Arkansas LLC Name Search in 2023

Why is it Important to Conduct an Arkansas LLC Name Search?

Before establishing an Arkansas LLC, every company should conduct an Arkansas business name search.

Conducting an Arkansas Business Search is one of the initial stages in launching an Arkansas business. The Arkansas Secretary of State keeps a database of all Arkansas business entities, both active and inactive. Find current firms or check to see whether a business name is available using the free corporation search portal.

In the section below, under “Arkansas Secretary of State Business Search,” we’ll explain how to determine the LLC name availability.

Follow Arkansas Naming Guidelines

Before you finish your business name search, we advise checking sure your name complies with the rules.

The first and most crucial step in forming an LLC is selecting a business name. Make sure the name you select conforms with Arkansas’s naming regulations and can be found online by potential customers.

Your name must contain the words “limited liability corporation” or one of its abbreviations, such as LLC or L.L.C. In addition, your LLC’s name shouldn’t imply that it is a component of the government (FBI, Treasury, State Department, etc.). If the word “limited,” such as “bank,” “attorney,” or “university,” is used, you might need to have a licensed individual, like a doctor or lawyer, as a member of your LLC.

Keep in mind that you must put enough thought into naming your LLC because it will be associated with your company for a very long time. Making your LLC name distinctive is important because it will help consumers distinguish your company from others and make it simpler for them to remember your brand, goods, or services.

Do an Arkansas Business Name Search

You can check the availability of your selected name using Arkansas Business Entity Search or Arkansas LLC Name Search prior to submitting your name reservation request. The best way to search is to enter the desired name, leaving off identifiers like “LLC,” and leaving all other boxes empty.

All entities with the same or similar names will be returned by this. If your business name consists of many words, you may even limit your search to the first two words to guarantee that you find every name that might be similar. If you are unable to locate the name in your search, it is likely that it is available for use and has not already been taken.

To avoid rejection, make sure to do a thorough search before submitting your papers, whether you do it online or by mail. You may use the Arkansas.gov website to look up businesses in Arkansas. The following search parameters can be used to find Arkansas corporations and LLCs: Corporation Name, Fictitious Name, Registered Agent, RA City or State, and Filing Number.

When searching for a business entity, the “Name” search query is most frequently used. When you input a business name and choose “search,” the database will produce any names that are relevant to that name.

Searches can be done either by “All Types” of companies or by company type. Both active and dormant firms relevant to the search query will appear in the business search results from the Arkansas Secretary of State.

Arkansas Corporation Search Name Status

Looking through the list of search results to see if any expired names would match the firm is one technique to come up with ideas if a company is having trouble coming up with a solid business name.

Imagine, for instance, if someone wants to start a brand-new Italian restaurant. If so, they may type “Italian” into the search field to get a list of options based on the results of the company status search:

 

Based on how they are categorized, the status description will provide business owners suggestions for possible names, such as Good Standing, Forfeited Charter, Dissolved, Withdrawn, Administratively Dissolved, and Not Current.

There is a chance that a name that is not in good standing may be utilized. It is advised in these circumstances to acquire approval to use the name by contacting the Secretary of State’s office. The SOS hotline is at (501) 682-1010.

Search Available Domain Names

Whether or not your preferred web domain name is available should be taken into account while choosing a business name. It’s crucial to have a URL that accurately reflects the name of your company. This apparently insignificant action can have a significant impact on how potential clients discover your company.

Use your favourite domain registration, such as GoDaddy, to do an internet search to find out if your desired URL is accessible.

Reserve Your Arkansas Business Entity Name

All inquiries and requests about LLC names are handled by the Secretary of State’s Business and Commercial Services division in Arkansas.  Unless the name is identical to or too similar to one that is already in use in the state, business entities incorporated or allowed to do business in Arkansas are granted exclusive rights to the use of their business name(s) at the time of filing with Arkansas’ Secretary of State.

Prior to the creation of the corporate organization, business names may be booked for 120 days; LLCs are only permitted to renew this reservation once.

The internet business services offered by Arkansas can provide further details. You may reserve a business name online or by mailing in your application. There is a filing fee that you must pay in order to reserve your name.

Search Arkansas Businesses by Name or Fictitious Name

Follow this link, enter the title into the proper form, and then click Search to search for the business by name or fictional name. A more thorough search can be conducted if additional information is available.

A list of the records located using the data you provided will be shown to you. You will also receive the location, state, and status of the company in addition to the name. To get further details, click on a name.

You will have access to all the information you want for the particular LLC, partnership, or company after you have chosen the link.

Arkansas Business Search by City, State, or Registered Agent’s Name

Go to the Arkansas Business Entity Search homepage and enter the information you have on hand about the registered agent of the company whose information you are seeking. The search will be more precise the more details you may provide.

