How to Conduct an Idaho Business Entity Search

The Idaho business entity search, also called the Idaho business search, is a valuable tool for anyone who wants to learn more about existing business entities in the state. Whether you’re an established business owner who wants to get a Certificate of Existence or a soon-to-be entrepreneur who needs to check if your desired Idaho business name is available, 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 a step-by-step guide to using the search effectively. We’ll also talk about some important Idaho business name guidelines and what to do after searching a business name.

Let’s get started.

Idaho Secretary of State Contact Information

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 83720 Boise, ID 83720-0080	Physical Address: 450 N. 4th Street Boise, ID 83702
Telephone: (208) 334-2301	Website: https://sos.idaho.gov/

Idaho 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, Idaho has several rules about naming your business. 

First, your name needs to be different from the names of other registered companies in Idaho, 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 requirements. 

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

• Your business name needs to include a designator. For example, corporations need to include the word “corporation,” “company,” “incorporated,” or “limited.” Abbreviations of these words are also acceptable, but note that abbreviations can’t precede the word “and.”
• Meanwhile, LLCs need to include the phrase “limited liability company” or “limited company.” The abbreviations “LLC” and “LC” (with or without periods), or you can abbreviate “limited” as “Ltd.” or “company” as “Co.”
• Business names cannot falsely imply that they’re affiliated with a government agency.
• Your name may not state or imply that you’re conducting activities that aren’t permitted by law.

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 Run a Business Name Search

The Idaho business search actually has three primary search methods: searching by business name, file number, or registered agent name. We’ll cover all of these possibilities throughout this guide, but in this section, we’ll highlight the business name search.

Step 1: Set up the search

To get started, you’ll need to navigate to the business entity search homepage. By default, all you’ll see is the search bar, but clicking the “Advanced Search Options” tab underneath the search bar will reveal your filter options (pictured below).

By default, the search is set to the “Starts With” filter, which displays business names that begin with the same words as your search terms. You can also choose the “Contains” option, which will show you business names that include your search terms anywhere in the name (more like a keyword search).

You can also select the “Search by Registered Agent” box to run a registered agent name search (which we’ll cover in a later section).

If you’d like your results to exclude inactive entities, check the box labeled “Active entities only.” Finally, you can use the “Filing Date” filter to check for businesses that filed their formation documents during a specified date range.

Set the filters that best match your search goals. Then, type your search terms and click “Search.”

Step 2: Review your search results

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

On this first page, you’ll be able to see the name of each matching business, its file number, its entity type, status, filing date, and its registered agent (active entities only). If you’d like to learn more about a specific company, click on the arrow beside its name.

An informational window will pop up on the right-hand side of the page. Here, you’ll see additional information, including the company’s formation state, duration, principal address, mailing address, annual report due date, and registered agent address. You can use the “Request certificate” button at the top of the window to request an Idaho Certificate of Good Standing. Meanwhile, the “View History” button at the bottom of the window allows you to look at the entity’s filing history.

How to Check Name Availability

If you’re starting a new business, it’s your responsibility to ensure that your name doesn’t infringe on any existing business names that are protected. That means you need to run a name availability search. Unfortunately, the state website doesn’t offer a dedicated name availability search tool. But you can use the business name search to get a pretty good idea of whether or not you have a unique business name.

To get started, open the search page and type the business name you’re hoping to use (minus entity designators like “Inc.” or “LLC”). Click “Search.”

Ideally, you’ll see a result saying that no results were found for your search terms. If that happens, there’s a good chance that your desired name is available. But if there are any matches, you’ll need to edit your business name so it’s distinct or choose another name altogether.

While you’re at it, it’s helpful to use the “Contains” filter and search for a keyword or phrase from your business name (or even your industry). This extra legwork can help you see what business names are being used by potential competitors, so you can make your name truly stand out.

Note: This search is not a definitive indicator of name availability. The Secretary of State’s office will have the final say about availability when you file a name reservation or submit your formation documents.

How to Search by File Number

The most direct way to search for a business entity is by searching its file number. That’s because the Idaho Secretary of State assigns a unique file number to every business that registers with the state.

If you know the file number for the business you’re searching, you can just open the search homepage and type that number in the search bar (don’t worry about any of the filters). Then, click “Search.”

As long as you typed the number correctly, the results page will show you the listing for the business with that file number. From here, you can click on the arrow beside the business name to review its information, request a certificate, or check its filing history.

How to Search by Registered Agent

The final search option, a registered agent search, is actually located in the advanced search options. You can use this search to look up a business by the name of the registered agent that represents it.

To get started, open the search homepage and click on the “Advanced Search Options” tab to open the advanced menu. Then, check the box beside “Search by Registered Agent.” Next, type the agent’s name into the search bar and click “Search.”

The business search tool will pull up a list of all the businesses represented by an agent with the name you searched. For example, here’s what we saw when we searched the agent “John Smith.”

As before, you can click on the arrow beside a company’s name to learn more about it, view its filing history, or request a Certificate of Existence.

What to Do After Searching Business Names in Idaho

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 Idaho business name and make the most of it. 

Reserve your Idaho business name (optional)

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

You can make a name reservation by filing an Application for Reservation of Legal Entity Name form with the Secretary of State. The filing fee varies depending on how you submit the form; online filings cost $20, but if you file a paper form, there’s a $20 surcharge for manual processing, bringing the total cost to $40. 

After your paperwork is filed and approved, your name reservation will be valid for a four-month period. 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 an Idaho business is an important legal process. Learn more about starting an Idaho 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 Gem 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.