You`ll see a list of all Virginia-registered businesses that use the words you`ve typed into their business name. To get a yes or no on whether a name is distinguishable in the state, visit sccefile.scc.virginia.gov/NameAvailability, enter your exact name in the box and click “Check Name.” The best way to find out if your business name is being taken is to do a search for business entities in your state, check federal trademark records, and search the internet for companies with the same or similar name. You can choose a brand name to publicly promote your business and products and register it as a business name. It will work as a kind of nickname for your business that people will know. The site points out that even if your search suggests that your potential trademark does not have a “likelihood of confusion” with others, it does not guarantee that your application will be approved by the USPTO. In addition, not all trademarks are registered with the USPTO, so many companies choose to consult a trademark attorney for additional assistance. When your state and federal search is complete, you`ll know that your business name is legally clear. However, it`s worth searching for the company`s name on Google before calling it a tag. An important fact is that brand names don`t have to be trademarks to be used – but that doesn`t mean it`s a good idea to copy someone else. The Internet knows no borders, the easier your brand is to consult on different platforms, the more your success will be guaranteed. Always research your own business or brand name first and conduct qualitative research in your target market to better assess the future impact on your reputation.
Business fees and forms: www.cyberdriveillinois.com/publications/business_services/dfc.html In addition to finding a trademark for the name you`re considering, you should also do some online and offline research to see if a business is already using that name. If a company uses the same name as you in the same field, it can cause confusion among your customers. This, in turn, also gives your competitor a legal basis for a lawsuit against you. The result is a list of businesses that use the company name or keyword you entered as all or part of their business name in Alabama. Note that Alabama is the only state in the United States that requires a name reservation before registering your business. There are several ways to check if a business with the name you have in mind already exists, but the safest bet is to check if it is deposited. You can verify that a name is a registered trademark in the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) database if you reside in the United States or at your country`s local trademark office. Almost any company that claims to offer help finding a business name will ask for your information first or charge you an additional fee. These companies do a very simple task that you could easily do yourself. Don`t give away your information or hard-earned money for a business name verification, which you can almost always do for free in minutes.
Instead, find your status name below and learn how to easily check the availability of names in your state. Also find other useful business links to websites, including your state`s Department of State, Department of the Treasury, and licensing department. Every U.S. state has an official business name availability search tool that is easily accessible to the public. This digital tool is still operated by the State authority responsible for business registration. Most often, your agency of choice is your Secretary of State or Department of State, although sometimes it is run by an alternative department (such as the Department of Commerce, Revenue, or Licensing) or a division of companies. Just because there isn`t a business entity with the same name in your state doesn`t mean there aren`t local businesses with the same name. Corporations, LLCs, sole proprietors and partnerships can all operate under fictitious trade names, or “DBAs”. Social media marketing is becoming more important by the day, so don`t forget to look at the platforms your business isn`t using yet. If the digital world changes, you can benefit from the platform later. In the future, if someone sues you or your company for using the same or a very similar name, they will first have to prove that the two companies can actually cause confusion for the customer.
This usually means that the two names are identical or nearly identical, that they share a geographic market or audience, and sell similar services. “Is my business name taken?” is an important question for new business owners before starting a business unit or spending money on marketing. Taking the time to do a proper name search can save you a lot of trouble, time, and money down the road. If you want to protect your company name from use by others, you must register it with your country`s trademark office. In the United States, this would be the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Licensing Department: revenue.alabama.gov/business-license/business-licensing/ If you`re starting a new business, you`ll probably need to register with the state or local authorities. Learn about the different types of business registrations and the respective requirements. LLC Fees and Forms: sos.iowa.gov/business/FormsAndFees.html Depending on the brand material you are looking for, there are a number of different areas to perform a search: You can also choose a variant or synonym of this name that clearly sets it apart from the competition. For example, if you want to open a coffee shop called Rising Sun and find out that there is already a coffee shop with that name in your city, you can name your business Morning Hour instead.
However, calling it Sunrise Cafe can cause confusion among customers, so it`s best to avoid it. If you answer “yes” to any of these points, you should think about how it might affect your business and whether you want to pursue a different name. You can see if the name is available or not. If you want to see companies with similar names, select “Business Entity Database” instead of “Name availability” and search for keywords. Companies can obtain trademark protection nationwide by registering a company name with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). If you`re starting a new business, it`s a good idea to search the USPTO`s online database for trade names similar to yours. Restricted words for trade names vary from state to state, and some states have stricter naming rules than others. To find business name searches in your state, check out the links above, and once you`ve found an available name, check out our guide to registering a business name.
It is possible that two companies have the same name. This usually happens when they operate in a different geographical location (e.g. one café in Melbourne and the other another café in Lisbon) or if they sell completely different goods and services (e.g. a bakery or bicycle shop). To be sure, you need to do a thorough research to make sure your business name is not taken legally. To use your state lookup tool, you typically need to specify the business entity type and name you want, and then match it to the current records. If your search returns too many results, you`ll need to refine your search by adding or changing the words in the search box. In the results, you`ll see a list of all businesses registered in Colorado that use the terms you entered on their behalf. You can also see the status of each company, for example if it has a good reputation or not. Business name regulations and restrictions vary from state to state.
Some states prohibit two companies from having the same name, while others do not. LLC and Company Fees: www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/business/forms_main.html Once you have a brand name, we recommend that you register it as a trade name with the USPTO to avoid future infringement claims.