All businesses must conduct an Alaska business name search before forming an LLC.

Our guide is intended to assist you in determining the availability of your LLC name. While it is critical to select a business name in accordance with the state’s guidelines, make certain that no other entity in Alaska is using it.

Our team recommends that you ensure that your LLC name satisfies the state’s guidelines before finalizing the business name. 

In fact, deciding on a business name is the first and most crucial step in establishing an LLC. Make sure to pick an LLC name that complies with Alaska’s state needs and that it is easily searched by your potential clients.

You can check the availability of your selected name in Alaska’s Corporations Database before finalizing your name reservation request. You may conduct an Alaska LLC lookup by its name, registered agents, as well as officials. 

While it is referred to as a Corporations Database, it also covers LLCs and other business organizations. To carry out an effective Alaska business entity search, enter the desired name, eliminating identifiers such as “LLC,” and leave all other boxes blank. This will return any entities with names that are the same or similar.

To avoid rejection, carry out a comprehensive search before submitting your documentation.

So you checked the Business Entity Records for your preferred LLC name, and there it was – your preferred name was already in use. So, what should you do now?

If you register your LLC in Alaska, your only alternative is to brainstorm and come up with a new legal name. It is important to note that your name should not appear to be particularly close to the one you previously picked. Next, once you’ve found an LLC name that is unique and legal, reserve it as quickly as possible.

The procedure may grow more difficult for international business entities.

While your LLC may be well-known by its name in other states, you may be unable to use it in Alaska due to name availability. As a result, you’ll need to come up with a “fictitious name,” or one that you can only use in the state.

Furthermore, you can use a fictitious name for your Certification of Registration while qualifying your foreign limited liability company.

The third crucial aspect to take into account is whether your chosen business entity name has an available domain name. For instance, it is important to hold a URL that clearly complements your LLC name. This seemingly small detail can majorly impact your potential prospecting clients’ ability to find your LLC online. 

In addition, the simplest way to discover whether your desired name is available or not is to search through the domain registry of your choice, such as GoDaddy.

All LLC naming questions and requests are processed by Alaska’s Division of Corporations, Business, and Professional Licensing. Names can be reserved for a total of 120 days.

You will be required to pay a filing fee while reserving your name. You can file your name reservation online or by mail. However, filing online may be preferable if you need your name immediately. Check out Alaska’s online business services for additional information.

While reserving your business name is seemingly straightforward, there are certain things to keep in mind while choosing your Alaska LLC name that best fits your needs. Extensive research is always helpful; therefore, performing a Social Media and Trademark search is a good idea to ensure that you are able to use your desired business name. 

Performing a trademark search can help you create not only a business entity name but also a unique slogan and logo. Additionally, it will allow you to avoid expensive and potential litigation. Thus, finding out that another company has trademarked your LLC name doesn’t mean that you are ineligible to use it. 

However, discovering the entity that is using your desired name, what industry they work in, and their current location is crucial to be sure that you don’t accidentally violate the property rights of the business owner. 

The steps to complete a trademark search goes as follows:

1. In order to discover if your chosen business name, slogan, or logo is used by other entities in Alaska, search the trademark records of the state.
2. To find officially registered trademarks that are linked to your desired LLC name, search the electronic records of the U.S. Patent and the Trademark Office. 

Similar to the availability of a web domain name for your business, having a unique and available LLC name across all social media platforms is equally important. To do that, you can use various online tools, such as Namecheckr, and you will be able to check all social media platforms at once. 

Choosing a name is the first and most significant step in founding an LLC in Alaska. You are fine to proceed as long as the name is lawful and distinct from the remaining Alaska LLC companies in the state.

After completing an Alaska Entity Search and deciding on an LLC name, you may wish to pick a domain name that compliments it to assist your clients to reach your company online.

Simply by completing the Alaska LLC name reservation form, you may set yourself apart from the competitors. Securing your selected business entity name can assist you in the next steps of establishing your firm in Alaska.