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).