All enterprises must carry out a Missouri Secretary of State business search prior to forming an LLC.
In our Missouri Entity Search guide, we’ll demonstrate how to check the Missouri LLC name availability. Aside from abiding by Missouri Secretary of State criteria, you must assure that your preferred business name is used wholly and exclusively by your Missouri LLC.
1. Discover the Guidelines for Naming an LLC
The first step is to perform a Missouri business name search before completing the required documents. Then you must pick a company name that meets the naming regulations.
It is vital to have a different company name from other officially legitimate business entities in Missouri. As a result, before filing your selected entity name, you must conduct a Missouri LLC search.
In summary, the LLC naming regulations are as follows:
- In the name of your entity, you must include the abbreviations (LLC or L.L.C.) or "limited liability company."
- You should avoid any mistake with governmental entities such as the FBI or the Treasury when naming your LLC.
- If you want to use prohibited words in your company name, such as Bank or Attorney, you may need to fill out extra paperwork or hire a specialist, such as a lawyer.
2. Conduct a Missouri LLC Name Search
Prior to filing your name reservation request, you may check the Missouri Business Search to determine if your selected name is available.
The phases of doing an effective Missouri LLC lookup are as follows. Remove words like “LLC” from your intended LLC name. All entities with names that sound similar to the one you’ve chosen will be found. If your LLC name consists of more than one word, you should limit your search to the first two words to guarantee that you locate all possible related names.
What To Do If Your Preferred Name Is Unavailable
Your desired name was determined to be in use after doing a thorough Missouri LLC name search. So, what are your plans now?
Your only alternative is to come up with a new LLC name that is both legal and accepted by the state. It should also not be too similar to the one you previously chose.
This method may be difficult for overseas firms trying to expand.
Whether or whether your LLC is recognized in other states by its original name, you must comply with the Secretary of State’s naming criteria; you must amend it if it is the same or too similar to an existing LLC name in Missouri.
3. Choose a Web Domain Name
It is best to come up with a domain name that is appropriate to your selected business name before filing your registration. This modest effort ensures that clients may discover your company while searching the web.
On the websites of domain registrars such as GoDaddy, you may browse through a wide list of domains. Following that, you will be able to select a URL that appropriately fits your company name.
Find a Domain Now
4. Reserve Your LLC Name in Missouri
All LLC name inquiries are managed by Missouri’s Secretary of State’s Business Services Division. You can make a Missouri LLC name reservation for a period of 60 days. If you have not yet formed your company under the reserved name when the reservation expires, you may extend the name reservation for up to two more 60-day periods.
Moreover, you are required to pay a filing fee while reserving your name, and checks should be payable to the State of Missouri.
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Additional Considerations
While founding an LLC in Missouri is simple and quick, there are some additional factors to take into account when establishing your company. Before making a final choice on your company’s name, do considerable research, including a trademark and social media search. As a consequence, this stage will help determine whether or not you have the lawful right of using your preferred company name.
Trademark Search
Do a trademark search in Missouri before submitting your business name and other aspects, such as a slogan and logo, to avoid potentially costly difficulties. The fact that another firm has registered your desired LLC name as a trademark does not prevent you from applying it.
It’s important to know who is using the name, what industry they’re in, and where they’re situated to avoid mistakenly violating anyone’s intellectual property rights.
In addition, consider the following steps:
- You can perform a trademark search in Missouri to determine whether another company in your state is already using your LLC’s name or slogans.
- You may check the databases found on the United States Patent and Trademark Office’s website. You may search for any business entity that has the same or a similar name to the one you’ve picked for your business.
Social Media Search
Picking a domain name that obviously compliments your desired limited liability company name is crucial, however, another consideration is whether you are able to create a unique account on social networking platforms. You may use tools like Namecheckr and you can do a Missouri LLC name check on all social networks.
Conclusion
Choosing a Missouri LLC name is both exciting and challenging. You can continue with the formation process as long as your chosen name is legal and distinct.
After doing a Missouri entity search and choosing an LLC name, you may need to select a domain name that corresponds to it so that potential clients can easily find your LLC on the internet.
After that, you may fill out a Missouri LLC name reservation form to set yourself apart from your competition.
- Finalize your LLC name. It’s essential to ensure that your chosen Missouri LLC name complies with the Secretary of State’s naming laws before filing your papers.
- Assign a registered agent. LLCs are required to appoint a person or a firm as a registered agent to handle the serving of process. They must accept legal papers on behalf of your company.
- File articles of organization. Articles of Organization (LLC 1) are filed with the Secretary of State to form an LLC in Tennessee.
- Draft an operating agreement. This is a contract that is comprised of the day-to-day activities of an LLC as well as the rights and duties of each member. Although the law does not need an operating agreement for LLCs, we strongly suggest you to develop one.
- Get an EIN. Whether or not your LLC has employees, it must obtain its own IRS Employer Identification Number (EIN). You may obtain an EIN by completing an online application on the IRS website. There is no filing fee.
To comply with the naming guidelines, you are required to add these words to your LLC name:
- Limited Liability Company;
- LLC; or
- L.L.C.
Furthermore, your intended LLC name should not contain terms or phrases that imply that it was formed for a reason other than that mentioned in its articles of incorporation.
To change your LLC name, complete and submit Registration Change Request Form 126 to the Department, you may send an email to businesstaxregister@dor.mo.gov, or call 573-751-5860.
The Secretary of State’s website is the easiest way to see if your company name is available in Missouri. Once there, enter your company name into the search field.
- The Missouri Secretary of State costs $50 to file the Articles of Organization online and $105 to file them on paper. An extra $1.25 is required for online filers.
- The Missouri Secretary of State will charge $7 to reserve the name of your LLC.
You are not required to change your LLC name in Missouri, but it is highly recommended. For example, if your company doesn’t provide the same product or service as specified in the articles of organization, you will need to renew your LLC name to clearly indicate the product or service you offer.
In Missouri, any business entity operating under a name other than its legally registered name is required by law to submit a fictitious name, or DBA, registration with the Missouri Secretary of State.
What's Next?
Now that you have your entity name, it's time to take the next steps to establish your Missouri LLC. Check out our full guide on how to form an LLC in Missouri, where we can guide you every step of the way.
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