Corporate Name Check

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Reserve your business name - choose a name for your company that sets it apart.

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The success of your business depends to some degree on your ability to set yourself apart from the competition. A good first step is choosing the right business name.

Even if you're not ready to form a corporation or LLC, incorporate.com can reserve your business name in the state where you intend to form your company. Simply tell us what name you want to reserve and we'll conduct a search of the state records to make sure it's available. If it is, we will reserve your name of choice and hold it for you as long as state rules allow, preventing other companies from registering their businesses under the same name.

Be sure to choose your company name carefully. The name should be descriptive of your business activities, and it must be unique - it can't be confused with that of any other corporation, limited liability company (LLC) or partnership in your intended state of formation.

Keep in mind that:

  • State laws vary widely when it comes to business name reservations. Our Business Specialists can give you more details about the process and how to successfully reserve your name.
  • Reserving a name does not create a legal business structure. For that, you'll need to incorporate or form an LLC.
  • Even if the state approves your name reservation, there's no guarantee that it will accept the name when you decide to incorporate under that name.

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Get more details about reserving your company name in our Frequently Asked Questions section.

Name Reservation FAQs

What is a name reservation?

A name reservation is a filing with the Secretary of State (or equivalent) office to hold a corporate name for a set period of time (that varies by state). incorporate.com can assist you in reserving a corporate name. In addition, we can do a preliminary name search before reserving a name or incorporating your business.

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How long will my business name remain reserved?

The length of time varies from state to state, but in general it can be reserved for up to 120 days by applying with the appropriate state and paying the necessary filing fee.

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Are there guidelines for naming my business?

Yes, your business name must be distinguishable from already existing corporate names. Remember to choose a name that portrays a positive image of your company and is easy to associate with your line of business.

Each state has its own guidelines, but most states require corporate indicators following the name of the business, such as "Corporation," "Incorporated," or an abbreviation such as "Inc." or "Corp," "Limited Liability Company" or "LLC," "Limited Partnership" or "LP" or "Limited Liability Partnership" or "LLP."

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Reserve Your
Business Name

$75

plus state fees


Call 800.818.6082
to place your order