How to Name Your LLC? (2025 Updated Guide)

Naming your LLC is a very important step in business ownership. It may seem like a no-brainer, but there are many nuances to how you should go about naming your business, so it's important that you do things correctly.

We'll use our experience of working with various businesses, tax law knowledge, and other expertise to go over how to name your business according to common rules.

We'll also explain how different states have different requirements and how to find out if the name you've chosen has been taken by someone else already.

Quick Summary

• Naming your LLC correctly is essential for legal compliance and brand identity, ensuring your business stands out in the market.
• Reserving your LLC name can provide peace of mind during the registration process.
• Considering that Lending Tree reports a 20.8% failure rate for US businesses within their first year, selecting a strong and distinctive name for your LLC is a critical step in laying the foundation for lon-term success.
• In my opinion, ensuring your LLC name is customer-friendly and aligns with your brand identity is crucial for lon-term success.

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What is a Limited Liability Company (LLC)?

A Limited Liability Company (LLC) is a versatile business entity that offers its owners, known as members, limited liability protection. This means that the personal assets of the members are generally protected from business debts and legal claims.

The LLC structure is particularly popular among small business owners and entrepreneurs due to its flexibility in management and taxation.

Unlike corporations, LLCs can be managed directly by the owners or by appointed managers, and they can have one or multiple members. This flexibility makes the limited liability company (LLC) an attractive option for many business ventures.

Legal Guidelines for Naming LLCs

To have a legal business name, you will have to be compliant with the state law of the particular country you chose to form your LLC in.

It is essential to check the state agency's website for specific naming requirements and guidelines to ensure compliance with state laws.

Drawing from experience when helping my clients establish businesses, ensuring your LLC's name complies with state laws is crucial.

From our experience, most states have certain words that can be included in your business name, which are usually restricted to proper nouns and generic terms.

Some states have restrictions on the length of the legal name of your LLC, while others require certain punctuation or symbols to appear in it.

A new business entity will have to respect the following guidelines:

• You must include the words limited liability company or its abbreviation (LLC or LLC) or limited company (Ltd.).
• You can not include words that are likely to cause confusion with other businesses already existing in the state, such as geographical names and surnames of living people, along with their first name initials.
• The LLC's business name should be distinguishable from all other entities by the spelling or abbreviations used within your state's records system. The same applies to limited liability companies that have been previously incorporated in another one. In this case, you will need written consent from the previous entity, allowing you to use an identical name for registration purposes.
• You can't use restricted words as part of your limited liability company name under any circumstances.
• These include words like "insurance", "university", "corporation", etc. A limited liability company is only allowed to include restricted words in its business name given that it has obtained prior permission from the state authorities and paid required fees for LLC name registration purposes.
• Prohibited words that can be associated with a government agency (Federal, State Department, Secretary, Bureau, Commission, etc.) can't be used in an LLC's legal name either.

Coming up with Unique LLC Names

Given that the US Small Business Administration reports 1.4 million new establishments opened between March 2021 and March 2022, a small business owner needs to pay close attention to avoid using the same name or a name too similar to those already in use, highlighting the importance of uniqueness in your LLC's naming process [1].

The business naming process involves several steps, including ensuring the name is unique, legally available, and compliant with state regulations.

To perform a business name search, you will need to search for the exact name you've selected in all of the state's corporation & tax law filings, LLCs' records, and fictitious business names.

You can start with the most obvious search step: browsing the web to see if the desired name is already in use. That method, however, isn't always the most reliable.

For this reason, you will need to visit the website of your state's filing agency (usually the Secretary of State) and use their online tool to perform the search. Such databases typically contain a detailed list of all business entities operating within the state.

Related Articles:

• How to Form an LLC Anonymously
• The Key Differences Between LLC vs. DBA
• Should You Name Your LLC After Yourself
• What Does LLC Mean after a Company Business Name

Conducting a Business Name Search

Conducting a thorough business name search is a critical step in the LLC naming process.

