How To Check if a Business Name is Taken

Your business name is your company’s first impression on potential customers and should accurately reflect your brand. Choosing a name for your business is one of the most significant steps in starting your company. 

Once you’ve decided on a name, the first thing to do is make sure it’s not already taken. Doing this involves several steps, and this guide walks you through the process.

How to Choose a Business Name

The name of your business is how people identify it, so it helps to keep it simple and memorable. You’ll want to pick a name that sums up your products, services, and mission as concisely as possible. 

A simple, catchy name also makes it easy for your customers to refer your products and services to others. In general, names that are easy to say and spell are better than more complicated names.

Your business name should be relevant to your product or service offerings. It should also include relevant keywords to help boost SEO. For example, using the word “fashion” when naming a clothing company. 

If you have plans to expand, consider using a name that can grow with you. For example, if you’re starting a t-shirt business but have plans to offer more items, a name like “Star Apparel” is better than “Star Tees”.

If you’re stumped, it never hurts to check in with family and friends for good ideas. You could also ask former colleagues and poll potential customers on social media.

Confirm the Name’s Availability

In order to proceed with the formal registration of your business name, follow these steps before making it official:

Step 1: Performing a business name search in your state

After selecting your business name, the next step is to perform a business name search in your state. This allows you to make sure the name hasn’t already been taken by another business. It’s important not to skip this step because if you register a name that is already registered, your application will be rejected and you’ll need to start the process all over again.

Step 2: Confirm name availability

You’ll need to confirm the name’s availability before you form an LLC or corporation or file to register a “doing business as” (DBA) name. If you have a sole proprietorship, your business name must be your personal name, unless you decide to register a DBA name.

Step 3: Check domain availability

It’s also critical to do a thorough domain name search on a site like GoDaddy to make sure your preferred business name is available for your website. Using “.com” or “.org” sharply increases credibility, so it’s best to focus on these. A domain name search will also tell you if another business is using your name in a different state. If you plan to expand your business someday, you’ll need to register your name in multiple states in order to protect it.

Step 4: Check for trademarks

Next, you’ll need to make sure the name is not trademarked. Check with the US Patent and Trademark Office to make sure the name is available nationally.

Step 5: International web search

Lastly, it’s helpful to do an international web search to confirm that no company outside the United States is using your name or something similar. If you discover that a foreign company with the same name is large and established, it might be worth going with a different name to cut down on any confusion.