Following that, you will see a list of records, the length of which will depend on how much information you have provided. The business name, together with the city, state, and status, will be disclosed. To view the one’s information, click on it.

If relevant, the following will be displayed: Officers, Principal Address, Registered Agent, Agent’s Address, Filing Number, Filing Type, Filed Under Act, Status, Fictitious Name of the Corporation, Registered Agent, and Date of Filing State of Origin, Foreign Name, and Foreign Address.

 

Search by Arkansas Secretary of State Filing Number

By entering the file number of the business, as in the example below, you can conduct a search for a business entity in a manner similar to the examples before. Due to the file number being specific to each organization, this search will provide for the most precise search.

If the file number was provided correctly, a single search result displaying the business name, state, city, and status will appear. To acquire further information, click the name.

The following details may be present: Corporation Name, Fictitious Name, Filing Number, Filing Type, Filed Under Act, Status, Principal Address, Registered Agent, Agent’s Address, Date Filed, Officers, and State of Origin, Foreign Name, and Foreign Address

Other Considerations

The sole prerequisite in Arkansas for reserving a name for your LLC is that it should be distinctive from other Arkansas-registered business entities. However, it is a good idea to conduct extra research before submitting your paperwork.

Make sure your name, or one that is very similar to it, is not already being used by unregistered businesses like sole proprietorships or partnerships, has not already been registered as a trademark by a company operating in your state or sector, and is otherwise freely available for use on the internet. By doing this, you may make sure that you can use your company name without limitations.

Trademark Search

Before registering, conducting a trademark search on your company name and any related slogans or emblems will help you avoid expensive future lawsuits. If you later learn that another company has trademarked your company name, you are not immediately forbidden from using it.

To ensure you do not unintentionally violate anyone’s intellectual property rights, it is crucial to be aware of who is using the name, what business entity they are in, and where they are situated.

To finish this step, you can check Arkansas’ trademark records to see if your company name or any associated slogans, logos, or other items are being used by another company in your state. After that, you can check the electronic records of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to see if your company name is connected to any federally registered trademarks.

Social Media Search

Making sure your company name is accessible for usage on social media platforms is just as crucial—if not more so—than choosing a domain name that matches your operation. You may accomplish this by just conducting a name-only search for your company on each major website, or you can use a tool like Namecheckr to simultaneously search across all platforms.

Register Arkansas Business Entity

Businesses can file their incorporation paperwork with the Arkansas Secretary of State office after deciding on a company name.

Alternatively, you may register with businesses like Northwest Registered Agent, Incfile, or ZenBusiness, which can handle the filings for as cheap as $0 plus state filing costs.

Register TAX ID/EIN with the IRS

A firm is identified for tax purposes by its nine-digit EIN number. Consider it the social security number for companies. A limited liability corporation (LLC) can quickly and simply apply online for an EIN. Swyft Filings offers Arkansas firms a Tax ID registration service for $79 each year.

Logo creation

Businesses with outstanding logos impress clients, help them stand out from the competition, and help clients recall your distinctive services in a favorable way. This is comparable to picking a catchy business name.

It is simple to get a logo from Fiverr in 24 hours or less thanks to the rise of freelance marketplaces.

Write a business plan

Writing a business plan may assist in organizing the thoughts of business entity owners and provide a roadmap for companies to follow. A well-written company plan makes an excellent first impression on investors and promotes responsibility.

With over 500 sample plans to pick from, the business plan software Liveplan.com may help make the process simple.

Companies that link together should think about using a formal operating agreement.

Open a business bank account

Businesses are obliged to have a company bank account because it helps keep personal and corporate funds separate. Additionally, it helps establish corporate credibility in the event that future business expansion loans are required.

Businesses cannot utilize a PO box as their principal mailing address and must have a business postal address in order to create a business entity bank account.

FAQ

How Do I Reserve an LLC Name in Arkansas

Before you formally register your LLC name in Arkansas, you can reserve it opportunistically for up to 120 days. This stops other companies from using your name before you have a chance to register it yourself.

The Arkansas Secretary of State accepts online or postal applications for name reservations. There is a $25 filing fee.

Do I have to include LLC in my business name?

Yes. In order to be legally recognized, LLCs in Arkansas must have the phrase “Limited Liability Company” or one of its acronyms (such as LLC or L.L.C.) in its name.

Can my business name be different from my LLC name in Arkansas?

Some businesses opt to conduct business entity under a moniker other than their official name. In Arkansas, this is known as a fake name or a “doing business as” (DBA) name.

LLC fake names are registered with the Arkansas Secretary of State.