All business entities are asked to follow the state’s naming guidelines, which emphasize performing an Indiana LLC name search.
In this article, we’ll teach you how to do an Indiana LLC name check. In addition to following Indiana’s 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 an Indiana 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 Indiana.
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.
2. Conduct an Indiana LLC Name Search
You may look through the list of business entities in Indiana through the use of beneficial tools like the Indiana 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 Indiana 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.
What To Do If Your Preferred Name Is Unavailable
After conducting an Indiana 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 Indiana 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 Indiana’s 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 Indiana
INBiz is Indiana’s one-stop shop for all business-related requirements and inquiries, including all LLC naming questions and concerns. LLC names can be reserved for as long as 120 days.
To carry out an Indiana LLC name reservation, you must first create an online account before submitting an application online or by mail.
There will be a filing fee while reserving your name. Checks should be paid to the Secretary of State.
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Additional Considerations
While it is simple and clear to establish an LLC name in Indiana, 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 be 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 Indiana 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 Indiana 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 Indiana.
After performing an Indiana 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 an Indiana 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 Indiana 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 Secretary of State Business Services 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 biennial reports. Every two years, all Indiana LLCs must file a Business Entity Report with the Secretary of State. The report is required every other year in the month of your LLC’s anniversary.
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 update your business name or formation paperwork, you must file Articles of Amendment with INBiz. The $30 paper filing fee or the $20 online filing fee must be paid.
You can log into your INBiz account and select Online Services to verify the availability of a company name. Select Name Reservations under the Secretary of State section. Enter the chosen name and press the Check Availability button.
- The biggest cost of forming an LLC is the $95 charge for filing your Articles of Organization with the Indiana Secretary of State online.
- The biennial report will cost you $31.
- To register your foreign LLC, it will cost $105 online and $125 by mail.
- To carry out an Indiana LLC name reservation, it will cost $10.
The state requires this information to guarantee that your company is in good standing. As a result, your company must keep its Articles of Organization up to date. There are substantial consequences if you do not carry out an Indiana LLC change when it is needed.
In Indiana, a DBA name is not required by law. If you own an LLC or a similar recognized business structure, it may be easy to remove the identification from the business name. Sole proprietors can likewise get several benefits from utilizing a DBA name.
What's Next?
Now that you have your entity name, it's time to take the next steps to establish your Indiana LLC. Check out our full guide on how to form an LLC in Indiana, where we can guide you every step of the way.
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