Opening an LLC in New Hampshire requires several steps. One of the first (and most important) is selecting your business name and verifying that it’s available.

Conducting a business entity search helps you ensure that the name you want for your business is both unique and compliant with all applicable state regulations. This guide will walk you through the process of performing a business entity search in New Hampshire, the state’s naming guidelines, and the next steps you’ll want to take once you have a name.

Why do you need to do a business entity search?

A business entity search checks to see whether a particular business name is available in New Hampshire. This search is crucial because it helps you:

• Ensure your desired name is not already being used by another business.
• Avoid any potential legal issues with trademark or copyright infringement.
• Comply with naming regulations that are specific to New Hampshire.
• Establish a unique identity for your business.

Conducting a business entity search in New Hampshire is one key step to verify that your desired LLC name is available. It should also go a long way toward preventing any legal complications in the future.

State naming guidelines

New Hampshire has a few specific guidelines you must follow when choosing a name for your LLC:

• Uniqueness: Your LLC name must be distinguishable from existing businesses registered in New Hampshire.
• Required Words: The name must include the words “Limited Liability Company” or abbreviations like “LLC” or “L.L.C.”
• Restricted Words: Certain words that could lead the public to assume your LLC is a government agency (e.g., “FBI,” “Treasury,” “Bureau,” etc.) are prohibited unless you have permission from that entity. It’s best just to avoid these words.
• Prohibited Words: Terms like “bank,” “trust,” or any words suggesting an association with the financial industry are restricted unless you comply with additional regulatory requirements. Again, these words are best avoided. You’ll also want to avoid using profanity, hate speech, or other terms that aren’t appropriate for a broad audience.

Conducting a Business Name Search in New Hampshire – Step-by-Step Guide with Tips

Access the Database

To start your search, visit the New Hampshire Secretary of State’s Business Search.

Search Options

You can search by:

• Entity Name: Check if the specific business name is already in use.
• Business ID: Useful if you have a specific business entity ID.
• Assumed Name/DBA: If you are searching for a fictitious name or “Doing Business As” name.

You can also do a partial word search if you’d like to find multiple spellings or verb tenses.

Searching the database is free. But if you decide to reserve a name, you’ll need to pay the fees associated with that process.

Different Filters

When conducting your search, you can take advantage of search filters to narrow down the results. These may include searching businesses by active or inactive status, entity type (e.g., LLC, corporation, partnership), and more. If a business has the name you’d like to use but it is in inactive status, you may be able to use this name under certain circumstances.

Search Tips

• Use different variations of the name to ensure thoroughness.
• Check for similar names that might be confusingly similar.
• Pay attention to spelling and abbreviations.

Reviewing the Results

Once you get the search results, review the following:

• Entity Status: Active, inactive, dissolved, etc.
• Entity Type: LLC, corporation, partnership, etc.
• Registered Agent: Information about the registered agent on file.

For example, a search for businesses with “Donut” in the name turns up these results.

You can see the business type, address, registered agent’s name, and current status.

Fictitious Name/DBA

If you plan to use a different name for your business than the name of your LLC, you’ll have a DBA or “doing business as” name. This will require you to also search the fictitious name database to ensure your name isn’t already in use.

What Can You Do Once You Have a Name That Is Available?

Consider Reserving Your Business Name

You can reserve your LLC name for 120 days by filing a name reservation application with the New Hampshire Secretary of State. This costs $15 (plus a $2 processing fee if you pay online) and will secure the name you’ve chosen while you complete the other steps necessary to form your new LLC.

Consider Trademarking Your Business Name

Registering your name as a trademark will keep other businesses across the U.S.—not just in New Hampshire—from using it. This can help strengthen your brand. Visit the USPTO website for more information on trademark protections and the registration process.

Consider Registering a Web Domain

Every modern business needs a web presence of some sort. And even if you’re not planning to transact much business from a website, securing a domain name that matches your business name will prevent it from falling into the wrong hands. You can use this website to establish and reaffirm your online presence.

Conclusion

Choosing a name for your LLC is one of the most crucial steps in starting your new business. By conducting a business entity search and following New Hampshire’s naming guidelines, you can make sure your business name is unique and legally compliant.

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