Free LLC name search

How LLC name availability actually works

Every state keeps a public registry of the business entities formed or registered there, and every state applies the same core standard: a new LLC's name must be distinguishable upon the record from the names already in that registry. "Distinguishable" is narrower than it sounds. States compare names after ignoring punctuation, spacing, capitalization, and the entity designator — so "Blue Harbor, L.L.C." is not distinguishable from "Blue Harbor LLC", and in most states swapping "and" for "&" or making a word plural doesn't get you there either. What makes a name distinguishable is a genuinely different word, not a different costume on the same one.

Availability is also state-by-state. The registry in Wyoming doesn't know or care what's registered in Florida. That's why the same name can be free in one state and taken in another — and why you search the registry of the state where you're actually forming.

The three rules every state applies

• Distinguishable on the record. The core conflict test above, run against active entities (and usually reserved names) in that state's registry.
• A required designator. An LLC's name must contain "LLC," "L.L.C.," "Limited Liability Company," or a state-approved variant — and it can't borrow another entity's designator. A name ending in "Inc." or "Corp." will be rejected for an LLC.
• Restricted words. Words that imply a regulated business — bank, trust, insurance, university, and similar — typically need approval from the relevant regulator before the state will accept the name. Words implying a government affiliation are generally barred outright.

What a preliminary search can — and can't — promise

A search like the one above is a screen, not a verdict. It can catch the obvious problems early: an exact or near match already on the registry, a missing or wrong designator, a restricted word that will need sign-off. That saves you the most common rejection reasons before you spend a filing fee.

What no search can promise is approval. The state examiner makes the final distinguishability call when your filing lands, registries update continuously (someone can take the name between your search and your filing), and some conflicts — like names reserved but not yet visible, or trademark claims — live outside the entity registry entirely. Treat a clean search as "no known obstacles," never as a guarantee. That's also how we treat it: when FilingDesk files your LLC, a specialist re-verifies the name against the state registry before the filing goes out, and if there's a conflict we work out an alternative with you rather than burning your filing fee.

Searching in Wyoming, Florida, and Delaware

These are the three states FilingDesk files in today, and each runs its own official search: Wyoming's Secretary of State business search, Florida's Sunbiz, and Delaware's ICIS entity search. The checker above gives you a fast first answer by applying each state's name rules; the result links to the official registry so you can confirm the record yourself. If you're deciding where to form, our state guides cover costs and trade-offs — and the LLC cost calculator puts year-1 and year-2 totals side by side.

Frequently asked questions

How do I check if an LLC name is taken?

Search the business-entity registry of the state where you're forming — every Secretary of State runs a free public search. For Wyoming, Florida, and Delaware, the tool above applies each state's name rules and links you to the official registry to confirm; for other states, search "[your state] Secretary of State business search" to find the official database. A name is generally unavailable if an active entity already uses it or something confusingly similar.

Is an LLC name search free?

Yes. Every state's official business-entity search is free to use, and so is the checker on this page. What costs money is reserving a name (typically $10–50 in states that offer reservations) or actually filing the LLC, which locks the name in.

What makes an LLC name "distinguishable" from another?

States compare names after stripping punctuation, spacing, and entity designators like "LLC" or "Inc." Small cosmetic changes — "Summit-Peak LLC" vs "Summit Peak L.L.C." — usually do not make a name distinguishable. You generally need a genuinely different word, not a different spelling of the same one, though the exact standard varies by state.

Does searching a name reserve it?

No. A search only tells you what's on the record at that moment — someone else can file the name an hour later. If you're not ready to form yet, most states let you reserve a name for a fee (120 days in Wyoming and Delaware, for example). Filing the LLC itself is what actually secures the name.

Does an available LLC name mean I can trademark it?

No — state name availability and trademark rights are completely separate systems. A state only checks its own entity registry; it does not check federal trademarks. A name can be free to register in Wyoming and still infringe someone's USPTO trademark. If the brand matters, run a separate search at uspto.gov before you commit.

This tool and guide are general information, not legal or tax advice. Name availability is determined solely by the state at the time of filing. FilingDesk is not a law firm — talk to a professional about your specific situation.