How to Conduct a Delaware Business Entity Search

The Delaware entity search, sometimes called the general information name search or business name search, is a valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn more about registered businesses in the state. Whether you’re an established business owner who wants to check the standing of a potential business partner or a soon-to-be entrepreneur who wants to research business name availability, this search is your go-to resource.

But using the search can feel a bit overwhelming, especially if you’ve never used a tool like this before. That’s where this guide comes in. We’ve assembled step-by-step instructions for using the search effectively. We’ll also walk you through some of Delaware’s business name guidelines and what you should do after searching a business name.

Let’s get started.

Delaware Secretary of State Contact Information

Website:
https://sos.delaware.gov/

Delaware Business Name Guidelines

When you’re starting a business, one of the most important things you’ll do is pick your business name. And like other states, Delaware has several rules about naming your business. 

First, your name needs to be different from the names of other registered companies in Delaware, including both domestic and foreign corporations, limited liability companies (LLCs), limited partnerships, and so on. This is one of the simplest but most important naming standards. 

That said, uniqueness isn’t the only naming guideline to adhere to. Here are a few other rules your Delaware business name should follow: 

• Your business name needs to include a designator.
  • Corporations need to include one of the following words: association, company, corporation, club, foundation, fund, incorporated, institute, society, union, syndicate, or limited. Abbreviations of these words are also acceptable. You can include these words’ translations in a foreign language as long as you use standard Roman characters or letters.
  • LLCs need to include the phrase “limited liability company” or the abbreviation “LLC” with or without periods. 
• An LLC name may include the name of a member or manager, if desired.
• Your name cannot be confusing or mislead the public about your business’s identity or purpose.
• Business names cannot include discriminatory language.
• Your name may not include words that might prompt someone to commit criminal activities like fraud, hate crimes, the use of narcotic drugs or opioids, and more. 
• Your name cannot include words like “bank” or a similar word unless you have the appropriate clearances from the State Bank Commissioner or a similar agency.

If you’re in a licensed trade or profession, keep in mind that you’ll need to meet any naming rules that your industry has in place, too. If your business name doesn’t meet these requirements, you’ll need to pick a new one.

How to Search by Business Name

The Delaware business entity search has two primary search methods: a business name search and a file number search. A separate tool, the name availability search, lets you research whether your desired entity name is available. We’ll address all of these search options throughout this guide, but in this section, we’ll stay focused on the process of looking up an existing business by its company name.

Step 1: Set up your search

To get started, you’ll need to navigate to the search homepage. Here, you’ll see a detailed explanation of the information you can learn from the search, followed by the search tool itself (pictured below).

Next, type the business name into the field labeled “Entity Name.” You can type just part of the name if you don’t know the full name; just keep in mind that the more specific your search, the more concise your results page will be. This is especially important if the business name includes a common keyword. The search isn’t case sensitive, so don’t worry about capitalization.

If you know the exact business name — including the entity type designator — you can run an exact search by surrounding the name with quotation marks. For example, we could run an exact search of our business name by typing “ZenBusiness Inc.” That would take us directly to our listed result. Please note that if you try to run an exact search without the entity designator, you won’t see the business listed (even if it does exist).

After you’ve typed your search criteria, click “Search.”

Step 2: Review your search results

The business database will retrieve a list of all of the business names that match your search terms. For example, here’s what we saw when we ran a name search for “America.”

For each matching business, you’ll see the company’s full entity name and its filing number. If you want to learn more about a particular company, click on its name.

On the entity details page, you’ll see a summary of all of the information that’s available to the public at no cost. This includes the entity kind and entity type (the company’s type and subtype), if it’s domestic to Delaware or another state, and its formation date. You will also see information about the company’s registered agent.

If you need more detailed information than that, you can submit a request at the bottom of the page, but it will require a fee. For example, you can get a statement about the company’s status for $10. For $20, you can see current filing history, franchise tax assessments, and more.

How to Search by File Number

The most direct way to look up a company is by searching by its file number. That’s because the Delaware Division of Corporations assigns a unique ID number, called the file number, to each registered business.

