You’ve decided to start your own business in Massachusetts and want to set it up as a limited liability company (LLC). One of the first steps is choosing the perfect name for your new company. But before you can officially use a name, you need to make sure it’s available by conducting a business entity search in Massachusetts.
Choosing the right business name and verifying it’s available is a crucial part of starting an LLC in Massachusetts. This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about business entity searches, naming guidelines, reserving your chosen name, and next steps to protect your business identity in Massachusetts.
A business entity search allows you to check whether a potential company name is already taken in the state of Massachusetts. This is extremely important because the name you choose for your LLC needs to be distinguishable from other businesses registered and operating in the state.
If the desired name is too similar to an existing company’s name, your LLC registration could be rejected by the state. But conducting a thorough search ahead of time avoids this issue and ensures the name you have your heart set on for your new business is truly available to be claimed.
Running a search in the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s business database also lets you view important information on other registered businesses, like company status, registered agent name and address, formation date, business ID number, and more.
Having access to search the database and review names that are already taken gives you the information you need to brainstorm and select a creative, unique name that will represent your brand and not conflict with existing entities.fgv
Massachusetts has specific rules and policies around what you can and cannot legally name your LLC. Some of the key naming guidelines imposed by the state include:
For full details on all naming requirements, refer to the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth’s website or contact their Corporation Division for assistance.
The easiest and quickest way to perform a business name search in Massachusetts to check availability is by using the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s free online business entity database.
Here is a step-by-step guide to searching business names and reviewing results:
1. Go to the business entity search page on the Secretary’s website.
2. Under “Search Criteria”, select the “Business Entity Summary” option. This will search all entities on record.
3. In the “Entity Name” search field, enter the full legal name you want to use for your LLC. You can also enter partial names if you are just researching name ideas.
4. Optional – Use the filters for business entity type, status, and formation date to narrow your search results if desired. This can help isolate active LLC entities.
5. Click the “Search” button to run the business entity search.
6. Carefully review the full list of search results. Pay attention to any names that appear identical or very similar to the name you entered.
7. If your desired name appears too close to another registered entity’s name, consider modifying your name or brainstorming alternative naming options.
8. Repeat searches for any other potential names you are considering to fully verify availability.
Helpful tips for conducting searches:
Once your thorough business entity searches confirm that your desired LLC name is fully available in Massachusetts, here are some important next steps to consider:
You can file paperwork and pay a $30 fee to the Secretary of the Commonwealth to officially reserve your chosen business name for up to 1 year. This temporarily protects the name while you complete the rest of the LLC formation process.
After reserving the name, it’s highly recommended you apply for a federal trademark through the USPTO. This provides nationwide legal protection for your unique LLC name across state lines. The trademark process takes several months and has filing fees starting around $250.
Buy the .com domain and any other relevant extensions like .net, .org, .biz etc. to establish and strengthen your business name identity online. Add email and basic website pages.
The final step is filing your Articles of Organization and paying the $500 formation fee to the Secretary of State to formally create your LLC.
Choosing the perfect LLC name and verifying it’s available through a comprehensive business entity search are critical first steps when forming your new company in Massachusetts. Leverage the state’s free online business search tool to look for your desired name as well as any close variations that could cause conflict.
If your name is already taken, get creative with alternatives until you find something unique that still aligns with your brand. Reserve your name after confirming it’s available, then pursue further protection through trademarks and domain registration. With the right distinctive name secured, you’ll be ready to complete LLC registration and launch your business in Massachusetts.
Mainly to verify that your desired LLC name is fully available and distinguishable from other registered businesses in Massachusetts before filing. This avoids rejection of your company registration.
The easiest method is through the free online business entity search tool provided by the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s website. This allows you to search by name and review results.
It costs $30 to file paperwork with the Secretary of the Commonwealth to officially reserve your chosen business name for a 1 year period.
Yes, you should still conduct a separate business entity search for any DBA names you plan to utilize to ensure availability. DBAs hold no legal protection.
Names must be distinguishable, cannot include most restricted words without state approval, must end in an LLC designation, and can use certain special characters.
If your first choice LLC name is unavailable, consider small creative modifications like adding your location or business type to the name. Or you may need to brainstorm completely new names to find something distinct.
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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