How to Do a Business Entity Search in Washington DC & Name Your LLC

Why do you need to do a business entity search when starting an LLC?

When establishing an LLC in DC, there are a number of rules that determine what names you can use. One key requirement is that the name be unique. It can’t be the same as a name that is already in use by another DC business entity. If you file your Articles of Organization using a name that’s taken, your application will be rejected.

The business entity search provided by the district’s Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP) is an accurate and reliable search that, used properly, will turn up any existing business names identical or similar to yours. While you might be able to do a successful search simply by keying your chosen name into your favorite search engine, the DLCP search is free and produces results that you can be comfortable depending on.

DC naming guidelines

Two DC Law Library publications, Name Requirements for Certain Types of Entities and Permitted Names, detail the requirements for business entity names, including the requirements for LLCs.

Many rules derive from the fact that you may not use a name that makes inaccurate suggestions about what your company does. For example, you may not use a name that suggests you are a government agency. Names with “bank,” “credit union,” “insurance” or similar words need the Mayor’s prior approval. You may not use a name that suggests illegal activity. Don’t use words that suggest a different entity type, such as Inc. or Corp.

An LLC name must end with a phrase or abbreviation that declares it’s an LLC. Examples are Limited Company, Limited Liability Company, LC, L.C., LLC, and L.L.C.

Your name must be distinguishable from every other entity name on file in DC. The district’s rules about what constitutes a distinguishable name are more liberal than in most states. However, not every permissible name is a good one to use. A name that is too close to other business names can cause confusion and even legal issues.

DC compares names after ignoring entity endings like LLC. If you’re unsure whether a name is distinguishable, contact DLCP at 202-671-4500.

However, adding or changing the LLC identifier does NOT create a distinguishable name.

Conducting a business name search in Washington DC: step by step guide with tips

DLCP’s Corporations Division runs the Business One Stop Solution (BOSS), which replaced CorpOnline in August 2026. Sign in with an Access DC account (or create one) at boss.dc.gov to search entity names.

Get started at BOSS. Either sign in with your Access DC account, or create a new one. You can also do a business entity search without signing in by selecting Global Search in the bottom left of the screen.

Once you’re signed in or moved to the Global search, enter your proposed name in the business search and run the search.

If the name you’ve chosen appears in the list of results, that name is not available. If you see a similar name, it may not be available if it’s not distinguishable from your name. For example, if there’s a corporation called ABC Industries, then ABC Industries LLC is not an available name. If you need clarification on a search result, call the DLCP at 202-671-4500 during business hours.

A few pointers to improve your search:

• Do additional searches with only some of the words in your potential name to find existing names that are similar. Even if they are distinguishable under DC regulations, you may prefer not to have a name too similar to another company.
• Leave out “LLC” or whichever designation you plan to use.
• Leave out special characters such as periods, commas, and apostrophes.

Also, before you settle on a name, you should check to see if the name is trademarked or if someone has reserved the name as a domain name. Trademarks are at the national level, and you run the risk of an infringement if you choose a trademarked name for an LLC. To check, use the trademark search tool with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

If someone has your name claimed as a domain, you won’t be able to use it for your own website. You can do a domain name search with tools such as GoDaddy.

Trade Name

A Trade Name in DC is similar to what’s called a Doing Business As (DBA) name in most states. You use one if you want to do business under a name other than your registered LLC name. Some reasons to do this: you’ve opened a new line of business, or you want a name that includes the street or neighborhood of a new location. The Trade Name Guide has detailed information. You can have as many Trade Names as you like, and each one costs $55 and must be renewed every two years. Unlike DBA names in many states, a DC Trade Name must be distinguishable from existing business names. You can search for it the same way you did your LLC name.

What can you do once you have a name that is available?

Once you’ve found an available LLC name that you like, there are several options to consider:

• Reserve the name. If you’re not yet ready to form your LLC, you can reserve the name so that no one else slips in and takes it. A reservation costs $50 and is valid for 120 days.
• Trademark the name. This is done at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. While this isn’t required, it protects your name from being used (or trademarked!) anywhere else in the country.
• Register your name as a domain name. Once you do this, no one else can use your name as their own website domain name. There are a number of online registrars that provide this service.
• If you are ready to get started, file your Articles of Organization. The fee is $99. Expedited service is available for an additional $50 or $100.

Conclusion

Choosing a business name is an important early step for your new LLC. It should be meaningful and easy to remember. It also must conform to DC naming rules, and it can’t be a name that’s in use by an existing business. An entity search in DC’s BOSS portal will tell you whether your chosen name is available.

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