To run a file number search, head to the search homepage (linked above) and carefully type the company’s file number into the “File Number” search bar. Hit “Search.”

As long as you typed the number correctly, you should see the listing for the business you’re looking for. For example, here’s what our result listing looked like when we ran a file number search for our sample business above.

As before, you can click on the entity name to review additional information about the company (some for free and some for a fee).

How to Run a Name Availability Search

If you’re starting a new Delaware LLC or corporation, it’s your responsibility to ensure that your name doesn’t infringe on the names of any existing businesses. That means you need to run a name availability search.

At first glance, you might think that Delaware doesn’t offer a dedicated business name availability search tool. But they do have one; it’s tied directly into its online name reservation page (separate from the search tool covered above).

You aren’t required to reserve a name after using the search, so you can check availability for multiple names before you commit to one, if needed.

Step 1: Set up your search

Once you’re on the search page (linked above), you’ll see there are several required fields you’ll need to complete before you hit that “Search” button. First, you’ll need to acknowledge that you’ve read the disclaimer on the page.

Then, you will need to select the entity type you’re planning to start and the entity ending (designator) you plan to use. If you haven’t solidified what business type you’re going to start, just pick one; remember, you aren’t locked into a name reservation by a search alone.

Next, type the code from the image to confirm that you’re a human being. Finally, type in the business name that you’re hoping to use. Don’t include a designator in this blank.

Hit “Search.”

Step 2: Review your search results

There are two possible results you’ll see for a name availability search. First, if your name is already claimed, you’ll see a message at the very bottom of the search page (pictured below). This search doesn’t provide any information about the company that has a claim to that name, though.

Ideally, though, you’ll see a message that your new business name is available on another page. Here, you can proceed to make a name reservation. Alternatively, you can start a new search to see if one of your other possible names is available.

What to Do After Searching Business Names in Delaware

After you’ve come up with a name and searched it, you’re probably feeling like you’ve done a lot of legwork. You’d hate for that hard work to go to waste, right? Here are some steps you can take to protect your Delaware business name and make the most of it. 

Reserve your Delaware business name (optional)

If you’ve picked the perfect business name but you’re not quite ready to file your business formation paperwork, Delaware allows you to reserve a business name.

You can request a name reservation online through the Delaware Division of Corporations. As part of this process, you’ll run a quick name availability check (the search we covered above). If the search shows that your name is available, you’ll be directed to reserve the name right away. Currently, both LLCs and corporations pay $75 for a name reservation.

After your paperwork is filed and approved, your name reservation will be valid for 120 days. Delaware allows you to renew the name for a successive 120-day period, if needed. This step is optional, and you should only pursue it if you’ve picked a name but aren’t ready to file your formation paperwork yet.

Form an LLC or register your business

One of the best ways to protect your business name is to register your business. After you register a business under your chosen name, no one else in the state will be able to register their own company with the same name. 

Registering a Delaware business is an important legal process. Learn more about starting a Delaware LLC. 

Get a domain name that matches

You want your customers to find your business website easily. That means you need a domain name that matches your business name as closely as possible. A matching domain will help your brand maintain consistency both in person and online.

If you’re struggling to come up with a domain name (or the one that matches your name is already taken), try using a domain name generator. A generator can help you come up with a domain that matches your brand image. 

Set up your business online

Today, you can’t run a business without a good digital footprint. A good business website is a decent starting point. But don’t stop there; set up social media accounts like a Facebook page, a TikTok profile, and an Instagram account. Make sure your business name is included on each account so your brand is consistent across your online presence.

Last but not least, set up a Google Business Profile for your business (or claim it if it already exists). This profile will help you direct customers to your website or your store location. Plus, it’ll help you respond to customer reviews and build a good brand reputation in the First State.

Trademark your business name (optional)

If you want the most robust protections for your business name, you could pursue trademark registration. Trademarks can be registered at the state or federal level (with federal protections being the strongest). 

Getting a trademark can be pretty complicated and time-consuming. If you go this route, it’s highly recommended to work with a trademark attorney.