Kentucky LLC Name Search in 2023

Why Should You Conduct a Kentucky LLC Name Search?

Before establishing a Kentucky LLC, all firms should conduct a company search in the state.

In the guide to Kentucky Secretary of State Business Search below, we’ll teach you how to determine whether an LLC name is available and conduct a KY SOS business search.

Follow Kentucky Naming Guidelines

Before you finish your business name search or KY SOS business 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 and doing a Kentucky business search. Make sure the name you select conforms with Kentucky’s naming regulations and can be found by potential customers.

The words “limited liability corporation” or one of its acronyms (LLC or L.L.C.) must be present within the name of the business or corporation.

Besides that, the name of the business or corporation should in no way suggest that your LLC is a government agency (FBI, Treasury, State Department, etc.).

A licensed person, such as a doctor or lawyer, may be required to be part of your LLC if the word “restricted” (such as “bank,” “attorney,” or “university”) is used.

Simply file your application with the state if you’re unsure if your intended Kentucky LLC name is identifiable. The Kentucky Secretary of State will mail your application back and inform you that the name has to be altered if your name is not available.

Do a Kentucky Business Name Search

Business owners who wish the register their businesses can check the availability of their selected name using the Kentucky Name Search. This is an important step for business owners before submitting their name reservation requests.

Enter the entity name you want to use in the search field, keeping identifiers like “LLC” out. All business entities with the same or similar names will be returned by this. If the name of your company consists of more than two syllables, you may limit your search to the first two letters to guarantee that you find any name that might be similar.

Kentucky 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.

To check whether any expired names would fit, type “Italian” into the search form to obtain a list of current and expired names.

It is advised to call the Frankfurt office of the Kentucky Secretary of State to see if a name that has expired is still usable.

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.

KY SOS Business Search

You may quickly do numerous business entity searches thanks to the state of Kentucky’s online company filings and records portal. By conducting a business entity search on the Kentucky Business One Stop Portal, you may access details on corporations or any other business entity registered in the state of Kentucky.

You may find data about corporations, limited liability companies, limited partnerships, limited liability partnerships, and general partnerships in the KY SOS business search database.

To determine if the business they are dealing with is legitimately permitted to do business in Kentucky and is in good standing, many people examine the Kentucky corporation and Kentucky entity database.

They could also do a check to discover whether a different company with the same name is already registered.

Kentucky LLC Name Search by Organization Name or Number

Start by accessing this website and putting the business’ name and phone number into the form as seen below.

You’ll be given a lengthy list of companies. Green highlights indicate active items, while red highlights indicate inactive items. To learn more about the company’s filing history and specific business data, click on the name of the company.

If the company is still operating, you can file yearly reports or update the data here. In any case, you may look for general information like the organization number, activity history, founding organizers and incorporators, and filing history.

Kentucky Business Entity Structure Naming Considerations

Sole proprietorships and partnerships

In Kentucky, sole proprietorships can do business without registering with the corporation division. There is often no need to do a Kentucky business search for sole proprietorships because they normally operate under an individual’s name.

Similar to sole proprietorships, partnerships are reasonably simple to set up and often include the last names of all partners.

LLCs

LLCs are independent legal companies that let owners keep their personal and professional obligations separate. Kentucky LLC names must be registered with the Kentucky Secretary of State and be distinctive.

Corporations

Similar to LLCs, corporations are distinct legal business entities that must file paperwork with the Corporation Commission. Large enterprises that want to issue shares and draw investors frequently utilize corporations since they are somewhat sophisticated legal entities.

Corporations must identify themselves as such in their business names by using the terms “corp”, “corporation”, “Inc”, “limited”, or “company”. The same naming guidelines that apply to conventional organizations also apply to S Corporations.

Professional Corporations are required to use the letters “PC” rather than the normal corporate identification to identify themselves as a “professional corporation.”

Reserve Your Kentucky Business Entity Name

All inquiries and requests about LLC names are handled by the Business Services Division of the Kentucky Secretary of State. For 120 days, business names can be held in reserve.

You must mail in your application in order to reserve a business entity name. No online option is available. Before submitting your application, make careful to do a thorough search to prevent rejection.

