Business Name Checkup
See whether a name is free in your state's business records, and follows its naming rules, before you form your LLC or corporation.
How it works
Know your name is free before you file
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1
Enter the name
The name you want, the state you'll register in, and whether it's an LLC or a corporation.
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2
See what the state sees
Whether it's already on file in the state's records, and whether it follows the state's naming rules, like ending in "LLC".
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3
Form it, or find another
Free: go on to form your business. Taken: see names that look free, or get ideas from the Business Name Generator.
The Secretary of State makes the final decision when you file.
Questions
Before you check
What does a check cost?
Each check uses 10 credits, with an account. New accounts start with free credits, Pro adds credits every month, and you can buy credits without a subscription.
If the name is free, is it mine?
Not yet. It shows what the state's records and naming rules say today. The name is yours to use once the state accepts your filing, and the Secretary of State makes the final decision.
Does it check trademarks?
No. It checks the state's business records. A name can be free with the state and still be someone's trademark, so search the US Patent and Trademark Office's records too.
Which states can I check?
Every US state and Washington, DC, for an LLC or a corporation.
Start free
Describe your business and see your site before you sign up. Your first site is free, with 20 credits to change it by chat.