HOW TO RESERVE A COMPANY NAME ONLINE

You Reserve a Company Name with the state agency responsible for maintaining records of Business Entities - Corporations and LLCs - in that state.  This agency is usually the Secretary of State but may be another state agency.

We can Reserve a Company Name for you in the quickest way possible.  Click on your state in the list below for more information for a specific state.  Once you place your Company Name Reservation order with us, we will get your Reservation Confirmation to you as soon as possible.

Over the years we've reserved thousands of Company Names in all states.  We know what to do and how to do it.

Click on any State in the list below to Reserve a Company Name for that State

Each state has specific laws which deal with Company Name Reservations.  There are some common requirements.  You need to use a Company Name which is not the same or too similar to the Business Name of any other entity operating in the state.  The Secretary of State will not approve a Company Name which is so similar to another Company Name (Corporation or LLC) as to be likely to be mistaken for it.

The Company Name which you choose must be distinguishable from the name of any other registered Business entity in the same state and the new Company Name must also be different from any reserved Company Names on record with the Secretary of State. 

Your new Company Name must not imply that it was formed for a purpose other than that stated in your formation documents and your Company Name must not be a Name that is likely to mislead the public.

If you are planning on starting Corporation then your name must include the words "Incorporated", "Corporation", "Inc." or "Corp.".  If you are planning on starting LLC then your name must include the words "LLC" or "Limited Liability Company".

Here are some general guidelines to keep in mind when you come up with your Company Name:

• Your Company Name must include only English letters and numbers or Roman numerals.
• Punctuation DOES NOT make a Company Names distinguishable from each other.
  For example, "A.B.C., Inc." is not distinguishable from "ABC, Inc."
• Plural forms of the same word DO NOT make Company Names distinguishable from each other.
• A suffix added to a word or any other deviation from or derivative of the same word DOES NOT make Company Names distinguishable from each other.
• Company Names are NOT DISTINGUISHABLE if the only difference is the abbreviation of a word in the name.  For example, "CA Auto Store, Inc." is not distinguishable from "California Auto Store, Inc."
• Company Names are NOT DISTINGUISHABLE if the only difference is a phonetic spelling of the same word.  For example, "Boyz, Inc." is not distinguishable from "Boys, Inc."

It's important to choose a good name for your new Business because if you want to change it after you form your new Company you will have to file amended formation documents with the Secretary of State - and pay a fee.

Each state has different requirements and fees.

Click on your state in the list above for more information, including pricing and timing, for a specific state.

The time it takes to receive confirmation that a Company Name has been Reserved varies from state to state.  Confirmation from some states takes a couple of days, other states take a few weeks to complete the processing of a new Company Name reservation.  Some states offer expedited processing options.

Click on your state in the list above for more information, including pricing and timing, for a specific state.

The valid period for a Company Name Reservation varies widely from state to state.  In most states a Company Name Reservation is valid for 120 days.  In other states the vaild time of a Company Name Reservation varies from 30 days (Georgia) to one year (Alabama).

Click on your state in the list above for more information, including the valid time period, for a specific state. When you Reserve a Company Name you do just that.  You Reserve a Name.  You do not Register a new Company.  In order to Register a new Company with the Secretary of State you need to submit Articles of Incorporation for a new Corporation or Articles of Organization for a new LLC.