District of Columbia Business Name Search

In District of Columbia, the process is known as trade name registration. The procedure is handled by the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs.

Useful information:

• A trade name is separate from the corporate name, these are viewed as two separate entities in District of Columbia.
• Trade name registration is obligatory for all LLCs, corporations, sole proprietorship entities, general partnerships and other kinds of organizations.
• Online filing is possible to simplify the process but you’ll have to meet certain requirements in advance.

To register your business name, you’ll need to put together a portfolio of documents and you’ll also have to meet certain conditions:

• Start by creating an online account here
• Download and fill out the required documents
• You will also need to pay a filing fee (the amount is dependent on the type of business or entity that you’d like to do a name registration for)
• If you have to register a trade name, you’ll also need to fill out the TN-1 Trade Name Registration Form

Finding out that the business name you want has already been taken can be incredibly disappointing. Always do a check of registered entities to make sure your idea hasn’t been already filed by somebody else. If this is the case, you’ll need to do the following:

• For LLCs and corporations, there’s a requirement for the selection of a business name that’s different and distinguishable from the names already on file. You can’t just modify the idea slightly and still hope for business entity registration.
• You can opt for a preventative measure before you register the business. If you spot a name that you like and you’re afraid that somebody is going to take it, you can reserve the name for a period of 120 days.

Both from a legal and from a business point of view, opting for a name that’s unique will be the most beneficial choice. Do a brainstorming session and try to produce a couple of versions that are distinctly different from each other. This way, you’ll get to register a title that you like and that’s representative of your business.

If you’re still unable to find a business name that suits you, try using our business name generator to get unique name ideas (click here to find our business name generator).