New York LLC 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 New York Corporation and Business Entity Database tool to see if your name is unique.

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

How to Check if Your New York LLC Name Is Available

Completing an LLC name search is an important step toward establishing your business in New York. This process ensures your business name is available and may help you avoid legal complications down the road. We’ve outlined the key steps you need to follow to complete the searches necessary to protect your business below. 

1. Follow LLC Naming Rules

Before you begin your LLC name search, you need to first ensure your chosen name meets state naming requirements. Even if your business name is available in New York, you won’t be able to form your LLC in the state if its name doesn’t meet these standards.

Some key guidelines for New York LLC names include:

• Your name must include the phrase “limited liability company” or one of its abbreviations (e.g., “LLC” or “L.L.C.”).
• Your name must be distinguishable from any existing business in the state. This includes New York reserved names.
• Your name can’t include words restricted by the state, such as “FBI” or “Treasury,” that may confuse your business with an official institution.

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

Distinguishability

Your name must be distinguishable from all other business names. In New York, a distinguishable name is substantively different from all other existing or reserved business names in the state.

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

2. Conduct a New York Business Entity Search

The first search you need to complete is a New York business entity search. This will help to verify whether or not there are existing businesses already using your chosen business name.

This search is free and can be completed using the New York City Doing Business Search tool for NYC-based businesses or through the New York Department of State’s website. 

3. Check Available Domain Names

When choosing a business name, you’ll need to find out whether or not a good web domain name also 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. Conduct a Trademark or Service Mark Search

A trademark search lets you check if another New York entity already trademarked your chosen business name or logo. Visit the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) website and search for potential matches. Even if your LLC name is available within your state, you need to make sure there isn’t a federal trademark on the business entity name or logo before moving forward.

For additional help, visit our review of the best trademark services for startups.

5. Reserve Your LLC Name

Entrepreneurs can choose to reserve their LLC name in New York for up to 60 days before forming the business. This prevents other business entities from registering your name until you have the opportunity to register it yourself. 

You can file a name reservation by submitting Form DOS 1233 – Application for Reservation of Name with the New York Department of State by mail, fax, or in person. The filing fee is $20.

You also can extend your name reservation twice — for 60 days per extension — by submitting Form DOS 2101 – Request for Extension of Reservation of Name by mail, by fax, or in person. The filing fee is $20.

6. Form Your New York LLC 

Once you complete your New York business search and federal trademark search as well as verify that your domain name is available, the final step is registering your business. In New York, you can form an LLC by submitting Articles of Organization to the New York Secretary of State.

These documents must include your entity name, location of the LLC office, service of process address, and additional details about your business. Many entrepreneurs choose to use an LLC formation service to ensure this filing is completed efficiently and accurately. 

New York LLC Name Search FAQ

New York Business Resources