You must choose an available business name to start your LLC in North Carolina.
You confirm your chosen business name`s availability by searching the North Carolina Secretary of State’s search page.
But before you do, you must ensure your desired name conforms to the North Carolina State entity naming rules.
In this post, I’ll explain how to conduct a North Carolina business entity search, confirm that your name complies with state regulations, and provide tips on using the entity search tool.
In North Carolina, no two business entities can register the same name.
If you file your LLC Articles of Organization before confirming the availability of your chosen name, the state may reject your entity filing.
Your second step is to ensure that your LLC name complies with the North Carolina Secretary of State’s naming rules, which we`ll look at next.
North Carolina State has naming rules you must follow when selecting your LLC name. Failure to follow them may cause your LLC formation application to be rejected.
North Carolina business name guidelines:
For further information on North Carolina business entity restricted wording, visit the North Carolina Secretary of State Feasibility of Name page.
Searching by a business name is the most common way to use the North Carolina business entity search tool.
Like all state entity search tools, there are specific procedures for correctly using North Carolina’s name search and tips for speeding up the process.
Helpful Tips:
How to use the North Carolina business name search tool:
Start by visiting the North Carolina Secretary of State Business Search tool.
You can filter your search to show 3 results:
Using the first drop-down menu, select “Company,” and the second, select “Starting With.”
Enter your desired name and click Search.
For my example, I’ll use Carolina Cleaning Services:
The results page will display any names identical and similar to your search query.
Carolina Cleaning Services shows several results. Choose the one closest to your search term and click on the name to see more information:
The information page displays the following information about any business using your desired LLC name filed with the North Carolina State:
A fictitious name or a (Doing Business As) is a name you can use other than your LLC name.
Non-registered structures, like sole proprietorships, can also use a fictitious name if their personal name doesn’t suit their niche and target audience.
An LLC might use a fictitious name if it needs a unique and creative name for its branding and marketing strategies.
To use a fictitious name in North Carolina, you must first confirm availability using the Assumed Business Name search option in the North Carolina Secretary of State Business Search tool.
You file your assumed name certificate by downloading the ASSUMED BUSINESS NAME CERTIFICATE (NCGS §66-71.5) from the North Carolina Economic Development and Partnership website and registering it with your local Register of Deeds office.
The fee for registering a DBA in North Carolina is $26.
Pro tip:
Besides searching the North Carolina Secretary of State Business Search tool, check your county Register of Deeds office to confirm your name’s availability.
Finding an available business name is the first step when starting a business in North Carolina. Once you have one, there are other actions you can take to secure it in your state, online, and nationally.
Entrepreneurs starting a business in North Carolina can reserve their desired entity name to prevent another company from using it while they form their LLC.
To reserve a name, you must confirm its availability with the North Carolina Secretary of State.
Once you confirm your name is available, you reserve it by completing the “Application to Reserve a Business Entity Name” form, which you can submit online, by mail, or in person and pay the $30 fee.
Starting an LLC and registering its name with the Carolina Secretary of State only stops other NC entities from using it.
Trademarking your business name stops other companies from using it in the U.S.A.. Another reason you should trademark your name is to ensure it has yet to be marked by another company, which could lead to trademark infringement if you were to use it.
Visit the United States Trademark and Patent Office website to confirm your chosen name is available and register it for your business.
Most businesses need a website to establish their online brand presence, and domain registration is a crucial part of that process.
Your domain is how your prospects will find your business, so it must be the same or similar to your LLC’s registered name.
If the .com TLD isn’t available, you can use an alternative TLD like .co or .net.
Use a name-checking tool like GoDaddy to search for available domain names, or register one with us.
You can't form your North Carolina LLC using a name registered by another entity; you must do a business entity search to confirm that your desired name is available.
Use the North Carolina Secretary of State Business Search tool to confirm your name is available.
It costs $30 to reserve your LLC name for 120 days in North Carolina.
All businesses that want to use an assumed business name in North Carolina must register it with their county Register of Deeds office and pay the $26 filing fee.
North Carolina LLC name requirements:
Doing a business entity name search in North Carolina is your first step in forming your NC LLC. Once you confirm availability, you must complete your Articles of Organization and file them with the Secretary of State’s office.
Also, consider trademarking your name to secure it nationally and buying your domain to create your online branding presence and attract future customers.
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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