Nevada Business Name Search

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 Nevada Business Search tool to see if your name is unique.

In our Nevada Business Name Search guide, we’ll show you exactly how to check LLC name availability in Nevada.

How to Check if Your Nevada 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 Nevada. 

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 Nevada LLC names include:

• Your name must include the words “Limited-Liability Company,” “Limited Liability Company,” “Limited Company,” or “Limited” or the abbreviations “Ltd.,” “L.L.C.,” “L.C.,” “LLC” or “LC.” The word “Company” may be abbreviated as “Co.”
• Your name must be distinguishable from any existing business in the state. This includes Nevada reserved names.

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.

Nevada also requires LLCs to get approval to use certain words:

• You need approval from the Nevada State Board of Accountancy to use the following words: “accountant,” “accountancy,” “accounting,” “auditor,” “auditing,” “certified public accountant,” and “CPA.”
• You need approval from the commissioner of the Nevada Financial Institutions Division to use the following words: “bank,” “banc,” “banque,” “savings & loan,” “banker,” “bancard,” “banq,” “thrift,” “banking,” “banco,” “bancor,” “trustee,” “interbanking,” “bancorp,” “credit union,” “debt collection,” “collection agency,” or “trust.” 
• You need approval from the commissioner of the Nevada Division of Insurance to use the following words: “adjuster,” “indemnity,” “reinsurance,” “underwriter,” “annuity,” “insurance,” “risk retention group,” “underwriting,” “casualty,” “life & accident,” “surety,” “bail,” “bail bonds,” “fugitive recovery,” “bail bondsman/men,” “bounty hunter,” and “bale.” 
• You need approval from the state commissioner of the Division of Mortgage Lending to use the following words: “financial,” “mortgage,” or “mortgage banking.”
• You need approval from the Nevada Board of Professional Engineers & Land Surveyors to use the following words: “engineer,” “engineered,” “engineering,” “professional engineer,” “registered engineer,” and “licensed engineer.” 
• You need approval from the Nevada State Board of Architecture, Interior Design and Residential Design to use the following words: “architect,” “architecture,” “registered architect,” “licensed architect,” “registered interior designer,” “registered interior design,” “residential designer,” “registered residential designer,” “licensed residential designer,” and “residential design.”
• You need approval from the administrator of the Real Estate Division of the state’s Department of Business and Industry to use the words: “common-interest community,” “community association,” “master association,” “unit-owners’ association,” and “homeowners’ association.” 
• You need approval from the ombudsman of the state’s Real Estate Division to include the following words: “common-interest community,” “community association,” “hoa,” “home owners association,” “master association,” “unit-owners association,” and “property owners.”
• You also need approval from the state of Nevada to use the following words: “college,” “university,” and “higher education.”

For more information, check out Nevada’s official state statutes.

Distinguishability

It’s important that your name be distinguishable from all other business names. In Nevada, a distinguishable name is one that’s substantively different from all other existing or reserved business names in the state. Distinctive lettering or a distinctive mark don’t make a name distinguishable.

Failure to use a distinguishable name could result in the rejection of your formation filing.

2. Search for LLC Names

The first name search you will need to complete is on the state level. By doing so, you ensure there’s not an existing business already using your chosen name. You can check your business name availability by searching the Nevada Business 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 Nevada for up to 90 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 via hard copy with the Nevada Secretary of State. The filing fee is $25.

5. Conduct a Trademark or Service Mark Search

A trademark search is crucial for establishing a strong brand identity. Use the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)‘s online database to check for existing trademarks that might conflict with your chosen business name or logo. Remember that state-level LLC name clearance doesn’t guarantee federal trademark availability. Need expert guidance? Check out our review of the top trademark services for startups.

6. Form Your Nevada LLC 

Once you complete your LLC name search, you’ll need to register your business with the state. Nevada entrepreneurs can form an LLC by filing Articles of Organization with the Secretary of State. This crucial step establishes your business’s legal presence in the Silver State. 

Your Articles of Organization must include the LLC’s name, registered agent details, management structure, and dissolution date (if applicable). Nevada also requires you to list the name and address of each manager or managing member, providing transparency in the company’s leadership.

Nevada LLC Name Search FAQ

Nevada Business Resources