Montana LLC Name Search – How to Name Your LLC


Steve Bennett
Steve Bennett
Business Formation Expert
Steve runs LLCBuddy, helping entrepreneurs set up their LLCs easily. He offers clear guides, articles, and FAQs to simplify the process. His team keeps everything accurate and current, focusing on state rules, registered agents, and compliance. Steve’s passion for helping businesses grow makes LLCBuddy a go-to resource for starting and managing an LLC.

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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.

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.

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

Check Name Availability
Reserve Name Online
Download Reservation Form

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.

F.A.Qs

What is a Trade Name?

A trade name (doing business as (DBA) name) is the official name under which a proprietor or company chooses to do business.

Is having a domain name necessary?

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.

What if my name is unavailable?

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.

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.

Reserving an LLC name in Montana is a fairly straightforward process, but it is important to follow the necessary steps to avoid any complications down the road. The first step is conducting a search to make sure that your desired name is unique and not already in use by another business in the state. You can easily do this by using the Montana Secretary of State’s online business entity search tool.

Once you have confirmed that your desired name is available, you can proceed with reserving it. To reserve an LLC name in Montana, you will need to file a Name Reservation Request with the Secretary of State’s office. This can be done online through their website or by mail. The filing fee is reasonable, so it is a small investment to secure the name that you have worked hard to come up with.

It is important to note that reserving an LLC name in Montana does not mean that your business is officially registered. It simply gives you the exclusive right to use that name for a period of 120 days. During this time, you should take the necessary steps to complete the official LLC registration process to ensure that you do not lose the rights to your reserved name.

Reserving your LLC name can be beneficial for a variety of reasons. It gives you the peace of mind that your chosen name will be available when you are ready to move forward with the registration process. It also helps to establish your brand identity and prevent any confusion with other businesses that may have similar names. Additionally, reserving your LLC name can protect you legally and socially, preventing other businesses from using your desired name and potentially causing confusion among your customers.

When reserving an LLC name in Montana, it is important to keep in mind that this is just one small step in the overall process of starting and operating a business. There are numerous other legal and regulatory requirements that you will need to navigate as you move forward, so it is crucial to do your due diligence and seek out the necessary guidance to ensure that you are compliant with all necessary laws and regulations.

Overall, reserving an LLC name in Montana is a relatively simple and affordable process that can provide you with peace of mind and security as you navigate the journey of starting your own business. By taking the necessary steps to reserve your desired name, you can set yourself up for success and avoid any potential pitfalls along the way.

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

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