Strategically situated between New York City and Boston along the Interstate 95 corridor, Rhode Island offers entrepreneurs rare benefits. People who launch a startup in the smallest state in the union enjoy access to a highly educated workforce and graduates from the prestigious Brown University, Johnson & Wales culinary school, New England Institute of Technology, and well-accredited state colleges and universities, among others.
With a population of just under 1.1 million, Little Rhody has a robust music, theater, arts and culture scene, popular eateries, beaches, hiking, and quirky niceties such as coffee milk. There are also more than 100,000 small businesses that comprise nearly 99 percent of all companies. The first step to forming a Rhode Island LLC starts with doing a business entity search.
The importance of running a business entity search through the Rhode Island database cannot be understated. Proactive individuals who want to turn their innovative ideas or side hustle into a profitable organization must distinguish their brand from others. The State of Rhode keeps a running account of active and non-active company names.
Without checking for matching names or those that are eerily similar, your operations could be confused with another. Making matters worse, the state could revoke a name that somehow managed to slip through its naming regulations.
The bedrock of Rhode Island’s naming guidelines is that an entity’s moniker must be “distinguishable upon the record.” That means the Rhode Island Department of State will deny any request for a name that too closely resembles another in its Corporate Database. The Secretary of State’s office publishes examples of things it won’t accept. These include the following.
The RI Department of State lists a wide range of unacceptable variations. It’s also essential to note that a preliminary business entity search is not required under Rhode Island statutes. However, filing an LLC in Rhode Island that fails to pass muster could result in a significant financial setback.
Running a business entity search in the Corporate Database involves some trial and error. It’s not uncommon for many of the catchy names to be already taken. That’s why creating a list of viable options before testing the search engine can save you time, stress, and money.
With a dozen or so names in hand, type the phrase into the “Search by Entity Name” box. Then click on the pulldown option to the right, called “Search Type.” Here, you can select Begins With, Exact Match, Full Text, or Soundex. Apply all the Search Type options to ensure someone else isn’t using a similar name.
For example, running an Exact Match search for “Dels” doesn’t bring up the lengthy list of iced lemonade stores that are famous in Rhode Island. However, a Starts With such delivers more than a dozen matches. You can also run searches using filters that include the following.
Don’t hesitate to use the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code filter as well. The federal government employs 2-6 digit numbers to classify organizations by industry. It’s also important to base your search on the “Active” database and not the “Inactive” option.
Once you have settled on a business entity name, you may decide to operate the organization under a fictitious name. In Rhode Island, this is called a Doing Business AS or DBA. To conduct a DBA search, follow the same steps you took to identify an available business entity name. When it is time to officially file your Rhode Island LLC, you will need to fill out and file a Fictitious Business Name Statement for LLCs. You can file the official document through the Business Services Online Filing System or by mailing it to:
Division of Business Services
148 W. River Street
Providence, RI 02904-2615
Once you have found a name that serves your enterprise’s interests, it may be prudent to reserve it before moving forward. This can be accomplished by filling out a digital form on the Business Services Online Filing System, under Foreign or Domestic Limited Liability Company. Type in the name, address, filer’s contact info, and provide an e-signature. For a modest fee, you can reserve the name for 120 days. Keep in mind that Rhode Island does not allow name renewals.
After reserving the business entity name, consider filing for a trademark and registering a domain with the same name. Then, get to work building a logo, website and preparing your branding and marketing campaigns.
Opening a business in a state that is only 48 miles across at its widest point has significant benefits. Marketing to the entire state is far easier than larger ones. Rhode Islanders also patronize select businesses offering quality products and cost-effective services. The first step to opening an LLC in Rhode Island starts with finding and reserving the right business entity name.
Performing a business entity search in Rhode Island helps prevent filing a name that conflicts with an existing company. The RI Department of State typically denies corporate filings when names are identical or too similar. By running a thorough business entity search, you can reserve a suitable LLC name and begin launching your venture.
The RI Department of State has an online Corporate Database that can be used to identify existing business entities and DBA names. This search engine should only be used to check for “active” monikers. You will find it has a variety of filters. It’s essential to run your name using these filters to ensure another company doesn’t hold the rights.
Reserving a business entity name for an LLC costs $50 when sending in the Application for Reservation of Entity Name through the U.S. Mail. If you file the application online, the state adds a nominal processing fee.
The short answer is: Yes. Registering a Trade Name demonstrates that you plan to launch an enterprise. When you follow the Connecticut filing process, the platform will ask for wide-reaching information that defines your niche. That data may deter other similar entities from echoing your name.
The short answer is: Yes. By registering the business entity name and Doing Business As (DBA), you prevent someone else from taking it. Should another organization reserve the DBA, you would likely be required to stop using it. The cost of re-branding could prove expensive.
The State of Rhode Island disallows identical names and those that are too similar to active ones. The Secretary of State publishes a list of no-nos worth reviewing.
If the name you want has already been taken, there are several options. You could negotiate with the company or individual that holds IP rights to purchase and transfer the name. Otherwise, compile a list of suitable names and check them against the RI Corporate Database for one not being used.
If a business name is not gaining traction with consumers, sometimes decision-makers choose to switch it. This can be accomplished by securing a fictitious name, also known as a DBA, and re-branding the organization. In Rhode Island, you do not necessarily have to change the official filing.
Some states allow individuals to reserve a business entity name for 120 days and renew it for another 120 days. This is not the case in Rhode Island. Before the 120 days expire, you are tasked with filing the documents necessary to form an LLC in Rhode Island. Failing to do so risks someone else from securing the name.
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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