Choosing a name for your company is an important first step in creating a new business. It’s a key element of your company’s branding, and it’s also something that is required by the state before you can form an LLC in Pennsylvania.
Once you’ve come up with a name that you’d like to use for your business, the next thing you’ll need to do is perform a business entity search. In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about this process to help you choose the perfect name for your Pennsylvania LLC.
There is one simple reason why a business entity search is an important part of forming an LLC in Pennsylvania: it allows you to make sure that the name you’d like to use isn’t already being used by some other business in the state.
Business names are required to be unique, and they can’t be overly similar to existing business names either. By performing a business entity search, you can search through a database of existing business names to ensure that yours is unique and not already in use.
You have a lot of freedom when it comes to choosing a name for your business, but there are a few naming guidelines that businesses in Pennsylvania are required to follow. This includes guidelines such as:
We’ve already been over this one, but it’s worth mentioning again; the business name you choose can’t be an exact match for an existing business name, and it also can’t be so similar that the two names are not easily distinguishable.
The name must include the words “Limited Liability Company,” “Limited,” “Company,” or an abbreviation of these terms such as “LLC,” “L.L.C.,” “Ltd.,” or “Co.”
You aren’t allowed to use certain words in your business name unless you obtain the required permissions/licenses. This includes prohibited terms like terms such as “Bank,” “Trust,” “Insurance,” “Corporation,” or any words implying that the business is a government entity.
Your business name should not imply that the LLC is organized for a purpose other than what is stated in its Certificate of Organization. For example, you couldn’t name a retail company “Smith’s Animal Rescue” unless the company is actually involved with rescuing animals.
Once you’ve chosen a name for your business that you like and meets the state guidelines, you’ll need to conduct a business name search to confirm that the name is unique and not already in use. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to do this:
The Pennsylvania Secretary of State provides a database that includes information on all businesses in the state, and you can access that database at this link. This tool give you numerous search options, including the option to search by:
In addition to these search options, the database also provides a couple of different filters you can use to help narrow your search. For one, you can search by exact match or partial match. If you search using the partial match filter, you’ll be able to see any businesses with names closely resembling the name you search, while searching by exact match will only display those that are completely identical. You can also filter results by active, inactive, or all statuses to see if a previously used name is now available.
The database offered by the Pennsylvania Secretary of State is straightforward and simple to use, but there are a few tips that can help the process go more smoothly. Here are three important ones:
When a company shows up in the search results, it will display pieces of helpful information about the company. This includes information like the business address, entity type, status, the business owner, and where the business was formed.
Status is an especially important thing to check if you are conducting a business name search since you are allowed to use a business name that’s already in existence if the company is no longer active.
Once you’ve found a name that’s available to use, there are several steps you can take to secure it. One good option is to go ahead and reserve your business name while you complete the rest of your business setup. In Pennsylvania, you can reserve a business name for 120 days by filing a Name Reservation form with the Department of State.
You can also consider trademarking your business name to protect it further. You can file for a trademark at the state level through the Pennsylvania Department of State or at the federal level through the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Trademarking helps ensure that your brand identity is protected across your industry and potentially nationwide.
Lastly, think about purchasing a domain name for your business. In the digital age, almost every company needs a website, and it’s helpful to have one with a domain name that matches your business name. You can use a tool like GoDaddy to confirm that the domain name is available, and, if it is, you’ll have the option to purchase it.
Conducting a business name search is an important part of forming an LLC in Pennsylvania, but it’s only the first step. At Tailor Brands, we offer LLC formation packages that include a business name search in addition to all the other services you need to get your company up and running. To learn more about forming a Pennsylvania LLC with Tailor Brands, feel free to contact us today!
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about researching business names in Pennsylvania:
Conducting a business entity search lets you confirm that the name you’d like to use is unique and distinguishable. This is important for avoiding legal issues, and it’s also important from a branding standpoint.
You can check if the name you want to use is available by conducting a business entity search using the database provided by the Pennsylvania Secretary of State.
Reserving your LLC name in Pennsylvania costs $70. This reservation is valid for 120 days, giving you time to complete your business setup.
Yes, if you plan to operate under a DBA (Doing Business As) or fictitious name, you should register it. Registering a DBA ensures that no other business in Pennsylvania can use it. It also allows you to open bank accounts and conduct business under the DBA.
Business names in Pennsylvania must be unique and distinguishable from any other business in the state, must contain the words “Limited Liability Company” or some abbreviation/variation, and cannot contain any prohibited terms.
If the name you’d like to use is already taken, you have a couple of options. You can either modify your name so that it is distinguishable. Or, if the exact name is crucial for branding, consider using a different LLC name and registering your preferred name as a DBA.
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.
Products
Resources
@2024 Copyright Tailor Brands