Are you thinking about starting a limited liability corporation (LLC) business in Utah?
If so, one of the most important early steps to take is to choose your business name. To do so in Utah, you’ll want to complete an online business entity search.
Using an online database, you can scan to make sure the name you want is available and ready for you to use for your Utah LLC.
A business entity search is essential when you want to do business in Utah. The state requires that each business entity, whether it’s an LLC or some other type, have a unique name that is not in use by another business.
A business entity is the legal structure under which you operate. Many businesses in Utah and elsewhere choose the LLC structure for good reason. With an LLC, your business benefits from pass-through tax rules, flexibility in how the business operates, and excellent liability protection.
With an LLC in place, you’re ready to launch and grow your business quickly. By starting with a business entity search, you’ll be in compliance with state regulations and have a name that best represents what your company does.
Each state has strict guidelines that govern the business name a business can use and Utah is no exception.
When thinking about Utah’s naming guidelines, it’s best to think about them in three areas – requirements, distinguishability and restrictions.
For an LLC, the state requires that your business name contain one of the following:
In addition, an LLC name cannot contain the words association, corporation, incorporated, limited partnership or L.P.
The concept of whether your business name is distinguishable has several components. The state’s Division of Corporations and Commercial Code will ultimately determine whether a name is distinguishable based on the following criteria:
In addition, the following items do not make a business name distinguishable:
1. The presence, absence or differences between the following words or abbreviations of them when used at the end of a sentence:
2. The presence or absence of words or symbols of these words:
3. Differences in punctuation
4. Differences in the use of special characters
5. Differences in capitalization
6. Differences in singular and plural uses of words
7. Differences in whether words or numbers are joined or a space separates them
8. Differences in abbreviations
Business names also cannot suggest that the business is a state agency or any of its political subdivisions without authorization to register the name. It cannot suggest that the entity is conducting business in a manner otherwise stated in its articles of incorporation.
Other roles include that the name must be in English or translated into English and that only nonprofit agricultural cooperatives can use the word “cooperative” in their names.
Utah also restricts use of names or related words without written consent from the appropriate agency for the following:
Ready to conduct your search? Here’s how to complete a search.
Start by clicking on the Utah business entity search page.
The search lets you look for a specific business name. Note: It makes sense to start with a shorter, simpler name and see what already exists. Later, as you narrow down your choices, you can look for more specific names in the search field.
You can search for full names, beginnings of names, or, if looking for an exact phrase, putting quotation marks around the words.
In addition to searching by name, you can also search by:
Once you’ve searched on a name, you may get hits that the name is already taken. It can be helpful to look at one of those business entity records, which contains the information that Utah will capture and display for your business once it’s registered.
The listing contains the following information on the business:
There is no fee to conduct a business entity search in Utah.
In Utah, you can also file a DBA (doing business as) name. This name will be different than your legal business entity name and can be used for public-facing purposes such as your signage, advertising, business listings online and business cards.
Now that you’ve identified a potential legal name for your business, you can consider taking the following steps.
Choosing the right name for your Utah LLC is an exciting exercise. By using the online search functionality provided by the state, you can be sure to find a name that’s not already in use.
Once you’ve got your name, it’s important to file an application with the state quickly. This ensures that the name you selected will be protected and filed in the online database.
With a name secured, you can quickly launch and grow your business.
A business entity search helps you select a name that is not already in use in Utah and determine if it’s in keeping with Utah naming guidelines.
Use the online business entity search tool to determine if your desired name is available.
Filing an Application for Reservation of Business Name in Utah costs $22. Other costs associated with filing your Utah LLC can be found here.
Utah allows you to enter both your business entity name and DBA name. It’s a smart move to ensure others do not use your DBA.
The Utah LLC naming guidelines stipulate the restrictions and distinctions that are allowed for your entity name.
If your desired name is already taken, do not despair. Simply search for a similar name and be sure it aligns with the state’s naming guidelines.
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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