ: LLC Names
Does an owner need to put “LLC” on their business cards?
In most states, it’s not legally required to include the LLC designation on company business cards; however, it can be an advantage to add it.
Including the full business name with the LLC designator communicates professionalism to clients. It also notifies them that they are engaging in business with a legal entity — an LLC — and not a sole proprietorship. As a result, if they choose to sue the company, they will not be able to reach the owners’ personal assets due to the LLC’s personal liability protections. They’ll only be able to seize the business assets. Having a proper legal business name that adheres to state requirements is crucial for establishing a company’s identity and differentiating it from other businesses.
Most brand-name companies do not elect to include LLC on their business cards because they want customers to focus on their branding message.
Does an owner need to put “LLC” on their website?
No and yes.
No, it’s not required to include LLC in the company name on the banner headers of website pages. Here is where to focus on the brand name.
But it is necessary to include LLC in the company name on the site’s legal pages, such as terms of use, disclaimers, and privacy policy.
✔ If an entrepreneur wants to change the domain name on an existing website, it is possible. Learn how to do it →
Should an owner put “LLC” on their logo?
In most cases, it’s not necessary or recommended to include “LLC” in the business logo. Logos are visual representations of branding messages and do not need to contain extra legal abbreviations to get in the way.
Some professions and states require including “LLC” in logos for attorneys, bankers, and insurance agents. If in doubt, check with a local business lawyer.
Related Resources
Disclaimer: The content on this page is for information purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or accounting advice. For specific questions about any of these topics, seek the counsel of a licensed professional.
