All business entities are asked to follow the state’s naming guidelines, which emphasize performing a Massachusetts LLC name search.
In this article, we’ll teach you how to do a Massachusetts LLC name check. In addition to following Massachusetts’ naming standards, you must ensure that your chosen business name is exclusively and solely used by your company.
1. Discover the Guidelines for Naming an LLC
It is extremely important to complete a Massachusetts business name search prior to submitting all the necessary paperwork to form an LLC; this is the first yet most essential step of forming a company. Therefore, make sure to choose a business name that complies with the naming guidelines in Massachusetts.
In brief, the naming criteria go as follows:
- You must include the abbreviations (LLC or L.L.C.) or "limited liability company" in the name of your entity.
- When naming your company, it is critical to avoid causing confusion between your LLC and government institutions such as the FBI.
- You may need to file additional documentation or engage a professional individual, such as a lawyer, if you wish to incorporate restricted terms in your company name, such as Bank or Attorney.
For more information, read about the Massachusetts naming guidelines and restrictions.
2. Conduct a Massachusetts LLC Name Search
You may look through the list of business entities in Massachusetts through the use of beneficial tools like the Massachusetts Business Search. With this website, you will be able to see all business names in the state and see if you can use your preferred LLC name.
It is simple to do an effective Massachusetts LLC search. To begin, type your name into the search box and avoid including phrases like “LLC.” This will eventually show you businesses with names similar to the one you’ve picked.
Furthermore, if your prospective LLC name contains more than one word, you may narrow your Massachusetts LLC lookup to the first two words.
What To Do If Your Preferred Name Is Unavailable
After conducting a Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts 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 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 Massachusetts’ naming restrictions, you may need to come up with a new name.
3. Choose a Web Domain Name
Another important step before incorporating an LLC is finding a good domain name that is associated with your chosen business name. This minor step serves to ensure that potential clients may find your company via a simple online search.
You may search through the long list of domains on the websites of domain registrars such as GoDaddy. That being said, you’ll be able to discover a URL that exactly matches your entity name.
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4. Reserve Your LLC Name in Massachusetts
The Secretary of the Commonwealth Corporations Division in Massachusetts handles all LLC naming concerns and requests. Business names can be reserved for a period of 60 days. Reservations can be extended for an additional 60 days for $30.
On its official website, Massachusetts provides online Business Resources. You must complete an application in person or by mail to reserve a business name. You must pay a filing fee while reserving your name. Make checks payable to the “Commonwealth of Massachusetts.”
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Additional Considerations
While it is simple and clear to establish an LLC name in Massachusetts, there are other aspects to keep in mind when naming your entity. Before you make a final decision regarding your company’s name, it is best to perform extensive research– that includes a trademark and social media check. As a result, this step will he you in confirming that you have the legal right to use your selected company name.
Trademark Search
To prevent possible costly complications, conduct a trademark search before registering your business name and associated terms or symbols. The fact that another company has registered your preferred business name as a trademark does not exclude you from utilizing it.
To avoid inadvertently infringing on anyone’s intellectual property rights, it’s critical to figure out who’s using the name, what business they’re in, and where they’re located.
In brief, the following steps should be taken:
- Conduct a trademark search in Massachusetts to see whether another firm in your state is already using your LLC’s name or any related slogan or logos.
- Search the United States Patent and Trademark Office’s databases and verify if other registered trademarks may appear to hold similar names as your chosen company name.
Social Media Search
Although it is crucial to choose a web domain name that matches your organization’s identity, it is equally necessary to make sure that it is available on all social networking sites. You may search for your company’s name on all major social networks and use tools like Namecheckr to scan them all at once.
Conclusion
Coming up with your Massachusetts LLC name is the first step in forming your new business. You can move forward with the next steps as long as the name is unique and different from the rest of the business entities in Massachusetts.
After performing a Massachusetts entity search and finalizing your business name, you may need to pick a domain name that matches it to help your clients find your LLC on the web.
Then you can do a Massachusetts LLC name reservation and set yourself apart from your competitors. Next, you will be able to proceed with the remaining steps of your business formation.
- Choose your Massachusetts LLC name. You will need to make sure that your LLC name meets the state’s naming requirements before filing your papers.
- Assign a registered agent. All limited liability companies must have an agent who administers the serving of process; you are eligible to assign a person or an organization who accepts legal documents on your company’s behalf.
- File Articles of Organization. An LLC is formed by submitting articles of organization to the Massachusetts Secretary of Commonwealth Coporations Division.
- Prepare an Operating Agreement. This document outlines how the company will be managed and the rights and responsibilities of each member.
- Get an EIN. An EIN is a nine-digit number assigned to companies by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to help them be identified for tax reasons. It is essentially a business’s Social Security number.
- File annual reports. All LLCs must file an annual report with the Secretary of the Commonwealth Corporations Division. Domestic limited liability companies must submit a Limited Liability Annual Report. Foreign limited liability companies must file a Foreign Limited Liability Annual Report.
To meet the naming guidelines, the name of your LLC must have:
- Limited Liability Company;
- LLC; or
- L.L.C.
In addition, the name should not state words that signify that it is formed for a different purpose from what is specified in the articles of incorporation.
To modify the name of your company, you will need to get a form from the county registrar and pay the registration charge. The DBA form normally requests information about your business, personal contact information, and any prior names under which the business operated. The average registration price is around $25.
You may check the Massachusetts LLC name availability by using two online databases: the Business Entity Search database and the Business Name Reservation Search database.
- The $500 charge to file your LLC’s Certificate of Organization online with the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth is the primary cost of forming an LLC.
- A Massachusetts foreign LLC registration costs $500.
- The name reservation fee is $30.
Companies changing their names in Massachusetts must reserve and register a new name as if they had never had one before. The state then provides the business a new name to replace the previous one.
In Massachusetts, a DBA filing is necessary at the local level rather than the state level, while a name may be reserved at the state level prior to incorporating or creating a company.
What's Next?
Now that you have your entity name, it's time to take the next steps to establish your Massachusetts LLC. Check out our full guide on how to form an LLC in Massachusetts, where we can guide you every step of the way.
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