Before you form a limited liability company (LLC), register a trade name, or start a corporation, you’ll need to complete a business name search with the Kansas Business Entity Search tool to see if your name is unique.
In our Kansas Business Name Search guide, we’ll show you exactly how to check LLC name availability in Kansas.
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Search NowHow to Check if Your Kansas LLC Name Is Available
Checking if your desired LLC name is available involves a few key steps, such as ensuring your business name follows state requirements and performing a domain name and state search. These are the steps you need to take to determine if your business name is available in Kansas.
1. Follow LLC Naming Rules
Before you perform an LLC name search, you need to make sure your business name follows the state’s business name requirements.
Some key guidelines for Kansas LLC names include:
- Your name must include one of the following terms or abbreviations: “Limited Liability Company,” “Limited Company,” “L.L.C.,” “L.C.,” “LLC,” or “LC.”
- Your name can include the name of a member or manager of the LLC.
- Your name also can include one or more of the following words: “Company,” “Association,” “Club,” “Foundation,” “Fund,” “Institute,” “Society,” “Union,” “Syndicate,” “Limited,” and “Trust.”
- Your name must be distinguishable from any existing business in the state.
Keep an eye out for restricted words. These words, such as “FBI” or “Treasury,” are often restricted to keep your LLC from sounding like an official institution.
For more information, check out Kansas’ official state statutes.
Distinguishability
It’s important that your name be distinguishable from all other business names. In Kansas, a distinguishable name is one that’s substantively different from all other existing or reserved business names in the state.
In addition to different words or spellings, the following differences are considered sufficient to make a name distinguishable in Kansas:
- Plural forms vs. singular forms of words
- Numbers vs. words representing numbers
The following differences do NOT make a name distinguishable in Kansas:
- Business entity type suffixes
- The inclusion of “An,” “And,” “&,” “The,” “To,” or “With”
- Inclusion of “a,” if used as an article
Failure to use a distinguishable name could result in the rejection of your formation filing.
2. Perform a State LLC Name Search
One of the key steps to ensuring you’ve chosen a distinguishable business name is conducting a state LLC name search. You can check your business name availability by searching the Kansas Business Entity Search online database.
3. Check Available Domain Names
When choosing a business name you’ll need to find out whether or not a good web domain name is available. Having a URL that clearly matches your business name is important. This small step can make a big difference in how prospective customers find your business.
The best way to determine if your desired URL is available is to search for it using your preferred domain registry, such as GoDaddy.
What if my LLC name is already taken? Our free AI-powered LLC name generator will give you thousands of new ideas.
4. Reserve Your LLC Name
You may reserve your LLC name in Kansas for up to 120 days before you officially register it with the state. This prevents other businesses from registering your name until you have the opportunity to register it yourself.
You can file a name reservation online or by mail with the Kansas Secretary of State. The filing fee is $30 for online filings and $35 for mailed filings.
5. Conduct a Trademark or Service Mark Search
A trademark search is crucial for protecting your brand identity. Use the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)‘s online database to ensure your chosen business name or logo isn’t already trademarked. Remember, state-level LLC name availability doesn’t guarantee federal trademark clearance. Need expert guidance? Check out our review of the top trademark services for emerging businesses.
6. Form Your Kansas LLC
Kansas entrepreneurs can form an LLC by filing Articles of Organization with the Secretary of State. This crucial step establishes your business’s legal existence in the Sunflower State. Your Articles of Organization must include the LLC’s name and registered agent details.
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Start NowKansas LLC Name Search FAQ
How do I check if an LLC name is taken in Kansas?
You can use the Kansas Business Entity Search tool to see if your business name is available.
Should I name my LLC after myself?
While there’s no rule against naming an LLC after yourself, most experts advise against doing this.
One of the benefits of starting an LLC is the ability to choose a different name for your business, which can make it sound more professional.
To explore other naming options, use our free AI-powered LLC name generator.
What words can’t be used in a Kansas LLC name?
Business names generally can’t include words that imply the company is a banking or financial institution or that it’s affiliated with a local, state, or federal government agency.
Should I use an LLC name generator?
If you’re having trouble choosing a name for your LLC, an LLC name generator can help you come up with some ideas.
What is a brand name?
A brand name is a name a company gives to a product or line of products. It can be the same as the company’s name or something different.
Learn more about branding with your business entity name with our How to Name Your LLC guide.
Do I have to include LLC in my name?
Yes. Kansas requires that its LLCs use “Limited Liability Company” or one of its abbreviations (e.g., “LLC” or “L.L.C.”) in their legal name.
Do I need to renew my business name in Kansas?
Kansas doesn’t require LLCs to renew their name.
Can my business name be different from my LLC name in Kansas?
Some companies choose to operate under a name that’s different from their legal name. This is often called a “doing business as” (DBA) name.
Kansas doesn’t have DBA name filings.
Does my LLC need a DBA name?
Kansas doesn’t have DBA name filings.