Naming your business may be easier said than done. When considering what to name the business, keep in mind that it should be short, easy to remember, and related to what your business does.
The process of naming a business involves various steps depending upon the entity type, some of which require approval from local and state authorities. MaxFilings, the online incorporation service , assists entrepreneurs with this process.
Below is a brief summary of business name requirements for the various business entities:
Sole Proprietorships and Limited Partnerships
No formal process required. Each is considered to operate under the name of the owner or partners. If the business will operate under another name, a fictitious name or a “doing business as” (DBA) affidavit is required in most jurisdictions. This informs local government and the public that the business is operating under an assumed name and indicates who the owner(s) are.
Limited Liability Companies and Corporations
These entities require a more formal process. The name is established when articles of organization are filed with the secretary of state. If the name is already in use, the articles will be rejected. However, calling the secretary of state’s office beforehand or using an online incorporation service such as MaxFilings can prevent such a delay.
Similar rules exist for both LLC’s and corporations. The name for a LLC is required to include “Limited Liability Company”, “LLC”, or some phrase indicating the business is an LLC. Terms such as “Corporation”, “Incorporated”, “Corp.”, “Inc.” or some phrase to indicate the business is a corporation. State statutes identify which terms can be used.