How to Conduct a Maryland Business Entity Search

The Maryland business entity search is a valuable tool for anyone who needs to look up information about a business on file with the state department. Whether you’re a seasoned professional who needs to look up business registration details for a Maryland corporation or LLC, or a new entrepreneur who wants to check if your company name is available, the business entity search is your go-to resource.

But using the tool can feel a bit overwhelming at first, especially if you haven’t used it before. That’s where this guide comes in. We’ll walk you through the essential steps to follow to use the search tool as seamlessly as possible. We’ll also cover some business naming guidelines and what you should do after searching a name.

Let’s get started.

Maryland Secretary of State Contact Information

Mailing Address: 16 Francis St. Annapolis, MD 21401	Office Hours: 8:30 – 4:30 Certification Hours: 9:00 – 1:00
Telephone: 410-974-5521	Website: https://sos.maryland.gov/Pages/default.aspx

Maryland 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, Maryland has several rules about naming your business. 

First, your name needs to be different from the names of other registered companies in Maryland, 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 Maryland business name should follow: 

• Your business name should include a designator. For example, corporations need to include “corporation,” “company,” or a similar word. Meanwhile, LLCs need to include words like “limited liability company” or an acceptable abbreviation like “LLC” with or without punctuation.
• Your name cannot imply or state that you’re conducting activities that aren’t permitted by your formation documents.

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 name doesn’t meet these requirements, you’ll need to pick a new one. 

Search Maryland Business Express by Name

The Maryland business entity search actually gives you two different methods to search for a business: by name or by Department ID. In this section, we’ll cover how to search by a business name.

Step 1: Choose your search terms and type your search

You can use the name search method to look up information for a legal entity or to check name availability. To get started, double-check that the menu underneath the search bar is set to “Business Name.”

After that, you’ll need to type a business name into the search bar. You can type a keyword or two if you don’t know the full business name, but keep in mind that approach will probably yield lots of extra results. The more of the name you type, the more specific your results will be.

You can also use this to check availability by typing the full business name you’re hoping to use (minus an entity identifier). No matter what you’re searching, you’ll need to type the name in and hit “Search.”

Step 2: Review your search results

If there are any matches for your inquiry, the search tool will display them in a list, like the picture below.

On this page, you’ll see the ID number, full company name, and status for every Maryland LLC, corporation, or other business type that matches your search terms.

Clicking on a business name will reveal even more information about that company, including its standing, business type, date of formation, resident agent, and more. You can also click on the “Filing History” tab to review the company’s business filings. You can select the “Annual Report” tab to review its annual reports, too.

Finally, the “Options for This Business” drop-down menu will allow you to request a Certificate of Status, file a registered agent change, submit an annual report, get a trade name, and more.

Checking Name Availability

If you’re using the search tool to check whether your desired company name is available, then you’ll actually be hoping that your search yields no results. If the tool doesn’t retrieve any results, there’s a good chance that your name isn’t claimed by any existing businesses. If it does find company names that match, you’ll probably need to make some tweaks to your name so it’s distinct enough to use.

Even if there isn’t an exact match of your desired name, it’s recommended to run a quick search of some of your name’s keywords (in addition to the full name search). This way, you can check for names that might be similar to the one you’ve chosen. This extra step could help you ensure that the name of your new business truly stands out.

Search Maryland Business Express by Department ID

The best way to quickly locate the business records you need is to search by department ID, the number assigned to an individual business by the Department of Assessments and Taxation. Every business has a unique ID number, so running this search will only reveal one result.

This search is pretty easy to conduct, too: all you have to do is set the search tool to “Department ID,” type the ID number, and hit search. You should see only one result in response (or a “no results found message” if the ID is incorrect).

As before, you can click on the business name to view additional information about that company, submit filings, request certificates, and more.

What to Do After Searching Business Names in Maryland

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 Maryland business name and make the most of it. 

Reserve your Maryland business name (optional)

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

You can get a Maryland name reservation by filing the Corporate Name Reservation Application with the Department of Assessments and Taxation. At the time of this writing, you’ll have to pay a $25 fee to reserve a name.

After your paperwork is filed and approved, your name reservation will be valid for 30 days. 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 Maryland will be able to register their own company with the same name. 

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

Get a domain name that matches

You want it to be easy for your customers to find your business website. 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 company name is included in your social media handles 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 Old Line 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.