There is a filing fee that you must pay in order to reserve your name. To file, make checks payable to the “Kentucky State Treasurer.”

Other Concerns

While reserving the name for your Kentucky LLC is simple, there are several additional considerations you should make when deciding on the ideal name for your company.

To check whether your name is available for usage on the internet, you could wish to conduct a trademark and social media search for it. By doing this, you can guarantee that you may use the name of your company organization without restriction.

Trademark Search

Before registering, conducting a trademark search on your business 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 they are in, and where they are situated.

To finish this stage, you may check Kentucky’s trademark records to discover whether another company in your state is already using your company name or any associated slogans, logos, or other items. Then, look for any federally registered trademarks connected to the name of your company entity in the computerized records maintained by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Social Media Search

Making sure your company name is available for usage on social networking sites is just as important—if not more so—than picking a domain name that matches your brand. Simply do a search for your company name on each major website to achieve this, or use a service like Namecheckr to conduct an internet search across all platforms simultaneously.

Register Business Entity in Kentucky

Businesses can register their incorporation with the Kentucky Corporation Commission 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. The owner of the limited liability corporation (LLC) can easily file for an EIN online without any hassle. Swyft Filings offers Kentucky corporations a Tax ID registration service for $79 each year.

Logo creation

Businesses tend to impress clients more with creative and outstanding logos. By having a distinctive logo, this will help business owners to stand out from the competition. Clients would have a higher chance of recalling distinctive services in a favorable way. This is similar to choosing a good business name.

Business plan write-up

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

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. When a firm needs a loan to expand in the future, it also aids in establishing a commercial reputation.

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

How Do Business Owners Reserve an LLC Name in Kentucky?

A Name Reservation is available if there is a name you wish to register but are not yet prepared to create the LLC. With a filing cost of $15, the Name Reservation will keep a name for 120 days.

FAQ

How do business owners register for an Assumed Business Name in Kentucky?

Information about corporations and Kentucky-registered LLCs may be found in the Kentucky Secretary of State’s Business Entity Database. There is no one repository for sole proprietorship names. The County Clerk’s office in the county where the business is situated is where they are registered instead.

An assumed name, also known as “doing business as,” “DBA,” a fictitious business name, or a trade name, is registered by a sole proprietorship or partnership that does business under a name other than the owner’s legal identity.

How do I form a Kentucky LLC?

Make sure the name is accessible to use by doing a business entity search prior to launching your company and creating an LLC.

An Operating Agreement, or simply the guidelines for how the LLC functions, is a document worth examining even if it is not necessary in Kentucky, especially for multi-member LLCs.

Make sure to apply for Kentucky business licenses after creating a Limited Liability Company and to get an Employer Identification Number (EIN) so that the company is able to conduct business legally.

What are the requirements for a business owner to name an LLC in Kentucky?

The name of the LLC must be distinct, include a special designator like Limited Liability Company, LLC, L.L.C., etc., and not contain terms that are prohibited, such as bank or insurance, unless the business is authorized to do so.

Is there an annual report requirement in Kentucky?

In Kentucky, for-profit businesses are required to file annual reports every year and every two years for charities. Forms for annual reports are available on the KY.gov website.

Are registered agents required for a startup in the State of Kentucky?

A registered agent is a person chosen to receive correspondence on behalf of your corporation, LLP, or LLC. Individuals are permitted to serve as their registered agent so long as they establish a physical address (a PO Box is not permitted) inside the same State.

Adding a layer of anonymity between the organization and the general public is one of the key advantages of choosing a third-party registered agent service provider. All papers are acquired by the registered agent company on behalf of the business, and they can be confidentially mailed to you.

Why should I file a trademark? How do I file?

Businesses that use trademarks have legal protection for their brands. As your Kentucky company expands, rivals often appear to try to outsell you in the marketplace. A trademark makes it clear to rivals who could be investigating your niche that you mean business.

As your firm expands and your brand’s awareness rises, trademark value likewise rises. Having a strong trademark might increase your business’s value if you ever want to sell it.

Let’s say your company wants to sell a tangible item on online stores like Amazon. In such instances, having a registered trademark gives firms access to special features that assist guard against product infringement.