How to Give Your LLC a Name
Giving your LLC a name that is both unique and fairly represents your business is essential to distinguish yourself from other companies. There are a number of different requirements for LLC names, but they generally all include the letters L.L.C. or LLC behind the company’s name. A list of generally accepted identifying phrases and abbreviations are the following:
Limited Liability Company
Limited Liability Co. (Company abbreviated)
Limited
L.L.C.
LLC
Ltd. (Limited abbreviated)
All 50 states require any Limited Liability Company to name its business appropriately, which should relate to the products or services that the business offers. When it comes to branding, startups will often reserve trade names so they can operate a number of different companies under one LLC. As long as your LLC name differs enough from other businesses in your state and includes the identifier requirement for LLCs, you shouldn’t have trouble being confused with other businesses.
Read our LLC Name Guide to find naming requirements and restrictions for your state.
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5 Common Requirements for LLC Names
You should check with the state where you’re doing business for specific requirements, but there are common requirements across all 50 states.
1. The name for LLC companies should represent the type of business being formed
All US LLCs are required to state or indicate the type of business that’s being performed in their business names. Most states restrict the use of certain words, such as “insurance,” “banking,” “finance,” or other words that would lead the public to believe your business is associated with a government agency.
2. Business names must be distinguishable from other registered businesses in your state
A business name is the name of a company or organization. It is also called a “trade name”, “firm name”, or “corporate name”. A trade name may not be the same as its legal entity’s official registered name (i.e., “legal” or “registered” trade names), which is sometimes called the “doing business as” (DBA) or “assumed” name.
The most common way to distinguish your business from another registered in your state is by adding an additional word to the end of your business name that makes it unique and differentiates it from other businesses in your state.
Almost all states have online databases for LLC name checks. Use our LLC Name Requirements page (internal note: we’ll link to the LLC name page upon approval) to check available LLC names in your state.
Here are some helpful resources to build your business identity
3. LLCs are restricted from using certain words in business names
The list varies by state, but overall, LLCs are restricted from using certain words in their names, such as “Bank” or “Insurance.” This is because these words can be confusing to customers and may lead them to believe that the company is a financial organization or insurance company.
Most states also prohibit the use of words that identify municipalities or government agencies to prevent public confusion.
Learn everything about paying LLC taxes.
4. Professional LLCs (PLLCs) must submit licensing for approval
To be eligible for this type of LLC, members must be engaged in a profession, trade, or occupation that’s usually related to medicine/healthcare, law, engineering, or like industries.
All members of a professional limited liability company must submit their names and addresses to their state’s business division for approval. Once they are approved, they can apply for a PLLC and use the “PLLC” designation with their name on any documents and advertising materials.
5. LLC names must usually be written in the English language
Perhaps this seems like a strange requirement. But with so many people from other countries coming to the US to do business, it’s usually spelled out in state limited liability company legislation that English or Arabic letters and numbers must be used to form American LLC names. There are some exceptions where roman numerals and foreign characters can be used. It’s best to check directly with your state for local requirements. Our LLC Name Requirements guide has links to state naming regulations.
Create a memorable business name with a free business name generator!
Quick Summary
Choosing a distinguishable name that tells the public what kind of business you’re performing doesn’t have to be difficult. With the right information and some tools to create a unique name, you’ll have your new LLC registered in (almost) no time! If you’re registering a PLLC, you’ll need to apply for approval with your state, so it does take a little longer and requires proof of licensing.
You can check your state’s business database for available names, or we’ll check for you when you order an LLC package from MyCompanyWorks.
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