All businesses must perform an Ohio LLC name search in order to comply with the naming guidelines imposed by the Secretary of State.
We’ll show you how to do an Ohio LLC name check in our Ohio entity search guide. Apart from conforming to the Secretary of State’s standards, you must be sure that your desired entity name is used solely and completely by your company.
1. Discover the Guidelines for Naming an LLC
The first stage in establishing an LLC in Ohio is to conduct an extensive Ohio business name search prior to filing the associated paperwork. Consequently, you must be sure to choose a company name that adheres to the naming rules.
Having a distinct company name from other federally registered business entities in Ohio should be taken into account. Therefore, it is crucial to carry out a thorough Ohio LLC search prior to filing your chosen entity name.
In summary, Ohio’s LLC naming guidelines are the following:
- 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 prevent any confusion with official bodies such as the FBI.
- If you wish to include forbidden terms in your company name, such as Bank or Attorney, you may need to fill out additional paperwork or engage a professional, such as a lawyer.
For additional information on LLC naming guidelines, visit Ohio’s Secretary of State’s website.
2. Conduct an Ohio LLC Name Search
You can use the Ohio Secretary of State Business Search to see if your desired name is available before submitting your name reservation request.
The following are the stages of performing an effective Ohio LLC lookup. Remove any terms such as “LLC” from your proposed LLC name. You’ll be able to find all entities with names that sound similar to the one you’ve picked.
If your LLC name is more than one word, you may consider limiting your search to the first two words; this will ensure that you find all viable related names.
What To Do If Your Preferred Name Is Unavailable
After completing a comprehensive Ohio LLC name search, your preferred name was discovered to be in use. So, what are you going to do now?
Your only option is to brainstorm and select a different LLC name that is both legal and approved by the state. It should also not seem too identical to the one you previously picked.
This procedure may be tough for foreign companies looking to expand.
Regardless of whether your LLC is recognized by its original name in other states, you must follow the Secretary of State’s naming requirements; you must modify it if it is the same or too similar to an existing LLC name in Ohio.
3. Choose a Web Domain Name
Before filing your application, it is a good idea to come up with a domain name that is relevant to your chosen business name. This minor effort guarantees that clients can find your business through a simple web search.
You may search through a large list of domains on the websites of domain registrars such as GoDaddy. After that, you’ll be able to choose a URL that properly matches your company name.
Find a Domain Now
4. Reserve Your LLC Name in Ohio
In Ohio, the entity naming questions and applications are dealt with by the Secretary of State Business Services. For 180 days, your Ohio LLC name reservation may be effective.
According to the state’s guidelines, all businesses must file an application online or by mail to reserve a company name. A filing fee will be required as you reserve your entity name. Checks should be made out to the “Secretary of State.” There are also 2-day, 1-day, and 4-hour speedy options available.
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Additional Considerations
While the steps to check the Ohio LLC name availability is quick and uncomplicated, there are additional aspects to consider while naming your company. Conduct extensive research, including a trademark and social media check, before making a final decision on your company’s name. As a result, this step will aid you in verifying that you have the legal right to use your preferred company name.
Trademark Search
To prevent potentially costly complications, do a trademark search in Ohio prior to submitting your business name and other elements, such as a slogan and logo. The fact that another company has trademarked your preferred LLC name does not bar you from using it.
To avoid accidentally infringing on anyone’s intellectual property rights, it’s crucial to know who is 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 Ohio 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 can discover any business entity that may possess the same or even a similar name as the one you have chosen for your company.
Social Media Search
Choosing a matching domain name with your desired LLC name is important, but checking if you can create a unique account on social media platforms is another concern. You may use tools like Namecheckr to search for your company’s name across all major social networks at once.
Conclusion
Choosing an Ohio LLC name is both thrilling and difficult. You can proceed with the creation procedure as long as your selected name is legal and distinctive.
After doing an Ohio entity search and deciding on an LLC name, you may need to choose a domain name that matches it to enable potential clients quickly discover your LLC on the web.
Following that, you may fill out an Ohio LLC name reservation form to distinguish yourself apart from the competitors.
- Finalize your LLC name. Before actually filing your documents, be sure that your LLC name satisfies the Secretary of State’s naming rules.
- Assign a registered agent. Every LLC must assign a person or a firm as their registered agent to administer the serving of process; they must take responsibility for legal papers on behalf of the LLC.
- File articles of organization. You will need to file Form 533A with the Ohio Secretary of State to form an LLC.
- Draft an operating agreement. An operating agreement is a document that specifies the day-to-day operations of an LLC as well as each member’s rights and obligations. The state does not require LLCs to have an operating agreement, but we strongly advise you to draft one.
- Get an EIN. Even though your LLC has no workers, it must get its own IRS Employer Identification Number (EIN) if it has more than one member. You may get an EIN by filling out an online application on the IRS website. There are no filing costs.
It is essential to consider adding these words to your LLC name:
- Limited Liability Company;
- LLC; or
- L.L.C.
Additionally, your desired LLC name shouldn’t include words or phrases that indicate that it is created for a different purpose from what is specified in its articles of organization.
To alter the name of a limited liability company in Ohio, the principals are required to submit Form 543(A), a Domestic Limited Liability Company Certificate of Amendment or Restatement, with the Ohio Secretary of State and pay a filing fee.
Before submitting your documents, you must make sure that the name of your LLC be distinct from the names of any current entities on file with the Ohio Secretary of State. To ensure that your chosen name is available, you may carry out a free name search on the Ohio SOS website.
- The Secretary of State charges a fee of $99.00 to file articles of organization.
- If you want to reserve your LLC name before completing the Articles of Organization, you may do so for $39 by submitting an application.
Changing the name of your LLC in Ohio is not mandatory, although it is strongly advised. For instance, your LLC does not supply the same product or service as indicated in the articles of incorporation; therefore, you must renew your name to clearly represent the product or service you provide.
To be in compliance with state naming rules, an LLC that does business under a name other than the one registered with the Ohio Secretary of State must submit a DBA. If your business uses a fictitious name in its marketing, contracts, websites, labels, or any other public display of its name, it must apply for a DBA.
What's Next?
Now that you have your entity name, it's time to take the next steps to establish your Ohio LLC. Check out our full guide on how to form an LLC in Ohio, where we can guide you every step of the way.
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