Rhode Island LLC Name Search in 2023

Why Conduct a Rhode Island LLC Name Search?

Before establishing a Rhode Island LLC, all companies should do a company name search in the state.

One must do a business entity search using the online business portal of Rhode Island if they want to confirm the availability of a desired business entity operating name or, more generally, if they want to get information or a Certificate of Good Standing for a certain business entity.

There are several business entity search parameters that may be used to find businesses, and each one comes with a guide that is given just below. In the instructions below for the Rhode Island Secretary of State Business entity Search, we’ll teach you how to determine whether an LLC name is available.

Follow Rhode Island 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 a Rhode Island LLC is selecting a company name. Make sure the business name you select is both easy for potential customers to look for and conforms with Rhode Island’s naming regulations.

The words “limited liability company” or one of its acronyms must appear in your business entity name (LLC or L.L.C.).

Additionally, no phrases that may be mistaken for those of a governmental entity in your LLC name or Rhode Island business entity name (FBI, Treasury, State Department, etc.).

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

Do a Rhode Island Business Name Search

You can verify the availability of your preferred name using Rhode Island Business Entity Search prior to submitting your Rhode Island Business entity 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 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.

Before submitting your application, make careful to do a thorough search to prevent rejection.

Rhode island 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 names that have been dissolved could still work for the company.

For instance, type “Italian” and choose “Search” if you wished to open an Italian restaurant.

It is advised to call the Rhode Island Secretary of State office in Providence to find out if 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.

Searching Through the Rhode Island Secretary of State Records by Business Name

An inquiry made using a company name is the most popular and proper search method for information about the availability of your organization name. Simply access this website and type the name into the area at the top. Additionally, you must choose the search option by clicking on the bubble inside the window and choose the type of search by using the drop-down box on the right.

Your search metrics will produce a list that will appear. The name of the entity will be one of the few pieces of information offered. You don’t need to continue if you are only trying to look at names that could make it difficult for you to file. Simply click the entity’s name on the left of the page to get to its information page if you want to obtain more details about a particular entity.

This page will reveal all information on the entity in issue that is on file with the Rhode Island Secretary of State. Additionally, you will have the choice to click on specific files and seek a certificate.

Search by Rhode Island SOS Identification Number

The easiest approach to get the company information for your firm is by far to search by identification number. It will take you directly to the page for your entity because there is only one number per entity on record with the State. Go to this website and fill out the second field with your ID number.

You will be able to examine the thorough information on file with the Rhode Island Secretary of State as well as the different filings the company has made in the past, just as you would with any search approach.

Search by RI SOS Filing Number

When you search by file number, you are actually looking at a filing made by a certain business. So, for example, you may look up that particular renewal paperwork using an annual report filing number. Simply access this website, input the relevant file number into the proper area, and then click Search.

There should be just one search result displayed. Click on the blue file number link to open the PDF of the filing in your PDF viewer and review it.

Search Rhode Island Entity by Business Address

The “search by business address” option in business entity searches is a unique feature that enables you to enter the address of an entity’s principal office or place of business in order to get the business entity data for that firm.

The company details of the Rhode Island Secretary of State name database may be used to retrieve information on the firm type, the date of incorporation or formation, the location of its principal office, and much more. You can ask for a certificate or go over the filings that the entity has made.

Reserve Your Rhode Island Business Entity Name

All inquiries and requests about Rhode Island LLC names are handled by the Rhode Island Secretary of State Business Services Division in Rhode Island. For 120 days, company names can be held in reserve. With the exception of Limited Partnerships, there is no option for name reservation renewal.

You must submit an online or postal application to reserve a company name. There is a filing fee that you must pay in order to reserve your name. Make checks payable to the “Rhode Island Secretary of State.” The cost of filing documents online is extra.

Other Concerns

While reserving the name for your Rhode Island LLC is simple, there are several additional considerations you should make when deciding on the ideal name for your company. To check if your name may be used online in Rhode Island, 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

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.

To finish this process, first check Rhode Island’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 lookup any federally registered trademarks connected to your company name in the electronic records of 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 company on each major website, or you can use a tool like Namecheckr to simultaneously search across all platforms.

Register Rhode Island business entity

Businesses can register their incorporation with the Rhode Island 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. A limited liability corporation (LLC) owner can easily file for an EIN online without any hassle. Swyft Filings charges $79 for corporations based in Rhode Island to register for a Tax ID.

Logo Creation

Businesses with logos which are catchy and outstanding tend to impress clients. Having a creative logo would help business owners stand out from the competition. With a great logo, clients would be more likely to recall your distinctive services in a favorable way. This is similar to choosing a good business name.

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

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 address in order to create a business bank account.

Rhode Island business structure naming considerations

Sole proprietorships and partnerships

In Rhode Island, sole proprietorships can conduct business right away without registering with the corporation division. There is often no need to do a company name 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. LLC names must be registered with the Rhode Island Secretary of State and be distinctive.

Businesses in Rhode Island must use the terms “LLC, LLC,” or “limited liability company” in their names. Since “LLC” is most frequently used after a company name when submitting Rhode Island articles of formation, we advise utilizing that abbreviation.

The words Inc., Corporation, Corp., or Incorporated shouldn’t be used in an LLC name.

If a Rhode Island business name cannot be easily distinguished from the name of another company, the State may not authorize it.

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 business entities.

Corporations must identify themselves as such in their business names by using the terms “corp”, “corporation”, “Inc”, “limited”, or “company”. The same naming criteria that apply to ordinary businesses 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.”

How Do I Reserve an LLC Name in Rhode Island

You can submit the Application for Reservation of Entity Name with the Department of State’s Business Services Division if there is a name you choose but are not yet prepared to register the LLC. At a payment of $50, the name reserve will retain a name for up to 120 days.

FAQ

How does a business owner register a Trade Name for Sole Proprietorships and Partnerships?

Information about Rhode Island-registered corporations and LLCs may be found in the Rhode Island Secretary of State Business Entity Database. There is no unified list of names for sole proprietorships or general partnerships. They are instead registered with the Town or County Clerk’s office in the area where the business is situated.

A single proprietorship or partnership that does business under a name other than the owner’s legal name must file for a trade name, commonly referred to as “doing business as,” “DBA,” assumed name, or “fictitious name,” in order to be registered.

What is the way to form an LLC in Rhode Island?

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, which sets down the guidelines for how the LLC functions, is a document worth examining even if it is not necessary in Rhode Island, especially for multi-member LLCs.

To ensure that the Limited Liability Company is legitimate to do business in Rhode Island, make careful to apply for business licenses there and acquire an Employer Identification Number (EIN).

What are the requirements for business owners to name an LLC in Rhode Island?

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.

Do business owners have to include ‘corporation’ in my name?

The words “corporation,” “company,” “limited,” or “incorporated,” or an abbreviation of one of these, must appear in Rhode Island corporation names.