All LLCs based in Maine should perform a Maine LLC name search to comply with the Secretary of State’s naming rules.  

Our team has created this Maine business name search guide to assist you to check the Maine LLC name availability. Apart from meeting the Secretary of State’s naming requirements, you must ensure that your desired LLC name is taken for use only by your Maine LLC.

Discovering the long list of naming guidelines is the first thing to check off your to-do list. Before finalizing your documentation, it is crucial to complete an extensive Maine entity search in order to successfully form an LLC. As a result, you must choose a business name that adheres to the naming regulations. 

It is vital to distinguish your company name from the names of other legally registered business entities in Maine. As a result, before registering your preferred LLC name, you must do a Maine LLC lookup.

For more details, you can visit Maine’s LLC name statue.

It is a good idea to perform your search using websites such as the Maine Secretary of State Business Search. Enter the desired name and delete certain terms like “LLC,” and leave all other fields blank to complete your Maine LLC search more accurately. Thus, these steps will showcase all entities with the same or similar names.

After conducting a thorough Maine LLC name check and verifying the business records, there it was – your desired name was already in use. So, what should you do now?

Your only alternative is to brainstorm and choose a different LLC name that is legally accepted by the state. Also, it should not appear to be too similar to the one you previously chose. Then once finalized your potential LLC name, do a Maine LLC name reservation as soon as possible.

This process can be potentially difficult for international LLCs that aim to expand. 

Despite that your LLC is known in other states by its original name, you must adhere to the Secretary of State’s naming rules; you will need to change it if it is the same or too similar to an existing LLC name Maine.

Our team suggests that you make sure you have a web domain name that matches your chosen business name. This modest effort will enable your potential clients to find your business online.  

Domain registrars like GoDaddy will allow you to browse a vast diversity of domain names. Therefore, you will be able to select a URL that matches the name of your company.

LLC naming requests are managed by the Maine Secretary of State’s Bureau of Corporations, Elections, and Commissions. Business names can be reserved for a period of 120 days but cannot be renewed. If your name reservation expires and you have yet to establish your company organization under that name, you may reapply for the name reservation.

Maine’s online business services may be accessed on the website of the Bureau of Corporations, Elections, and Commissions. To make a Maine LLC name reservation, you must submit an application via mail. The fee for the application is $20, and payments should be transferred to the Maine Secretary of State.

In addition, if you want expedited services for 24-hour processing, you may pay $50, and $100 for instant processing.

Establishing a business is straightforward; nevertheless, some considerations must be made. Aside from the business entity search, you may do a trademark and social media search before deciding on a name for your company. As a result of further research, you will be able to find out whether or not you will be able to acquire your desired limited liability company name.

When starting a new firm, you may want to prevent certain pitfalls. We recommend that you conduct a Maine trademark search before completing your registration. This will let you explore the existing elements, such as logos and slogans. Furthermore, even if another local corporation has your desired business name as a trademark, this does not exclude you from using it for your company.

Furthermore, you may need to check the firm that is using your preferred LLC name, as well as the industry in which they operate and where they are situated. This will keep you away from violating other companies’ property rights. 

In addition, consider the following steps:

1. Contact the Corporate Name Search to discover if your company entity name or associated slogans, logos, or others are already in use by another firm in your state.
2. You can look through the data found on the United States Patent and Trademark Office’s website and discover if any other company in Maine holds the same or similar name as your desired company name.

It is essential to select a domain name that clearly fits your chosen LLC name, but another issue to consider is if you can create a unique account on social networking sites using the same name. It’s a good idea to use tools like Namecheckr which will enable you to scan your chosen LLC name across all social media networks simultaneously.

Choosing your Maine LLC name is exciting yet challenging. As long as your chosen name is legal and unique, you can move forward with the process of formation.

After carrying out a Maine entity search and finalizing the LLC name, you may have to decide on a domain name that matches it to help your potential clients easily find your LLC on the web.

Next, you can complete a Maine LLC name reservation form, and you will see yourself set apart from the competition.