Choosing a name for your new business is a decision that will have a big impact on your branding and marketing. However, even if you’ve found the perfect name, naming a business isn’t quite as simple as just declaring what you want to call it.
Before you start an LLC in Alabama, you first need to make sure that the name is available and meets the right requirements. To help guide you through this process, here is everything you need to know about conducting a business name search in Alabama and choosing a name for your LLC.
The name you choose for your business needs to be unique and distinguishable from any other business in the state. Not only is this important for branding purposes, but it’s actually a legal requirement when naming an LLC in Alabama.
By conducting a business entity search of the name you are considering, you can check whether any other Alabama businesses are already using it. You can also check for variations or similar names as well to make sure there aren’t any that too closely resemble the name you’ve chosen.
There are only a few guidelines you need to follow when naming an LLC in Alamaba, but they are all important. To register your LLC with the state, its name will need to meet the following criteria:
Once you’ve come up with a name you would like to use for your Alabama LLC, the next thing you need to do is conduct a business name search to confirm that it’s available. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to do this:
The Alabama Secretary of State provides a business name database that can be found at this link. This database includes comprehensive information on all businesses in the state, and it also offers several search options you can use, including:
Along with these search options, the Alabama business name database also lets you filter your searches based on things like type of business, business status, and place of formation.
To make the most of the Alabama business name database and ensure you are able to find any businesses that might be using names similar to yours, here are a few important tips to follow:
If a business shows up in the search results that you would like to learn more about, you can access a lot of helpful information by simply clicking on the business name or entity ID. This will allow you to check things like the business’s status, its formation date, the nature of the business, and more.
Once you’ve chosen a name you’d like to use for your Alabama LLC and confirmed that it’s available, there are a few different steps you can take to secure it. The first option is to reserve your business name while you complete the rest of the business setup process. In Alabama, you can reserve a business name for 1 year by filing a Name Reservation form with the Secretary of State.
You may also want to consider trademarking your business name for additional protection. You can file for a trademark at the state level through the Alabama Secretary of State or at the federal level through the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Trademarking helps protect your brand identity both within your industry and potentially nationwide.
Lastly, think about going ahead and purchasing a domain name for your business. If you plan to create a website for the business now or in the future, purchasing the domain name you’d like to use ahead of time is always a good idea.
Performing a business entity search allows you to confirm that the name you want to use is unique and distinguishable from any other Alabama business name.
You can check if the LLC name you want is available in Alabama by using the Business Entity Search tool on the Alabama Secretary of State's website.
In Alabama, it costs $28 to reserve an LLC name.
Yes, if you have a DBA, you should register it as well in order to comply with state regulations and protect your business identity.
Alabama requires that the name of an LLC has to be distinguishable from any other business in the state, and the name must also include the words "Limited Liability Company" or the abbreviation "LLC".
What should you do if the LLC name you want is already taken?
If the LLC name you want is already taken, you should brainstorm alternative names or variations and check their availability.
Naming your LLC (and conducting a business entity search to confirm that the name is available) is a key first step to getting your business up and running. If you would like help with this process and all of the other steps required to form an LLC in Alabama, be sure to check out Tailor Brands’ LLC formation packages. Or, to learn more about how Tailor Brands can help you form your Alabama LLC, feel free to contact us today!
This portion of our website is for informational purposes only. Tailor Brands is not a law firm, and none of the information on this website constitutes or is intended to convey legal advice. All statements, opinions, recommendations, and conclusions are solely the expression of the author and provided on an as-is basis. Accordingly, Tailor Brands is not responsible for the information and/or its accuracy or completeness. It also does not indicate any affiliation between Tailor Brands and any other brands, services or logos.
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