Before registering an LLC, a name will have to be searched to see if it is available. Every LLC has to have a name that no other registered businesses are using.
Starts at $0 + state fees and only takes 5-10 minutes
Most states allow for the reservation of a name before filing the LLC paperwork for a small fee. Before paying to reserve a business name, check to see if the business name is available first. Below are links to each state’s business entity database so you can do your own free LLC name search.
Getting an EIN (Employer Identification Number) for your LLC is pretty easy and only takes about five minutes when registering online. If you choose to mail in the SS-4 form, expect 4-5 weeks. When filing directly through the IRS, the EIN costs nothing to get. See how to get an EIN number in about 5 minutes!
Learn how to properly search business name availability for a Limited Liability Company (LLC) or corporation in each state through their business name database. We can help you determine if an LLC name is available in these states:
Be sure to check your Secretary of State website for your LLC’s entity name availability before filing. Nothing is more frustrating than filing out all your Limited Liability Company formation paperwork, paying an attorney or LLC service, only to find out that your first choice name for your company has been taken.If you have narrowed down your search for a business name, also check if the domain name is also available as a domain name that is the same as the business can be hard to find.
Last, before settling on a name, check the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to verify the name you want isn’t already registered to another business. Even if the name is available through the state, this doesn’t check to see if someone else already has trademark rights to the name. Additionally someone could have a registered trademark, but operating under a fictitious name, which isn’t easy to research registration.State law says that the entity name cannot be identical or “confusingly similar” to the name of any other LLC, Limited Partnership, or Corporation in your state.
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Disclaimer: The content on this page is for information purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or accounting advice. If you have specific questions about any of these topics, seek the counsel of a licensed professional.
Written by Team ZenBusiness
ZenBusiness has helped people start, run, and grow over 700,000 dream companies. The editorial team at ZenBusiness has over 20 years of collective small business publishing experience and is composed of business formation experts who are dedicated to empowering and educating entrepreneurs about owning a company.
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