When forming an LLC in PA, naming plays a great role in how successful the venture will be. It’s what people will associate you with and it can be relatable and memorable or it can spell disaster for your operations. So, how can you make sure you get your business name Pennsylvania right from the beginning?
Available LLC Names in PA
How to create a unique business name for LLC in Pennsylvania
We’ll take you through the simple steps that distinguish companies that do well in the long run and those that easily become a distant memory once a customer walks out the door. But first things first, you need to:
- Decide on a company structure. As you very well know, there are many forms of entities you can use as you start your company. These come with an array of benefits and downsides and you must review each one and understand what will be the most beneficial to you in the long term. If you have any doubts, do not hesitate to engage the services of professionals who will steer you on the right track. In this case, we will assume that you’ll go for an LLC.
- Brand your business. Presently, companies are working hard to get their socials to rank highly on search engines. Therefore, having a brand has become even more important. You need to think of what you want to communicate to potential clients. Do some brainstorming and brainwriting and come up with at least five unique business name ideas and write these down as a unique company names list.
How Search LLC Names in PA
How can you be sure that your name is unique? That’s a big problem many entrepreneurs face in the early days of forming their companies. They come up with these amazing ideas only to find that someone else had already thought of it and even gone ahead to register the name. It can be disheartening to realize this halfway into the registration process.
As such, it’s better to get it out of the way from the start by going through the Department of State’s Business Entity Search to make sure you’ve struck gold. All you need to do is enter your desired name, hit the PA LLC name search button and hold your breath as you hope for the best. With five LLC name availability options to consider, you will probably have some luck. If not, you can always go back to the drawing board instead of moving forward with an option that will not only cost you time and money.
Check LLC Name in PA Online
If you use the database online, you can not only use it to figure out if a particular name is in use but also more information on the business such as:
- Entity Name
- Entity Number
- Entity Status
- Entity Type
- Citizenship (domestic vs. foreign)
- Entity Creation Date
- Effective Date
- State of Formation
- Registered Office Address
- Officers
- Document Filing History
All you need is the whole or partial name of a business and you will have enough to mine the data above. It’s important when trying to contact a company or when you need to ascertain that a company exists and is in good standing with the state. Please note that this won’t give you official results. If you need information set in stone, try sending a letter instead.
By mail
Access the state website and download a form from the secretary of state. Fill in the required details and send the complete document to:
Pennsylvania Department of State
Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations
P.O. Box 8722
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17105-8722
Reasons to Perform an LLC Name Search
Did you know that people perform searches for more reasons than one? Let’s cover the most common motivations.
1) Finding Similar Names
While your name might not be in use, you might find that some other companies use names that are quite similar to it. Potential customers confusing you with another might end up contacting the other companies because they cannot tell the difference. When establishing a brand, you want to reduce as much confusion as possible to make sure that customers reach you most if not all the time.
2) Checking Your Business Status
It’s always a good idea to keep up with your business details once you have filed the Certificate of Organization and started your Pennsylvania LLC. By looking up your name, you will see how your business is doing regarding its good standing and who people can contact on your behalf. It’s the same information that would be available to potential investors and you’ll want to make sure it’s good.
3) Registered Agent and Office Information
As part of the registration processes, you will need to provide details of the person or company who people and the state can contact as your go-between. This business service of process information will be public. For people who wish to partner with you, this Pennsylvania registered office information will be vital in helping them reach you as needed. You can also use it before hiring anyone for this role by double checking if a company exists and is in good standing before delegating this role to it.
4) Maintaining Current Business Information
Over time, you will change pertinent details about your company. Each time you do this, you will first want to confirm what’s on the Department of State file and after you’re done with the amendments, you’ll want to check if they reflect on the public records.
How to Make a Pennsylvania LLC Name Distinguishable
Once you settle on a name that speaks to your brand, you will want adhere to Pennsylvania’s specific requirements which require that you:
- Include a suffix that shows the company has limited liability e.g., LLC, LC, Limited Company, L.C., and L.L.C.
- Do not use words that would make the public think you offer state or federal services
- Do not imply that you offer professional services such as legal services unless you have licensing to do this
Business Name Reservations
To keep people from using your name before you have the chance, reserve that name instead which gives you a 120-day hold and register your business during this window. It will cost you a $70 fee.
How do I Reserve a Business Name in Pennsylvania?
You can do it via:
Online
Online filing through PENN File is the quickest and you can do it via the state website.
Alternatively, you can download the paper form here, fill it and send it to:
Pennsylvania Department of State
Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations
P.O. Box 8722
Harrisburg, PA 17105-8722.
FAX
You can as well fax the completed paper form to (717) 705-0927 or (717) 783-2244.