All Louisiana business entities are required to follow the state’s naming requirements, which encourage doing a comprehensive business entity name search.
In this Louisiana Entity Search guide, we’ll show you how to check the Louisiana LLC name availability. You must guarantee that your selected business name is entirely and wholly utilized by your firm, in addition to adhering to the Louisiana Secretary of State’s regulations.
1. Discover the Guidelines for Naming an LLC
It is vital to do a Louisiana business name search before filing all of the appropriate papers to register an LLC; this is the first and most significant step in organizing a corporation. As a result, make sure to select a business name that adheres to the naming rules.
Your LLC name must be distinct from other registered company organizations in Louisiana. It is a good idea to conduct more research before submitting your application.
You should ensure that your name, or one very similar to it, is not being used by unrecognized firms such as sole proprietorships or partnerships, that it has not been trademarked by another business in your state or industry, and that it is otherwise accessible for use on the internet. This will help to guarantee that you have complete and unlimited usage of your company name.
In brief, the naming criteria go as follows:
- In the name of your entity, you must include the abbreviations (LLC or L.L.C.) or "limited liability company."
- It is crucial to avoid any misunderstanding between your LLC and government entities such as the FBI when naming your firm.
- If you want to include prohibited phrases in your company name, such as Bank or Attorney, you may need to complete extra paperwork or hire a specialist, such as a lawyer.
2. Conduct a Louisiana LLC Name Search
Prior to completing your name reservation request, you may check the availability of your selected name using the Louisiana LLC Search.
The steps to conduct an effective Louisiana LLC lookup are as follows. Write your preferred LLC name and remove certain terms like “LLC.” You will be able to discover all entities with names that seem similar to the name you have chosen. In case your LLC name consists of more than a word, you may minimize your search to the first two words; this will ensure to help you find all potential comparable names.
To avoid rejection, carry out a comprehensive search before filing your documentation.
What To Do If Your Preferred Name Is Unavailable
After conducting a Louisiana LLC name search and verifying the Business Entity Records, it was discovered that your chosen name was already in use. So, what are your next steps?
If your Louisiana LLC is already registered, your only option is to create a new legal name. Keep in mind that your company name should not be too close to the one you choose earlier. Then, once you’ve decided on a legal business name that meets the Secretary of State’s naming requirements, reserve it.
This step may become increasingly problematic for international LLCs.
Although your LLC’s original name may be recognized in other states, due to the naming restrictions, you may need to come up with a new name.
3. Choose a Web Domain Name
Finding the right domain name that is related to your selected business name is another vital step before forming an LLC. This modest effort ensures that potential customers may locate your firm through a simple web search.
On the websites of domain registrars such as GoDaddy, you may browse through a huge list of domains. Having stated that, you will be able to find a URL that perfectly fits your company name.
Find a Domain Now
4. Reserve Your LLC Name in Louisiana
All LLC name inquiries and requests are handled by Louisiana’s Secretary of State Commercial Division. Business names can be booked for a period of 60 days. If a good reason is proved, two 30-day extensions can be granted at no further cost.
To reserve a company name online, you must first set up a GeauxBiz account. You may also submit your application via mail.
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Additional Considerations
While establishing an LLC name in Louisiana is simple and straightforward, there are other factors to consider while naming your business. Before making a final selection on your company’s name, conduct considerable research, including a trademark and social media check. As a result, this step will assist you in ensuring that you have the legal right to use the company name of your choice.
Trademark Search
It is a good idea to conduct a trademark search in Louisiana prior to filing your business name and associated features, such as a slogan and logo, to avoid potentially costly difficulties. The fact that another firm has trademarked your chosen LLC name does not prevent you from using it.
It’s vital to establish who’s using the name, what industry they’re in, and where they’re situated to prevent unknowingly violating anyone’s intellectual property rights.
In brief, the following steps should be taken:
- Conduct a trademark search in Louisiana to determine whether another company in your state is already using your LLC’s name, slogans, or emblems.
- Search the databases of the United States Patent and Trademark Office to see if any other registered trademarks have names that are similar to your selected company name.
Social Media Search
Though it’s necessary to choose the right web domain name that corresponds to your LLC name, it is also crucial to ensure that it is available on all social networking sites. You can do a Louisiana LLC name check on all major social networks and scan them all at once with tools like Namecheckr.
Conclusion
Before forming a limited liability business, you must do a Louisiana LLC name search. The name you choose must be legal and distinct from the names of existing firms in the state.
After completing the Louisiana Entity Search and settling on a company name, you may need to select a matching web domain name in order for potential clients to locate your firm online.
You may distinguish yourself from the prospective competition simply by completing the Louisiana LLC name reservation form. Securing your ideal LLC name may assist you in moving forward with the formation of your company.
- Come up with your LLC name. Prior to actually completing your paperwork, ensure that your legal name satisfies the Secretary of State’s naming regulations.
- Assign a registered agent. Every limited liability company must have an agent who administers the serving of process; this can be a person or a business that takes legal papers on behalf of the business.
- File articles of organization. The Louisiana Secretary of State accepts Articles of Organization for a Limited Liability Company (Form KLC) to form a Louisiana LLC.
- Draft an operating agreement. Although an operating agreement is not required in Louisiana for LLCs, you should consider it an important step. An LLC operating agreement specifies each owner’s rights, obligations, and profit and loss shares in an LLC.
- Get an EIN. If you incorporate a one-member LLC, you must get an EIN only if it will have workers or if you choose to tax it as a corporation rather than a sole proprietorship (disregarded entity). You may get an EIN by filling out an online application on the IRS website. There are no filing costs.
- File an annual report. Every year, all Louisiana LLCs must file an annual report with the Secretary of State by June 30. The report can be filed online, by returning the annual report postcard your LLC will receive in January, or by printing and sending it. The price for filing is $15.
Below are the words that must be included in your LLC name, according to the state’s naming guidelines:
- Limited Liability Company
- LLC or
- L.L.C.
Furthermore, you must not use phrases that indicate the company was founded for a cause other than the one mentioned in its articles of incorporation.
There is no physical or online form in Louisiana for submitting modifications to your articles of incorporation. They accept modifications that have been lawfully written by an LLC and have been sent to the Secretary of State together with the filing fee.
Before submitting your name reservation request, you may check the availability of your selected name using Louisiana’s Business Filings Search.
- The $100 charge to submit your LLC’s Articles of Organization online with the Louisiana Secretary of State is the primary cost of forming an LLC.
- The cost for the annual report is $30.
- A Louisiana foreign LLC registration costs $150.
Businesses in Louisiana are required to declare any substantial organizational changes. Your organization can accomplish this by following the state’s modification procedure, which includes the submission of legal papers. If you update any of the information provided on your Articles of Incorporation/Organization, you must generally file an amendment.
All sole proprietorships, general partnerships, corporations, limited liability companies (LLCs), or out-of-state firms who routinely do business in Louisiana under a name other than their legal name are required by Louisiana law to file a DBA with the Louisiana Secretary of State. In addition, you must advertise your DBA filing in a local newspaper.
What's Next?
Now that you have your entity name, it's time to take the next steps to establish your Louisiana LLC. Check out our full guide on how to form an LLC in Louisiana, where we can guide you every step of the way.
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