Why do you need to do a business entity search?

In North Carolina, no two business entities can register the same name.

If you file your LLC Articles of Organization before confirming the availability of your chosen name, the state may reject your entity filing. 

Your second step is to ensure that your LLC name complies with the North Carolina Secretary of State’s naming rules, which we`ll look at next.  

North Carolina state naming guidelines

North Carolina State has naming rules you must follow when selecting your LLC name. Failure to follow them may cause your LLC formation application to be rejected.

North Carolina business name guidelines:

• Distinguishable: Your chosen name cannot already be registered by another entity in North Carolina State
• Required designators: Your LLC name must contain one approved designator: Limited Liability Company, Limited Liability Co., Liability Company, Ltd. Liability Co., LLC, L.L.C., Ltd.
• Restricted terminology: Your LLC must not include the words association, corporation, incorporation, or any that implies your business provides professional services it is not qualified to offer, such as accountant, architect, insurance, lawyer, etc.
• Government affiliation: An LLC name cannot contain terms associated with local and federal government agencies, including CIA, DIA, North Carolina Police, North Carolina Controller, Treasury, etc.

For further information on North Carolina business entity restricted wording, visit the North Carolina Secretary of State Feasibility of Name page.

Conducting a business name search in North Carolina: Step-by-step guide with tips

Searching by a business name is the most common way to use the North Carolina business entity search tool.

Like all state business entity search tools, there are specific procedures for correctly using North Carolina’s name search and tips for speeding up the process. 

Helpful Tips:

How to use the North Carolina business name search tool:

• Search sees all letters as uppercase, so it doesn’t matter if you use lower, upper, or a combination.
• For names containing multiple words, begin your search using the first word.
• Do not add or remove spaces in the name you are searching for.
• Do not add any additional words to the name you are searching for.
• Do not use punctuation marks like commas, periods, or apostrophes.
• Do not use LLC identifiers.

Visit the North Carolina Business Search page

Start by visiting the North Carolina Secretary of State Business Search tool. 

You can filter your search to show 3 results:

1. Staring with
2. Exact
3. SOSID (Secretary of State ID number)

Using the first drop-down menu, select “Company,” and the second, select “Starting With.”

Enter your desired name and click Search.

For my example, I’ll use Carolina Cleaning Services:

Reviewing the results

The results page will display any names identical and similar to your search query.

Carolina Cleaning Services shows several results. Choose the one closest to your search term and click on the name to see more information:

Filtering the results

The information page displays the following information about any business using your desired LLC name filed with the North Carolina State: 

• Entity type
• State ID number
• Status 
• Formation date
• Citizenship
• Annual report due date
• Annual report status
• Registered agent’s details
• Registered business address
• Company owner’s details

Fictitious name/DBA

A fictitious name or a (Doing Business As) is a name you can use other than your LLC name.

Non-registered structures, like sole proprietorships, can also use a fictitious name if their personal name doesn’t suit their niche and target audience. 

An LLC might use a fictitious name if it needs a unique and creative name for its branding and marketing strategies. 

To use a fictitious name in North Carolina, you must first confirm availability using the Assumed Business Name search option in the North Carolina Secretary of State Business Search tool. 

You file your assumed name certificate by downloading the ASSUMED BUSINESS NAME CERTIFICATE (NCGS §66-71.5) from the North Carolina Economic Development and Partnership website and registering it with your local Register of Deeds office. 

The fee for registering a DBA in North Carolina is $26. 

Pro tip:

Besides searching the North Carolina Secretary of State Business Search tool, check your county Register of Deeds office to confirm your name’s availability. 

What can you do once you have an available business name?

Finding an available business name is the first step when starting a business in North Carolina. Once you have one, there are other actions you can take to secure it in your state, online, and nationally.  

Consider name reservation

Entrepreneurs starting a business in North Carolina can reserve their desired entity name to prevent another company from using it while they form their LLC. 

To reserve a name, you must confirm its availability with the North Carolina Secretary of State. 

Once you confirm your name is available, you reserve it by completing the “Application to Reserve a Business Entity Name” form, which you can submit online, by mail, or in person and pay the $30 fee.  

Consider trademarking your name

Starting an LLC and registering its name with the Carolina Secretary of State only stops other NC entities from using it.

Trademarking your business name stops other companies from using it in the U.S.A.. Another reason you should trademark your name is to ensure it has yet to be marked by another company, which could lead to trademark infringement if you were to use it. 

Visit the United States Trademark and Patent Office website to confirm your chosen name is available and register it for your business. 

Consider domain registration

Most businesses need a website to establish their online brand presence, and domain registration is a crucial part of that process. 

Your domain is how your prospects will find your business, so it must be the same or similar to your LLC’s registered name. 

If the .com TLD isn’t available, you can use an alternative TLD like .co or .net.

Use a name-checking tool like GoDaddy to search for available domain names, or register your domain name with us. 

Conclusion

Doing a business entity name search in North Carolina is your first step in forming an LLC in NC. Once you confirm availability, you must complete your Articles of Organization and file them with the Secretary of State’s office.

Also, consider trademarking your name to secure it nationally and buying your domain to create your online branding presence and attract future customers.

FAQ