How To Choose Business Names & Slogan 2025

An online business name checker is available on most state business filing agencies’ websites. The online tool can search business names and determine whether another company is already using the name you have selected.

By city, county, and state, there are various regulations for registering a business name. Some places demand that you register in each one, particularly if you need permits. However, if you’re an LLC, corporation, or limited partnership, you often need to use a registered agent to register your business name with the state. While some jurisdictions enable you to register a business name online, others demand that you produce physical documentation. The cost will also vary depending on where you are, although it won’t usually exceed $300.

Partnerships and sole proprietorships must file their business name (also known as a DBA or assumed name) with the county clerk’s office where they are located. The Secretary of State’s Office (SOS) website details the best legal structure for you if you wish to incorporate it.

A “fictitious business name” in the context of a company owned by an individual is any name that excludes the owner’s last name (surname) or suggests there are other owners (such as “Company,” “and Company,” “and Sons,” “Associates,” etc.).

• Recognize the rationale for your business name change. A small business’s naming or renaming is a deliberate procedure that requires time and study to execute properly. Your company name should be distinctive and set you out from your rivals. If you are renaming your firm, you must ensure that the change will benefit the organization and its clientele.
• Search for names. You know why you want to undergo the name change procedure very well. The following two procedures resemble naming a small business. List a few potential company names that come to mind. Do a name search to see whether they are still available. To find out if this trademark has already been registered or applied for or is available, you can search using a trademark database like the USPTO’s Trademark Electronic Search System (TESS) or work with a third-party provider of trademark filing services.
• The owners or members must approve a name change in an LLC. Before changing their name, corporations that have been incorporated need the consent of their shareholders. A resolution can be used to get the go-ahead to change the company’s name. For more information on name change approval, study the corporate bylaws (for corporations) or LLC operating agreements (for LLCs).
• Contact the IRS and notify the Secretary of State. As soon as the shareholders and members approve the name change, it is time to notify the state and the IRS.
• Ascertain whether you’ll require a new EIN. The IRS issues employment identification numbers to corporations (EIN). This number serves as a small business’s federal tax ID and tracks its payroll activity. Depending on the circumstances, some name changes could necessitate new EINs.
• Update business permits and licenses. Get in touch with your neighborhood city or county authorities to find out if you need to apply for new licenses and permits or cancel old ones.
• Make contact with a legal expert. Your new company name is almost ready to be revealed to the public! Consult with an attorney before informing your clientele and changing your business’s signage to reflect the situation. Before announcing the name change, check to see if anything further has to be done.

• Decide on a corporate structure. Your choice of business structure will affect how you register your company with the state. Use our how-to-choose business structure guide to assist you in deciding which type of business structure is ideal for you, including corporations, limited liability companies (LLCs), general partnerships, and sole proprietorships.
• Determine if a name is available. It’s crucial to check that a business name is original and that no one else in your state has registered it as a domain name or started a company using it. Create your company with the state of California in step three. After choosing your business structure and name, you must file your formation documents with the state to register your business with California. You must submit the Articles of Organization to the California Secretary of State to register your California LLC. Applying can be done in person, by mail, or online. For more information, see our California LLC Formation guide.

If you choose to identify your business with a name that is distinct from the name of the legal body that owns the business, you are required by law to register the name. Registering a trademark is important in developing a branding strategy for your goods and services.

Before you authenticate your business, you may also edit your details. The name, category, address, hours, phone number, and website can all be changed. These modifications can be published upon approval even before the company has been confirmed on Google Search and Maps.

A business name can be trademarked for as little as $225 up to $600 for each trademark class.

• Look for and research a new name.
• Report the name change to your secretary of state.
• Ask to have the name on your licenses and permits altered.
• Report the name change to the IRS. You might occasionally need to get a new EIN.
• Update your company’s paperwork with the new name.
• Inform your lenders, vendors, customers, and other stakeholders who need to know about the name change.

• Press the top-right button on Facebook.
• Tap the Pages. Choose your Page.
• Click Edit Page under the name of your Page.
• Place a tap into the Name text box.
• Change the name of your Page, then hit Continue.
• Tap Change Request.

The official name of your company is your ENTITY NAME.

There are no accusations of trademark infringement if one of your companies shares the same name with another company and vice versa. A legal conflict may arise, and you might not be permitted to utilize the business name if your firm uses a name identical to that of another incorporated company.

