Forming an LLC requires a different business name, which must be unique and adheres to the guidelines. The great thing is Montana’s Secretary of State page includes a name availability checker. Check out LLC Name Search to learn more.
Meanwhile, if you’re interested in learning more about starting a Montana LLC or forming an LLC in general, you can check out How to Start an LLC.
On this page, you’ll learn about the following:
How to Name an LLC in Montana
Time needed: 5 minutes.
There are guidelines to follow in doing a Montana LLC name search. To learn more, check out LLC Naming Guidelines or read Foreign LLC Application for Registration if you’re planning to register a foreign LLC.
- Check Name Availability
Search the Business Entity Records in Montana’s Official Secretary of State page to check if your chosen business name is available. You may also try typing your trademark, business, or domain name on any search engine to generate businesses with similar names and to ensure your trademark is unique and meets the state’s requirements.
Check out How to File a DBA to learn more about registering a DBA or trademark. For social media pages, use Social Searcher to avoid using similar page names. - Check Domain Availability
If your business name is still available, you must register for a domain name using Namecheap, Google Workspace, or other domain name sites. So customers can easily find your business over the Internet. Use the Kinsta app to manage your domains efficiently.
- File Name Reservation
A Name Reservation Certificate is required along with a Certificate of Formation. You can reserve a name online, by mail, or in person with a $20 filing fee (plus tax for online).
File your Certificate of Formation and Name Reservation online on the Secretary of State Online Services page of Montana. You may also download the pdf file of the Name reservation form and submit it with the processing fee to LINDA McCULLOCH, Secretary of State, P.O. Box 202801, Helena, MT 59620-2801.
Guidelines to Follow in Naming LLC
- Use a business name with the abbreviation “LLC” or the phrase “Limited Liability Company.”
- Your decided business name must not coincide with any existing government entity. Otherwise, you might have to face legal lawsuits when filing your LLC.
- Use the LLC name availability checker to ensure your business name is unique.
- Get a license first if you plan on using restricted words to avoid any complications.
Note that you must put adequate effort into naming your LLC because this name will be with your business for a long time. Making your LLC name unique is vital as it would prevent people from confusing your business with others, not to mention it would be easier for them to recall your business, products, or services.
How to do a Montana LLC Online Name Search
It is crucial to select the name you want to use for your LLC. If you’ve got a distinctive name for your LLC and no other company is using it, you’ll have to look up the Montana state site to confirm its availability. Check out these tips to find out more.
Utilize the search engine for business entities in the state’s tool.
The Montana Secretary of State will offer an online business search site. This tool can assist you in determining whether the name you’re looking to purchase is available for use for your company. It is only necessary to keep backup names, so you can easily choose a different name in case the first choice is no longer available.
Enter your name
There are different kinds of searches that you can perform on the page for search. You can look up business, notary, liens, trademark, or CRA. Since you want to check the availability of the name that you want to use for your LLC, then go for the business search.
Do the Search
If you hit the ‘Advance’ button, you’ll find that there are two ways of finding a name. Enter the search term, then choose the “contains” option. Then, it will show the names of businesses containing the keyword in their names. You can also select “starts with.” This will give results for businesses with names starting with the word you typed.
You can further filter the search by entity type, subtype, or status. There are also state and country filters.
Searches will reveal information on the current status of companies. Statuses may be a voluntary dissolution or involuntarily dissolved, or they can be in good standing. Among all the possible statuses, only voluntary dissolution permits you to use the name of your company.
How Do I Reserve an LLC Name in Montana
To reserve an LLC name in Montana you need to submit a name reservation request form to the Montana Secretary of State by mail or online by paying a filing fee of $10. It can be expedited by paying an additional amount.
Starting a business is an exciting endeavor that comes with its own fair share of challenges. One of these is naming your business, which is the first step towards establishing your brand identity. While there are several aspects to consider when choosing a name, including its availability, registering your chosen name is equally important.
If you are looking to register a limited liability company (LLC) in Montana, you must choose a unique name that is not currently in use. Montana law requires all LLC names to be distinguishable from those already registered with the Secretary of State’s office. To ensure this, you must conduct a thorough search of the database to verify your name’s availability—this is an essential first step towards registering your LLC in Montana.
Before you can start conducting a name search, it is essential to understand what makes a name unique. This means that it should not be similar or confusingly similar to those of other LLCs registered in Montana. Unfortunately, the subjectivity and complexity of choosing an original name for your LLC can make the process cumbersome, and you may find that your first choice is already taken. Thus, it is imperative to have a backup list of names in case your first choice is unavailable.
Once you have identified your top-choice name or names, you can proceed to verify their availabilities. Most professionals recommend conducting comprehensive name searches before filing for LLC registration, which happens at the Secretary of State’s office. The Montana Secretary of State provides online name search and reservation service to enable you to check a name’s availability in their database. You will be required to pay a $10 fee for the search, which can be done through their website.
After searching for your desired name and finding that it is available, you can reserve your chosen name for a specific period, giving you time to prepare for your LLC’s formation. This can be done by filing a reservation request form with the Secretary of State’s office. The form must include your chosen name, the name and address of the applicant, and the applicant’s signature. The reservation typically costs $10, and reservations are typically valid for 120 days. E-filing is an option for filing your reservation request form and deferring for long durations between request—for instance more than six months.
However, while you can reserve a name through the Secretary of State’s office, for most LLC establishers it’s the best to leave this reservation out. Usually, while selecting an LLC name, It’s preferable to register immediately than reserving.
In conclusion, reserving an LLC name in Montana is an essential step when starting a business. Taking the time to verify a name’s availability and taking proactive steps towards reserving them can significantly minimize instances of future legal disputes, branding reversals, or impeding registration of the name. Fortunately, with the Montana state database’s availability, reservation of LLC names is made relatively simple and while picking of LLC isn`t technically difficult, it mustn’t deter the strength of your entrepreneurial vigor!
F.A.Qs
A trade name (doing business as (DBA) name) is the official name under which a proprietor or company chooses to do business.
Having a domain isn’t necessary, but it is recommended. If you have a domain name, customers will find you more accessible through online means with your online website.
For domestic LLC, you can simply brainstorm for another name if the one you pick is no longer available. For foreign LLC, you must think up a “fictitious name,” which you’ll use only in the state.
In Conclusion
LLC names are important as it is the main identity of your business. While naming your LLC make sure to choose the one that suits the nature of your business. Follow the naming guidelines before you start filing your LLC name
