While your name reservation is in effect, other businesses will be prevented from incorporating, qualifying, reserving, registering, or changing their name to your reserved name with that state office. If you form or form an LLC in one state and plan to do business in other states, you can also request a name reservation in the other states. If you plan to expand to other states in the future, consider registering names in those states (rather than a name reservation). Name registration usually allows you to keep your legal name in a state, even if you`re not yet qualified to do business there. If you have already incorporated your corporation or limited liability company, but want to expand your business in another state, you must comply with the naming rules of the other state if you qualify to do business there. And there are other names that your company or LLC may use, such as DBA (aliases), fictitious names, and domain names, which can also be part of your company`s naming process. This ensures the national protection of a business name. Federal trademark registration requires a search to ensure that a similar name has not already been registered, and there are detailed requirements and restrictions regarding the ability to mark a trade name as a trademark. Before registering your startup as a limited liability company (LLC) or limited liability company (LLP), you need to understand all the implications of each.

The procedures for reserving a business name vary from state to state. Your business can only have one “legal” name at a time. However, it can have any number of aliases or DBAs (“doing business as”). So if you have other business name ideas, you can use them as database administrators. For example, if the official name of your LLC is “Smith and Jones, LLC”, you can file a DBA to do business as “Best Painters” and another DBA to do business as “World Wide Painters”. You can use these DBA names on your website, in signs, advertisements, promotions, etc. When determining the best way to register a company name, several factors are taken into account, such as: the structure of the company, the geographical area in which the company will operate, and the extent of the protection required. To register the company name, the name must be available in the country of incorporation. You can check with the state authority if the name is available.

Most states have a business name search tool available from their Secretary of State Business Division. While you probably don`t need to register your business with local or county authorities, depending on the nature of your business, you may need to obtain permits or licenses to do business. You may also need to register your business name or business name as (DBA) if your company uses a different name than the legal name of the company. Many states also prohibit certain words in a company`s name. Some are words that the state deems inappropriate. Others are designed to protect the public from misleadings. For example, a state may not authorize “insurance” on behalf of a company that is not an insurance company or may require the approval of the insurance department before authorizing the use of that word. They also prohibit words that indicate that it is a form of entity that it is not. Thus, a limited liability company could not have “company” in its name. The LLC name and the company name can be two separate names and they serve different purposes.3 min read To correct typos and typos in your company name, you can often submit a verification certificate. In the meantime, if you want to make a significant change to the legal name of the company, you need to follow these steps: A company can choose to operate under other names by applying for a DBA, also known as a trade name, fictitious name, or assumed name. The filing of a CDI does not change the name of a company.

Domain names are registered by Internet Corporation for registrars approved by domain names and numbers. Because the registration process is centralized, domain names are different from trademarks and trade names, as the rightful owner of the domain name can usually prevent someone else from using it without taking legal action. However, anyone can buy the same domain name with a different top-level domain. For example, if you own the domain name myrtlesturtles.com, other people or businesses can usually buy myrtlesturtles.org or myrtlesturtles.net. A corporation is a separate legal entity from its owners with a basic operating structure consisting of shareholders, officers, directors and employees. A C Corp corporate structure protects your personal assets. Companies need a unique name and need to meet certain naming requirements, here are some common requirements: 12. If you change your legal name, remember to comply with legal requirements To illustrate the possibilities, we will look at the different possibilities of a shell company. In our example, Robert Hansen opens an apartment rental business after buying a house for this purpose.

He started as a sole proprietorship and used the name “Robert Hansen, Property Rentals” for the company. Over time, Robert acquired more properties and decided he wanted a new name for his business. The formation of a company or LLC offers protection only in the State of registration. If Robert decides to expand to another state, he may be able to register his business in the new state, if the name is not already registered there. Instead of starting a business or LLC, let`s say Robert takes Laura Deever as a partner. Your partnership may register “Sunrise Properties” as your adopted name. Or, for another example, they could combine their last names and register “Han-Dee Properties.” If the fictitious name of the company is registered with the state, you can open business bank accounts that allow for a more transparent financial process. In addition, the fictitious name must not be close to that of another company, including those in your industry. This can result in lawsuits under competition law, both at the state and federal levels.

If the lawsuit is lost, there will be significant financial damage and your business may need to be renamed. What you need to do with your LLC name depends on whether you are already in business or if you are forming a new LLC. For step-by-step instructions on common LLC naming scenarios, see: For companies or LLCs, you must have a unique name that cannot be confused with other entities. If the name is selected, it must be registered with the competent authority of the state. Typically, this is the Secretary of State. You can apply for a Doing Business As (DBA) if you decide to start your own business under a name other than your own. Also known as a “business name,” “fictitious company name,” or “assumed name,” DBA gives you more freedom over what you call your business. For example, if your name is Hannah McCarthy and you choose to work as “Hannah McCarthy,” you usually don`t need to register a database administrator. However, if you plan to work as Hannah`s Professional Services, you will need to register a DBA. If you find that the name under which your business is incorporated cannot be used in a state where it qualifies, you will generally need to adopt an acceptable fictitious name (also known as an alternative name) and do business. The fictitious name must be included in the proxy application you submit to be eligible in the state.

Registering your business name is an important step in starting a new business or rebranding an existing business. Typically, this is done as part of the process of registering businesses by your state secretary of state and may vary depending on the type of registration your business has made, such as DBA, LLC, or S corporation. Registering your business name means that your state or local government registers it so that no one else can use it. It can also make it easier for customers to find your business. Depending on the type of business structure, you may be able to add your business name to your business registration application. In other cases, you need to register it separately. Then, a quick search of the U.S. electronic trademark search system will show you if someone else has already protected your name.