Check out our search tips to make the most of the New Mexico Business Entity Search.
Navigating tools on any state website can feel overwhelming at first, and the New Mexico business search tool is no exception. But this tool is very helpful; the search can tell you more about registered businesses in the state. It’s also your go-to resource if you want to check availability for a New Mexico LLC or corporation you’re about to start.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about using the New Mexico business search tool, state naming guidelines, and what you can do after searching your business name.
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Address: 325 Don Gaspar, Suite 300 Santa Fe, NM 87501 | Hours of Operation: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM Monday through Friday |
Toll Free Telephone: 1-800-477-3632 | Website: https://www.sos.nm.gov/ |
When you’re starting a business, one of the most important things you’ll do is pick your business name. And like other states, New Mexico has several rules about naming your business.
First, your name needs to be different from the names of other registered companies in New Mexico, including both domestic and foreign corporations, 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 New Mexico business name should follow:
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.
The Business Services Division of the New Mexico Secretary of State offers a helpful business search tool that you can use to check name availability and retrieve information about registered businesses in the state. The New Mexico business search lets you check by business name or by entity ID number.
Here’s how to use this tool as seamlessly as possible.
If you hit the “Advanced” tab underneath the search bar, you’ll see that there are actually three different types of searches you can run using the business search. Here’s a quick breakdown of your primary filter options:
Depending on how general your search terms are, you might need to adjust the other filters available in the New Mexico entity search. For example, if we searched the word “America” and used the “Contains” search option, we’d get over 100 different results. That’s a big list to sort through.
Thankfully, you have several different filters to choose from to help narrow down your search:
After you’ve set your search filters, type your terms into the search bar and hit the button labeled “Search.”
After you hit “Search,” you’ll see one of two possibilities: a message that “no results were found” for your search, or a list of results that match your search criteria. The latter might look something like the picture below.
For each result, you can see the company’s name, its business ID, entity type, state of formation, and its current status. From here, you can hit the arrow beside a particular business name to see additional information.
This portion of the results page can display additional facts, such as the company’s registered agent information and any alternate business names it has. In some cases, you can also learn information about the entity’s directors, officers, managers, members, or organizers.
If you’re logged into the state business portal, you can also use this page to file an amendment or request a certificate for the company. You’ll get an error message if you hit those buttons without logging in, however.
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 New Mexico business name and make the most of it.
If you’ve picked the perfect business name but are not quite ready to file your business formation paperwork, New Mexico allows you to reserve it.
Since the New Mexico Secretary of State moved its filing process to be entirely online, you have to use its business portal to file the Application for Name Reservation form. After your paperwork is approved, your entity name reservation is valid for 120 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.
One of the best ways to protect your business name is to register your business. After you register a business under your desired name, no one else in New Mexico will be able to register their own company with the same name.
Registering a New Mexico business is an important legal process. Learn more about starting a New Mexico LLC.
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.
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 Land of Enchantment.
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.
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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.
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