Start by searching your state’s business name database to confirm that your desired name is not already in use. This helps avoid potential legal issues and ensures your LLC name is unique.

Additionally, it’s wise to check the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) database to ensure the name isn’t trademarked by another entity.

Don’t forget to search social media platforms and domain name registrars to secure a consistent online presence. This comprehensive approach helps in establishing a strong and legally compliant business identity.

Trademark Policies

Navigating trademark regulations can be tricky; my client's LLC faced challenges in ensuring the name didn't overlap with existing trademarks.

You might be able to use your name as your company's official name if you register it with the Secretary of State.

That, however, doesn't give you the authority to utilize the name as your brand name to sell products or services.

If someone else has your name trademarked, you'll be unable to use it for anything beyond financial and legal matters.

For example, if a trademark owner has already registered "Intel Analytics," then it is not possible for an entrepreneur to receive permission to transact business and market services under just "Intel."

Keep in mind that trademarking vs LLC name registration are not the same. You can register your LLC under one name and trademark your brand name that is entirely different from your LLC name.

You can register your trademark with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, and it will protect your company's name across all states.

Using a DBA (Doing Business As) Name

A DBA, or “Doing Business As” name, allows your business to operate under a different name than its legal business name.

This can be particularly useful if you want to market your business under a more brand-friendly name.

To use a DBA name, you must file the appropriate forms and pay the required fees with your state or local government.

It’s important to note that a DBA name does not offer the same legal protections as a trademark.

While it allows for flexibility in branding, it does not provide exclusive rights to the name, so consider trademarking if you need stronger protection.

Making Your LLC Names Customer-Friendly: Prohibited or Restricted Words

From my experience, an easily recognizable online presence is key for customer engagement and brand loyalty.

It's important that you should avoid using acronyms or abbreviations in your business' branding strategy, as it may cause confusion among the customers later down the line.

Purchasing matching domain names for your business names is a must.

You can check if the web domain is available with any availability checker (Domain Name Search or GoDaddy) that will help you find out whether other websites already take the domain name you've chosen or not.

In some instances, you might have to choose another name for your LLC altogether because some matching domain names are already taken by some other business entity even though the LLC isn't registered in your state.

Changing Your Business Name

Changing your business name can be a significant but necessary step for rebranding or other strategic reasons.

To change your LLC’s name, you must file the required paperwork with your state, which typically involves submitting an amendment to your Articles of Organization and paying a filing fee.

It’s also essential to update all legal documents, such as your operating agreement, to reflect the new name. Additionally, you must inform your customers, vendors, and other stakeholders about the change.

Don’t forget to update your website, social media profiles, and marketing materials to ensure consistency across all platforms. This comprehensive approach ensures a smooth transition to your new business name.

Reserving LLC Names

A legal owner can reserve an entity name by filing a name reservation application and paying the applicable fee associated with it [2].

Once you receive approval, you will be able to use this entity name within your state during the next period without having to complete full registration paperwork for the new entity formation process until someone else tries to register that same entity type in your particular jurisdiction.

The period your proposed name is put on hold varies from state to state, but in most cases, it goes up to 120 days. Some states even allow reservation renewal at an additional fee.

International Considerations

When naming your LLC, it's crucial to think beyond borders. While a name may resonate well locally, it might inadvertently offend or confuse audiences in other countries.

Conducting thorough research on cultural nuances and trademark regulations in target markets can prevent costly missteps. For example, a name that sounds innocuous in one language may carry negative connotations in another.

Using international trademark databases and seeking legal advice specialized in international business law can provide invaluable guidance in navigating these complexities, ensuring your LLC's name translates seamlessly across borders and resonates positively with diverse audiences.

FAQs

References:

1. https://advocacy.sba.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-Small-Business-Economic-Profile-US.pdf
2. https://pennstatelaw.psu.edu/_file/aglaw/Step_by_Step_Guide.pdf