When establishing an LLC or incorporating a business, the first move is to ensure that the name is not already in use in Florida. So before registering your business name, you should check through the state’s register of business names to see whether the name has already been accredited to another company.

To carry out a Florida business name search, you should have at least one business name. A Florida business name search aims to validate that your business name is not currently in use. Registering a business name in Florida is important for any company that wants to be transparent with its customers and investors.

Steps to Properly Do a Florida Business Name Search for LLC and Corporation

  1. Comply with Florida Naming Guidelines

Before proceeding with your business name search, ensure that your business name complies with the guidelines. Make sure the name you choose conforms with Florida naming requirements and that it can be discoverable by prospective customers. Here are necessary guidelines to follow:

  • The phrase “limited liability company,” must be part of the business name you choose or the business name should include one of its abbreviations (LLC or L.L.C.).
  • Your business name should not include words that would confuse your LLC with a government agency (FBI, Treasury, State Department, etc.).
  • Restricted words such as Bank, University, and Attorney et al, may require that you submit additional paperwork and a licensed individual, such as a lawyer or a doctor, should be part of your limited liability company (LLC).
  1. Carry out a Florida Business Name Search

You can use Florida’s Business Entity Search to know the availability of your preferred name prior to filing your fictitious name request. To conduct the potent search, enter the desired name, excluding identifiers such as “LLC.” This should return all entities with exact names or similar.

If your company name consists of several words, you can limit your search to the first two words to guarantee that you find all similar names. Note that when you register your business name, Florida demands you to advertise it in a newspaper.

Fees: The fees differ based on the type of the business you run. It costs about $25 to form an LLC and $35 for a corporation. While the fee for a limited partnership is $52.50.

  1. Search Available Domain Names

This is another important search to conduct when choosing a business name. It is critical to have a URL that clearly matches your company name. This step can have a significant impact on how you target clients. The best way to find out if your desired URL is usable is to conduct an online search through your preferred domain registry, like GoDaddy.

Fee: Free.

  1. Carryout a National Name Search

It is so vital to search trade directories and phone books in metropolitan areas across the country. Thomson Gale’s Brands and its company is a two-volume set of names compiled from various sources. You could also conduct an internet search.

Try googling your chosen business name to see if anyone else has the same or a similar name. Even if a google search for the exact wording yields no results, you should stay away from names that are related to those of other well-known companies, whether or not they appear to be carrying out business in Florida.

Fee: Free

  1. Conduct a Trademark Search

When registering a business name and associated slogans or logos, carry out a trademark search to avoid future lawsuits. Even if you discover that another organization has trademarked your company name, it does not disqualify you from using the name.

It is critical to understand who is using the name, what sector they are in, and where they are located in order to avoid accidentally infringing on anyone’s intellectual property rights. To finish this step:

  • You are expected to search through Florida’s trademark records to find out if your business name or slogans associated with your business, logos, or other bywords are in used by another business in the state you want to start your business.
  • You are also expected to search through the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s electronic records to look for any federally registered trademarks that are linked or similar to your business name.

Fee: A trademark search will cost between $500 and $1500 or more. This price is expected to cover an attorney analysis of the results.

  1. Invest in Social Media Search

Discovering a domain name that corresponds with your company is important, but so is making sure that your business name is available for use throughout other social media platforms. You can do this by searching your company name on each major website, or by using a tool like Namechecker to search through all the platforms simuiltaneously.

Fees: Free

Conclusion

Once you have decided on a business name, make sure that no one else is using it. If you are having trouble coming up with a suitable Florida LLC name, encountering legal issues in Florida or elsewhere, or have plans to build your business internationally, you should seek advice from an experienced business law attorney.