• Determine if a trademark is necessary. These common law provisions typically only apply to the local geographic area in which the name is used. Use of a business name automatically confers some trademark protection, but typically only if a business can show documentation that it was the first business to use the name in the particular industry (also known as a class). Furthermore, only if a company has registered a trademark is it feasible to file a federal trademark infringement lawsuit in the event that someone does steal or misuse a name.
• Find existing trademarks by searching. To locate existing trademarks that are similar to a desired name or mark, use TESS, the Trademark Electronic Search System provided by the patent office. The USPTO will not register your trademark if it is likely to be confused with an already-registered trademark, therefore you should do this before submitting an application.
• Put together an application. It takes a lot of work to prepare an application, so making sure it’s as full as it can be is almost as crucial as making sure the name or phrase isn’t already taken.
• Put the application in. The Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS) offers two filing options: TEAS Standard and TEAS Plus. A more affordable filing option is provided by TEAS Plus, although not everyone qualifies. You must use a standard description from the Trademark ID manual for your commodity or service in order to use TEAS Plus. You must use the standard TEAS application if you create your own description.

Most states demand that a business registered as an LLC have an LLC designation in its name. States use different names, but most use words or abbreviations like “Limited Liability Company,” “Limited Liability Co.,” “LLC,” and “Limited.”

You must submit the Articles of Organization to the Florida Division of Corporations to register your Florida LLC. Applying can be done in person, by mail, or online. For more information, see our Florida LLC Formation guide. Or have your LLC created for you by a specialist like Northwest or LegalZoom.

A trademark can provide nationwide protection for your company’s name, products, and services. Trademarks forbid using your trademarked names in the same (or a related) sector in the United States.

• Find the name you wish to use by searching. Visit the website of the state’s secretary of state to register your business. Each state maintains a database of registered businesses. Enter the name you want to use in the search field to see if any businesses are already using it.
• Obtain the registered agent’s information. Find out who the registered agent is for the company using the name you choose, including their name and address. You can register a name directly with the secretary of state if no other companies are already using it.
• TESS Database search. Check out the US. Find registered trademarks with the required name in the Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) database. The trademark office uses a Trademark Electronic Search System (TESS) database. Type it into a search engine to determine if companies are utilizing the name as a trademark. 4. Get in touch with the trademark and business-registered agents. Inquire about the possibility of selling the name or trademark rights.
• Discuss the terms of the purchase. The terms of the name purchase should be negotiated. The cost could range from a few hundred dollars to millions, depending on how much money the registered owner believes the existing name or trademark is worth. You might need to conduct separate negotiations with the owner of the firm and the trademark registrations.
• Establish a contact. Create a contract releasing you as the new registered owner from any name or trademark rights. Once more, the trademark may not be connected to the company.
• Obtain transfer documentation. Get the necessary registration transfer documentation from the U.S. and the secretary of state. Office of Patents and Trademarks. The contract copy must include a “Recordation Form Cover Sheet” from the trademark office stating the copyright assignment. It costs $40. For the correct form and your state’s fee schedule, check with your secretary of state.

Making a business entity, such as a corporation or a limited liability company, is one of the best ways to protect your business name in your home state.

Any company that conducts business in a state where an assumed name statute applies should take the necessary procedures to comply with it.

You can file an amendment specific to the kind of business entity you have if you wish to modify or change your company’s name. For instance, you must complete the Certificate of Amendment in the Domestic Limited Liability Company Forms Index if your company is a CT Limited Liability Company.

Go to your profile after signing into PayPal in a web browser. Follow the instructions to alter your business name by clicking “My Business Info,” navigating to the “Business Information” section, and then clicking the “Update” option.

The state’s website can be accessed, and the business registry can be found as a starting point for registration verification. Remember that the state where the business was incorporated, not necessarily the state where it is now operating, should always be used for the entity name check.

You must notify the Office for United States Copyrighting that you are the copyright owner. You can either do this by mailing a paper in or submitting an online application. Officially copyrighting a logo typically costs between $35 and $85 at the time of publication.

• Go to the Secretary of State’s website for online services.
• Establish a user account.
• Choose “name reservation.”
• Enter your contact details and three preferred names in that order.
• Use a valid credit card such as a Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover to pay the $25 filing cost.

You must register your business with the state of North Carolina to register a business name. You can register a company or an LLC with your state’s business division or apply for a “doing business as” name.

Send the Corporation Bureau of Pennsylvania the Application for Registration of Fictitious Name, form DSCB: 54-311. Verify the availability of the desired name. Publicize the registration of the business name in two newspapers. If you want to own the name exclusively, incorporate the company.

