How to Search Available Company Names

One element of starting a new business is establishing a company name that indicates what kind of business your company conducts. Each state will allow only one company with a specific name at a time. You may search available company names in your state by utilizing your state's Secretary of State business name availability tool.

Instructions

1. Visit the website of your state's Secretary of State office (see Resources).

2. Click on the link for the Business Filings section.

3. Locate the link for a name availability search with your state's Business Filings Division. Click on this link.

4. Type the first name on which you want to search availability into the form field labeled "Business Name." Click Submit. The exact method of searching availability varies from state to state.

5. View the list of companies that have the name you are searching on the results page. Look at the status of those companies. If they are listed as "Active" business names, they are not available.

6. Repeat Steps 4 and 5 until you have searched for all the company names on which you want to check availability.

References

• Entrepreneur: How to Name Your Business
• Ohio Secretary of State: Name Availability Guide

Resources

• Coordinated Legal Technologies: Secretaries of State