As you embark on your exciting new venture to find a name suitable for your Louisiana business, you may feel overwhelmed and unsure of where to begin. Finding the right name that stands out and presents your business in the way you want is a challenging task, and to help you with this, we have put together a step-by-step Louisiana business name search guidebook.
Browse below to find all the relevant information for your business name search, including; Preparation steps, availability checks, how to register and applicable policies.
Generate Business Name Ideas
Prepare For Your Louisiana Business Name Search
Before we search for potential Louisiana Business names, it’s vital to go back to basics and understand your business and its goals. By being 100% in tune with your business, you will know your strengths and unique selling point, which you should want to reflect in your company’s name. So make a note of these strengths.
You can take these keywords and run them through our Business Name Generator to broaden your scope of finding a unique name that ensures you stand out from the crowd. Then, experiment with our versatile filters to make the most of your search!
How To Search Available Names In Louisiana
Once you have set your heart on your favourite name for your Louisiana business, the next step is to see if this name is available to use. You can do this free of charge by going to the Secretary of State’s website. Do this by inputting your chosen name into the Louisiana Business Filings Search Page. By including more letters in your search, your results will be more accurate.
If no results are shown, your business name is likely free for you to use. If not, you may have to go back to the drawing board.
How to Register Your Business Name In Louisiana
When you have your available Louisiana business name ready to use, it is time to register that name. The first step is to purchase a domain as similar as possible to your business name. This similarity is fundamental and ensures customers can find your website without any stress. A valuable tool for you to check that your domain is available to use is our instant domain name check on our Domain Name Generator.
Once you have your domain name ready, you must register your business in Louisiana. Do this by visiting the Louisiana Secretary Of State website. Then, you can file the relevant business documents to register your name.
Louisiana Business Name Registration Policies And Procedures
Knowing the registration policies and procedures when registering your Louisiana business name is essential.
A great place to start is with the required thorough reading of the laws concerning partnership, limited liability companies, and corporate and partnership names.
Secondly, you must note that all trade names, trademarks and service marks can be reserved for 120 days when you file an application for reservation. Filing this application does not mean that you have formally adopted your chosen name yet.
Your name should reflect the structure of your business (such as corporate, LLC, or limited) and be distinguishable from other trade names previously registered with the Secretary Of State. For example, suppose your company is corporate or limited liability. In that case, your name must not imply that your company is an administrative agency of any parish or of any state in the United States.
Louisiana Business Registration Office
| Website: | https://www.sos.la.gov/ |
| Phone: | 225.925.4704 |
| Contact Form: | https://coraweb.sos.la.gov/contact/contactform.aspx?recipient=website%20administrator |
| Hours: | 8am – 5pm, Monday – Friday Closed on weekends |
How To Use An Online Portal To Register Business Names In Louisiana
The easiest way to set up your business in Louisiana is by using geauxBIZ, the resourceful and straightforward website created by The Louisiana Secretary Of State.
- First, create an account and fill out your personal details.
- Then, you will be required to make a business license checklist, which includes vital financial decisions and legal activities.
- Once this step is complete, you can reserve your business name and register your new business within Louisiana.
If registering your Louisiana business name online is not practical for you, you can also register via Louisiana’s walk-in service at the following address; 8585 Archives Avenue, Baton Rouge, LA 70809.
How Costly Is It To Register Business Name In Louisiana
Louisiana allows you to reserve your Louisiana business name for 120 days from filing a registration application; the cost of this is $25. When applying to register your trade name, trademark or service mark, you must also enclose $75.
Depending on the level of service you are seeking, further payment may vary; for 24-hour processing on your application, you are required to pay $30, or you can request 2-4 hour processing at the price of $50. There is also the option for routine processing, which comes for free.
Why Should I Register A Business Name In Louisiana
You may be wondering why you should register your business name in Louisiana, and we are here to let you know that there are multiple benefits to registering your business name.
Firstly, registering your Louisiana business name will ensure that your company is easily distinguished from others and makes your business more accessible to consumers. Additionally, registering your name ensures other companies do not use the same name for their company.
Secondly, your life can be made easier by using Louisiana’s new service ‘geauxBIZ’. This service allows you to easily manage your business filings and find resources to help you plan and make critical business decisions.
Suppose you choose not to register your business name in Louisiana. In that case, you run the risk of competitors holding the same name as you and not having the right to open a business account, which can be incredibly useful.
Support When Registering A Business Name In Louisiana
Aside from Louisiana’s helpful service ‘geauxBIZ’, you can also find support when registering your business name in Louisiana with SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives). This non-profit organization offers free counselling for your business.
You can also go directly to the Louisiana Small Business Development Center for information on grants and business plans.
Conclusion
We hope that this guide is helpful to you as you venture into your Louisiana business name search. Remember to keep in mind what makes you unique, and throw yourself into understanding your business as best as you can to ensure you find a business name that will be approved by the Secretary Of State.
If you found this article useful, you may also find our other articles on finding a business name in the other US States beneficial. You can see our list of US States to find out more on the registration process in these areas.