How to Do a Business Entity Search in Washington and Choose a Name for Your LLC

A thorough business entity search is crucial in forming your Washington LLC and creating your brand identity. 

Besides choosing a business name, you should check whether it’s available as a domain so your future customers recognize you online. 

You should also check that your desired name is available as a trademark to avoid infringement.

Once you do those, you’ll own your brand identity everywhere you need it.

But before using the Washington business entity search tool to confirm your name’s availability, familiarize yourself with the state’s guidelines and trademark laws to ensure your application is accepted.

Why Do You Need to Do a Business Entity Search When Starting an LLC?

The Evergreen State has naming guidelines you must follow when applying to register your LLC name, either by reserving it or when you file your LLC Articles of Organization.   

Washington naming requirements:

Conducting a Business Name Search in Washington - Step-by-Step Guide With Tips

You conduct a business name search using the Washington SOS website, which records all registered business filings in the Evergreen State.  

While the business name search website is easy to navigate, there are tips for conducting a thorough search. 

Those include:

Search options

Washington State’s corporation website has two entity search options:

Using the basic search option, the entity search page has 4 categories:

Using this link, navigate to the Corporation Search page, select contains, enter your desired name, and click search.

For our example, I will use the name Speedy Locksmiths:

Corporation Search page

Reviewing the results

The results page will display any names matching or similar to your research query.

The results page will display any names matching or similar to your research query.

Select the one closest to your desired name and click on it for additional information.

Additional information

Here, you will see your chosen name’s business information, including:

Using the advanced search, you can also view the details of the business’s registered agents and request further information. 

However, if your desired name appears in the search results and is active, then it isn’t available, and you will need to choose a different name. 

Fictitious name/DBA/assumed name

All separate entities (LLCs, Corporations, and Limited partnerships) can use a fictitious name (Doing Business As) instead of their registered name for branding and marketing purposes.  

To register a fictitious name in Washington, you must first confirm it’s available using the Washington Department of Revenue’s Business entity website and search using the fictitious name option. 

Once you confirm availability, you file your DBA by completing the Business License Application online.

You can also mail the completed form to:

What Can You Do Once You Have an Available Name?

Once you’ve confirmed your LLC name’s availability, you can take further steps to secure it in Washington State, nationally, and online.

Consider name reservation

Suppose you need more time to be ready to file your LLC Articles of Organization but want to secure your chosen LLC name.

You can reserve your LLC name in Washington by filing a Name Reservation form with the Secretary of State, completing the name reservation form, and paying the $30 fee. 

Consider trademarking your name

You can also trademark your name to stop other businesses from using it in Washington and nationwide.

Search the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) database search tool to confirm that your name is available and that no other business has already marked it. If they have, you can’t use it without risking trademark infringement. 

Consider domain registration

Lastly, perform a domain search to see if your chosen name is available for your website and online branding and marketing strategies. 

Search for domains using a domain check and registration website like GoDaddy. If the .com extension isn’t available, consider using .co, .net, or .io, which are almost as popular as .com.

Conclusion

Now that you know how to do a business entity search in Washington, you can take the first step toward starting your Evergreen State LLC.

If you find your desired name isn’t available, don’t worry—there are many ways to come up with a great business name, especially one that works brilliantly as a domain!

If filing your Articles of Organization, hiring a registered agent, registering a trademark, and buying a domain sound like hard work, check out an LLC formation service, which can do all those for you.   

FAQ

You must do a business entity search to confirm that another legal entity has yet to register your desired LLC name in Washington State. 

To check the availability of your chosen LLC name, run a name search using the Washington SOS website entity search tool. 

Reserving a business name in Washington State costs $30 for business entities and $20 for nonprofit entities. 

All businesses that want to use a DBA in the Evergreen State must complete the online Business License Application form and register it with the Secretary of State Department. 

New York State naming requirements include:

  • Distinctive: Your business name must be unlike any LLCs, limited partnerships, or corporations on the New York Department of State’s file. 

  • Certain inclusions: Your LLC name must contain the words “Limited Liability Company” or the approved abbreviations “L.L.C” or “LLC.”

  • Prohibited words/phrases: You cannot include certain words or phrases in your LLC name, including government departments, financial or medical institutions, or offensive terms.