Minnesota LLC Name Search in 2023

Why Should You Conduct a Minnesota LLC Name Search?

Verifying the availability of the LLC name is the first step in creating an LLC or corporation in Minnesota. A distinctive name must be used by any business organization that registers with the Minnesota Secretary of State. See our detailed instructions to find out how to use the state’s Business Entity Database to rapidly search for available names.

Before establishing a Minnesota LLC, all businesses should conduct a Minnesota Business Name Search. In the Minnesota Business Name Search tutorial below, we’ll explain how to determine whether a Minnesota LLC name is available.

Follow Minnesota 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 Minnesota’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.

Do a Minnesota Name Search

You can verify the availability of your preferred name using Minnesota’s Business Entity Search prior to submitting your name reservation request. Enter the desired name, excluding off identifiers like “LLC,” for the most accurate search results.

All business entities with the same or similar business entities will be returned by this. If your company 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 submit your paperwork online, a prompt to look for your preferred name will appear instantly. Before submitting your documentation, be sure to conduct a comprehensive search to prevent rejection.

Minnesota Corporation Search Name Status

If a company is having trouble coming up with a name, one approach to get inspiration is to browse the list of “Inactive” search results and see if any business entities that have been dissolved could still work for the company.

For instance, enter “Fish” and choose “Inactive” before choosing “Search” if you wish to start a fishing business.

It is advised to call the Minnesota Secretary of State’s office in Augusta to see whether a name that has expired but is still of interest is still available.

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.

Search by Name For Business Name Availability

You must go to the company search page in order to conduct the search. Select the Business or Company name tab located to the left of the search bar when you arrive. After choosing, type the search phrases you want to use and click Search.

Based on the provided search keywords, the database will produce a page of results, like the one shown below. You must click the Details link to the right of the entity in question to reach the details page for that particular entity.

You are currently seeing the company’s information page that you selected provided by the Minnesota Secretary of State for your Minnesota LLC name search. Access to the filing history and certificate of good standing for the entity, as well as any open information, are available on this page.

Search by File Number for Business Name Availability

Both file numbers and business entities can be used in searches provided by the Minnesota Secretary of State for your Minnesota LLC name search, as was already explained. To achieve this, go to the company database search page and click the File Number tab just to the right of the search field. To proceed, type the file number into the search box and click Search.

You will be quickly sent to the information page (like the one below) for your provided entity due to the specificity of the search parameters. You may discover all of the publicly accessible information about your entity on this page. Additionally, you will be able to obtain a Certificate of Good Standing for your entity as well as a filing history for it.

Reserve Your Colorado Business Entity Name

All inquiries and requests about Minnesota LLC name is handled by the Minnesota Secretary of State Business and Liens Division. Business entities may be held in reserve for a period of twelve months beginning on the application filing date and may be extended for an additional twelve months.

When the name reservation expires, you can renew it if you haven’t already created your business organization under the reserved name.

You must submit an online or postal application to reserve a company name. You must register for a Business and Liens System account if you file your paperwork online. There is a filing fee that you must pay in order to reserve your name. Make checks payable to “Minnesota Secretary of State.”

Other Concerns

While reserving the Minnesota LLC name is simple, there are several additional considerations you should make when deciding on the ideal name for your business. To check if your name may be used online, you could wish to do a trademark and social media search. By doing this, you may make sure that you can use your company name without limitations.

Trademark Search

Conducting a trademark search on your company name and any related slogans or emblems before registering will aid you to avoid expensive future possible lawsuits. However, 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 essential to be aware of who is using the name, where they are situated, and what business they are in.

Using the Business Entity Search, you may check Minnesota’s trademark records to discover whether your company name or any related slogans, logos, or other items are already being used by another business in your state.

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. You may accomplish this by just conducting a name-only search for your business on each major website, or you can use a tool like Namecheckr to simultaneously search across all platforms.

Register Minnesota business entity

Businesses can file their articles of incorporation with the Minnesota 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 cost is $79 for corporations based in Minnesota.

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 company 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 business 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 business 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 Do Business Owners Reserve an LLC Name in Minnesota

The Request for Reservation of Name form may be used to reserve a name for up to a year if you wish to use it but aren’t ready to create a Minnesota LLC name. A name reservation requires a $35 state filing fee, which should be made out to the Minnesota Secretary of State.

Minnesota business structure naming considerations

Sole proprietorships and partnerships

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

LLCs

LLCs are independent legal companies that let owners keep their personal and professional obligations separate. LLC name must be original and must be submitted with the Minnesota Secretary of State.

Corporations

Similar to LLCs, corporations are distinct legal 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”. Additionally, S Corporations must follow the same name guidelines as conventional corporations.

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

Minnesota Secretary of State Contact Info

The Minnesota Secretary of State may be reached by phone at 651-296-2803 (Option 2) between 9am and 4pm or by email at business.services@state.mn.us if you have any queries.

FAQ

How do I form a Minnesota LLC name?

Make sure the name is accessible to use by doing a corporation entity search prior to launching your business and creating a Minnesota LLC name. Once you are certain that the Minnesota LLC name is available, read our step-by-step instructions to find out how to create a Minnesota LLC name.

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

Make sure you apply for Minnesota business licenses and receive an Employer Identification Number after creating a Limited Liability Company (EIN). This serves as the company’s “social security number.” One may be obtained free of charge from the IRS.

What are the requirements to name an LLC in Minnesota?

The LLC name 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.

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

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 business 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 Minnesota 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 business 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.