All Kentucky business entities are required to follow the state’s naming requirements, which encourage doing a comprehensive business entity name search.
In this Kentucky Entity Search guide, we’ll show you how to check the Kentucky 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 Kentucky Secretary of State’s regulations.
1. Discover the Guidelines for Naming an LLC
It is vital to do a Kentucky 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 Kentucky. 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 Kentucky LLC Name Search
Prior to completing your name reservation request, you may check the availability of your selected name using the Kentucky LLC Search.
The steps to conduct an effective Kentucky 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 Kentucky 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 Kentucky 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 Kentucky
Business names can be reserved for a period of 120 days. You must complete an application by mail to reserve a business organization name. There is no possibility to order online. You must pay a filing fee while reserving your name. To file, checks must be made payable to the Kentucky State Treasurer.
Best LLC services
Best LLC services are those with a great value/price ratio that provide the maximum amount of services, high-quality work and won’t cost you a fortune. Here are some of them that we would recommend, as we researched and reviewed each one in detail and can vouch for them.
Additional Considerations
While establishing an LLC name in Kentucky 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 Kentucky 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 Kentucky 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 Kentucky 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 Kentucky LLC name search. The name you choose must be legal and distinct from the names of existing firms in the state.
After completing the Kentucky 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 Kentucky 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 Kentucky Secretary of State accepts Articles of Organization for a Limited Liability Company (Form KLC) to form a Kentucky LLC.
- Draft an operating agreement. Although an operating agreement is not required in Kentucky 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 Kentucky 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.
To make changes to your Kentucky LLC Articles of Organization, fill out the Articles of Amendment form and submit it to the Kentucky Secretary of State (SOS). When you sign up for Northwest, the form will be available in your online account. The modification form is also available on the SOS website.
The Name Availability Search, writing to the Secretary of State, or contacting (502) 564-3490 can all be used to perform a preliminary name availability check. A name can also be reserved to secure its availability.
- To file the Articles of Organization, the Kentucky Secretary of State levies a fee of $40.
- You may reserve your LLC name with the Kentucky Secretary of State for $15.
You must either register for the first time or change your existing registration with the Kentucky Department of Revenue. For additional information, see the Kentucky Business One Stop’s Buying a Business, Merging, and Franchises website.
If the owners of a sole proprietorship, partnership, or LLC want to do business in Kentucky under an assumed name, Kentucky law requires them to file for a DBA.
What's Next?
Now that you have your entity name, it's time to take the next steps to establish your Kentucky LLC. Check out our full guide on how to form an LLC in Kentucky, where we can guide you every step of the way.
- Alabama LLC
- Alaska LLC
- Arizona LLC
- Arkansas LLC
- California LLC
- Colorado LLC
- Connecticut LLC
- Delaware LLC
- District of Columbia LLC
- Florida LLC
- Georgia LLC
- Hawaii LLC
- Idaho LLC
- Illinois LLC
- Indiana LLC
- Iowa LLC
- Kansas LLC
- Kentucky LLC
- Louisiana LLC
- Maine LLC
- Maryland LLC
- Massachusetts LLC
- Michigan LLC
- Minnesota LLC
- Mississippi LLC
- Missouri LLC
- Montana LLC
- Nebraska LLC
- Nevada LLC
- New Hampshire LLC
- New Jersey LLC
- New Mexico LLC
- New York LLC
- North Carolina LLC
- North Dakota LLC
- Ohio LLC
- Oklahoma LLC
- Oregon LLC
- Pennsylvania LLC
- Rhode Island LLC
- South Carolina LLC
- South Dakota LLC
- Tennessee LLC
- Texas LLC
- Utah LLC
- Vermont LLC
- Virginia LLC
- Washington LLC
- West Virginia LLC
- Wisconsin LLC
- Wyoming LLC