You can mail the Name Registration form or use the Secretary of State’s website to submit your Ohio DBA. Important parts on the Name Registration Form include: Your Company’s Business Structure (LLC, general partnership, corporation, etc.)

The name on the formation document of a corporation, LLC, LP, or other statutory business entity is referred to as its “legal name.” The name used at the time of establishment was the organization’s first legal name. A company entity may alter its legal name as often as it chooses.

Sending a written request to the Department of State, Division of Corporations, One Commerce Plaza, 99 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12231, will allow you to search the Division of Corporations’ records for the availability of a name.

• Adhere to the naming regulations in your state. Your state’s regulations will prevent you from using a name that another business entity in your state is already using if you intend to create a business entity like a corporation or limited liability company. Additionally, you may not choose a name that is confusingly close to the name of another corporate entity in some states.
• Avoid choosing a name that sounds too much like one of your competitors. Watch out for rival businesses that are using names close to the one you desire while searching for a distinctive name. Stay away from company names that could cause confusion between your company and other similar sort of company in your neighborhood.
• Pick a name that is easy to say and spell. People who have names that are lengthy, challenging to say, or challenging to spell frequently get weary of them. And although that could irritate a person, it could be fatal to a company.
• Create a web-friendly name. There’s a chance that your company is engaged on additional social media networks. Find out if you can register a domain name that corresponds to your company’s name and open social media accounts in your name by doing some research.
• Be distinctive, but not too so. Your business name should ideally be protected as a trademark. But it can be difficult for small enterprises. Selecting a name that is original and innovative but also captures an aspect of your company and tries to create a balance. 6. Select a name that complements your brand. Determine your brand identity before settling on a business name. Then decide on a name that accurately describes that trait. Despite describing the same kind of company, “Speedy Car Wash” and “Velvet Touch Car Wash” has different connotations and target markets.
• Don’t put yourself in a box. Make sure your business name enables growth and change. One of the most fun and inventive aspects of launching a new company is picking a name. But first, make sure the name is accessible by checking the legal requirements in your state. Additionally, make sure your name reflects your company’s long-term objectives and desired image.

Go to your entity record and submit a statement of trade name to register a trading name with the Colorado Secretary of State.

Holding company is a parent company that generally operates as a corporation or LLC but doesn’t create anything, sell anything, provide services, or engage in other business activities. As its name suggests, it exists to hold the majority of the stock or membership interests in other corporations.

Business Name Change petitions should be sent to the IRS filing location if the EIN was just assigned and filing liability has not yet been determined. A final return or a new Employer Identification Number (EIN) may be necessary for specific circumstances when a person’s name changes.

Make a list of illustrative terms. Making a list of phrases that convey a sensation or event is an excellent technique for developing photography name ideas. Choose terms that convey the feeling you want your target audience or clients to have when they see your name. You can aim to inspire a playful, upbeat emotion in your audience or a more somber, reflective one. If you’re a landscape photographer, for instance, you might make a list of adjectives to describe the sensation of an open environment, such as “wide,” “bold,” “bright,” or “vivid.” If you are a food photographer, you might make a list of words to describe the experience of eating a truly wonderful meal, such as “flavor,” “texture,” “color,” “taste,” and “bite.” Play around with your word list and combine various terms with seeing if you can come up with a catchy company name. You might come across a word that you adore and think would be appropriate to utilize as your company’s name.

In order to utilize the name, you might also need to post a notice of intent in your neighborhood newspaper.

The Michigan Department of Treasury provides an online form for registering new businesses. This procedure is simple, quick, secure, and practical. The e-Registration method is substantially quicker than mail-in registration. They will give you a confirmation number for your electronic submission once you have completed this online application.

A company slogan is a phrase that sums up and characterizes a brand. A slogan condenses a company’s personality, values, philosophy, and mission into several well-chosen words.

• Give them some ring, rhyme, and rhythm. Slogans should be pleasant to the ear, whether read aloud or heard; slogans with a rhythmic or fluid sound are far easier to recognize and remember.
• Indicate a salient advantage. Find a way to include it in the slogan by focusing on a single important aspect of your company.
• Describe the commitment of the firm. Customer service-focused slogans, particularly those that promise quality and satisfaction even if it costs the business money, are quite popular with the general public.
• Be truthful and practical. Find an innovative approach to highlight the benefits that your organization offers.
• Keep it brief. Slogans should never exceed the length of a sentence and ideally fall between six and eight words.

Yes. Taglines, including slogans and mission statements, largely manage a brand strategy. Create your tagline and use it in prominent places online and in print to promote your company’s growth.