Maine LLC Name Search in 2023

Why is Conducting a Maine LLC Name Search Important?

Checking to determine if the name is available to use is the first step in creating an LLC or company in Maine. Every company that registers with the Maine Secretary of State must have a distinctive name. See our detailed instructions to find out how to use the Maine Business Entity Database to easily search for names that are available.

A crucial and extremely simple initial step in developing a successful Maine LLC is coming up with a name for your company. After utilizing Maine’s Corporate Name Search to pick your ideal name, you should reserve your domain name so that clients can locate your company online.

You may differentiate yourself from the competition by reserving your name using a Maine Business Name Reservation Form. You’ll be prepared to take the following actions to formally establish your Maine LLC once you’ve obtained your company name.

The Maine Secretary of State Business Entity Database contains details about Maine-registered companies and LLCs. There is no unified list of names for sole proprietorships or general partnerships. The town or municipal clerk where the business is situated is where they register instead.

Follow Maine Naming Guidelines

Before conducting the company name search, business owners are advised to check to make sure that the chosen name complies with the rules.

Before business owners decide to form an LLC, business owners are required to select a company name. Business owners are required to ensure that the name selected conforms with Maine’s naming regulations. Chosen names should be simple for customers to find your business entity.

The words “limited liability company” or one of its acronyms (LLC or L.L.C.) must be present in the name of the LLC the business owner is trying to register. Moreover, there should be no restricted terms in the name of the corporation which suggest that your LLC is a government body (FBI, Treasury, State Department, etc.).

Corporations may require to hire licensed individuals such as a doctor or lawyer to be part of your LLC if restricted words such as “bank,” “attorney,” or “university” are used. Additionally, your name must be distinct from that of any Maine company, limited partnership, or limited liability partnership.

Do a Maine Business Name Search

Use the Maine Secretary of State Business Search (often referred to as the Corporate Name Search) to see if your preferred name is available before submitting your name reservation request.

The best way to do a Maine business name search is to enter the name you want to use, leaving off identifiers like “LLC,” and leaving all other boxes empty. All business entities with the same or similar business names will be returned by this.

You might want to try a few permutations of your name to guarantee you get the most complete results as Maine’s search results are restricted to just 100 entries retrieved. Before submitting your documentation, it is crucial to conduct a thorough search in order to prevent rejection.

Maine Corporation Search Name Status

All reports and filing costs must be current to be in good standing for Maine business name search. Suspended indicates that the company might not be open. The name of a suspended company could occasionally be open for registration.

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 important to have a URL that accurately reflects the name of your company or business that you want to have. This apparently insignificant action can have a significant impact on how potential clients discover your company.

Maine Business Entity Search by Keyword

To access the keyword box for business entity search, you must first browse to this webpage. Any keywords you believe would help you focus your search can be entered there. You should strive to choose phrases that are particular to the business entity in issue because the search results will be restricted to 100 items.

You will see a list of 100 companies that best fit the search criteria on the next page. The name will be on the right, then the name type, and lastly the Information Summary. To view the company information, click on this link.

You will be able to see the jurisdiction, filing history, registered agent, business location, and charter number on this page. A link to buy a Certificate of Legal Existence is located below this.

 

Maine Business Search by Charter Number

You may avoid having to wade through 100 search results to discover your business name by searching by charter number. It will instead lead you to the page with the information summary. Once more, you must go to this page and enter the charter number in the second area.

If typed correctly, it should direct you to a webpage where you may view all of the information on that company stored in the CEC database.

Reserve Your Maine Business Entity Name

All LLC name inquiries and requests are handled by the Bureau of Corporations, Elections, and Commissions of the Maine Secretary of State. The 120-day reservation period for business names is non-renewable. In the event that the name reservation expires and you have not yet created your business organization under that name, you may reapply for the name reservation.

The website of the Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions offers online business services for Maine. You must mail in an application to reserve a business name. Checks must be made payable to the “Maine Secretary of State” and cost $20.

If you would like expedited services for 24-hour processing, you may spend an extra $50, and if you would like instant processing, you can add $100.

Other Concerns

While reserving the name for your Maine LLC is simple, there are several additional considerations you should make when deciding on the ideal name for your company. If you want to know if your name is accessible for use online, you might wish to do a multi-level trademark and social media search.

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 they are in, and where they are situated.

While the Maine Secretary of State’s Corporate Name Search does not offer a thorough trademark search, it may be used to determine whether another company in your state is already using your company name or any related slogans, logos, or other identifiers.

To identify any federally registered trademarks connected to your company name, you may also search the computerized databases maintained by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

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. To achieve this, use a program like Namecheckr to simultaneously search on all major websites for your company name.

Register Maine business entity

Businesses can register their incorporation with the Maine 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’ Tax ID registration costs $79 for Maine firms.

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 similar to choosing a good business name.

Writing a business plan

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 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 Does A Business Owner Reserve an LLC Name in Maine?

The Application for Reservation of Name (Incorporate MLLC-1) can be used to reserve a name for up to 120 days if you wish to use it but aren’t yet prepared to form the Maine LLC. The Maine Secretary of State must receive payment of $20 as the state filing fee for a name reservation.

Maine Secretary of State Contact Info

You can reach the Maine Secretary of State by phone at 207-624-7752 or by email at cec.corporations@maine.gov if you have any questions for the Maine Secretary of State.

FAQ

How Does A Business Owner Form an LLC in Maine?

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

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

Make sure to apply for Maine business licenses after creating a Limited Liability Company and to secure an Employer Identification Number (EIN) so that the company may legally function.

What are the requirements to pick a name for LLC in Maine?

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

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

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 in Maine? And How do I file it?

Businesses that use trademarks have legal protection for their brands. As your Maine company expands, rivals frequently emerge 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.

Should I file a DBA?

Doing business as (DBA) or trade names are fictional company names used by businesses to conduct operations outside of the legal LLC name. DBA names can be registered with organizations like Incfile.com or with the Maine Secretary of State.

There are a few advantages to DBAs, such as the potential for expansion. Businesses can grow beyond their original scope without creating a new company organization by using a DBA. It would just be necessary to set up a new DBA and use the current LLC as the operational vehicle.

Privacy: Having a DBA allows firms to operate under a fake business name without having the owners’ real identity made public. This is one of the major advantages of having a DBA.