Every state has its own rules for which suffix your business name must end with, and barred words. Let’s check the suffix requirements for all 50 states + D.C.
A company suffix is the word or abbreviation in a legal business name that identifies the entity type, such as LLC, Inc., Corp., or Ltd. State law also calls it an entity designator. The accepted wording depends on the entity and the formation state.
Use the tables below for standard domestic LLCs, business corporations, and nonprofit corporations. Professional entities, banks, insurers, cooperatives, benefit corporations, series entities, and older names can follow separate rules.
Quick answer
- LLC: Every state requires an accepted LLC designator in the legal name.
- Business corporation: Most states require a corporate designator. California, Maine, Nevada, and Wyoming have important exceptions.
- S corporation: There is no separate S corporation suffix. The legal entity keeps its LLC or corporate designator.
- Nonprofit corporation: The rule ranges from required to optional or prohibited, depending on the state.
- DBA: There is no nationwide suffix requirement because a DBA is an alternate name for its owner.
LLC suffix requirements by state
An LLC's legal name must use a designator accepted by its formation state. Read how LLCs work for the entity basics. See LLC requirements by state for formation and ongoing compliance rules. The table covers standard domestic LLCs and notes special variants only when they change the base designator.
Abbreviations appear in the form used by the statute. Check the current state filing form before relying on a different punctuation or capitalization style.
State | Accepted base designator(s) | Law |
Alabama | Limited Liability Company; L.L.C.; LLC. The designator must be last. | Ala. Code § 10A-1-5.06 |
Alaska | Limited Liability Company; L.L.C.; LLC. Limited may be Ltd.; Company may be Co. | Alaska Stat. § 10.50.020 |
Arizona | Limited Liability Company; Limited Company; L.L.C.; LLC; L.C.; LC. | Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 29-3112 |
Arkansas | Limited Liability Company; Limited Company; L.L.C.; LLC; L.C.; LC. Limited may be Ltd.; Company may be Co. | Ark. Code § 4-38-112 |
California | Limited Liability Company; L.L.C.; LLC. Limited may be Ltd.; Company may be Co. | Cal. Corp. Code § 17701.08 |
Colorado | Limited Liability Company; Ltd. Liability Company; Limited Liability Co.; Ltd. Liability Co.; Limited; L.L.C.; LLC; Ltd. | Colo. Rev. Stat. § 7-90-601(1)(c) |
Connecticut | Limited Liability Company; L.L.C.; LLC. Limited may be Ltd.; Company may be Co. | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 34-243k |
Delaware | Limited Liability Company; L.L.C.; LLC. | 6 Del. C. § 18-102 |
District of Columbia | Limited Liability Company; Limited Company; L.L.C.; LLC; L.C.; LC. Professional LLCs use Professional Limited Liability Company, P.L.L.C., or PLLC. | D.C. Code § 29-103.02(f) |
Florida | Limited Liability Company; L.L.C.; LLC. | Fla. Stat. § 605.0112 |
Georgia | Limited Liability Company; Limited Company; L.L.C.; LLC; L.C.; LC. Limited may be Ltd.; Company may be Co. | Ga. Code § 14-11-207 |
Hawaii | Limited Liability Company; L.L.C.; LLC. Limited may be Ltd.; Company may be Co. | Haw. Rev. Stat. § 428-105 |
Idaho | Limited Liability Company; Limited Company; L.L.C.; LLC; L.C.; LC. Limited may be Ltd.; Company may be Co. | Idaho Code § 30-21-302(d) |
Illinois | Limited Liability Company; L.L.C.; LLC. A low-profit LLC uses L3C. | 805 ILCS 180/1-10 |
Indiana | Limited Liability Company; L.L.C.; LLC. | Ind. Code § 23-0.5-3-2(d) |
Iowa | Limited Liability Company; Limited Company; L.L.C.; LLC; L.C.; LC. Limited may be Ltd.; Company may be Co. | Iowa Code § 489.108 |
Kansas | Limited Liability Company; Limited Company; L.L.C.; LLC; L.C.; LC. | Kan. Stat. § 17-7920 |
Kentucky | Must end with Limited Liability Company; Limited Company; LLC; or LC. Limited may be Ltd.; Company may be Co. Professional LLCs use the professional forms listed by statute. | Ky. Rev. Stat. § 14A.3-010(3) |
Louisiana | Limited Liability Company; L.L.C.; L.C. A low-profit LLC uses Low-Profit Limited Liability Company or L3C. | La. Rev. Stat. § 12:1306 |
Maine | Limited Liability Company; Limited Company; L.L.C.; LLC; L.C.; LC. Limited may be Ltd.; Company may be Co. A low-profit LLC may use L3C. | 31 Me. Rev. Stat. § 1508 |
Maryland | Limited Liability Company; L.L.C.; LLC; L.C.; LC. | Md. Code, Corps. & Ass'ns § 1-502(b) |
Massachusetts | Limited Liability Company; Limited Company; L.L.C.; LLC; L.C.; LC. | Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 156C, § 3 |
Michigan | Limited Liability Company; L.L.C./LLC; L.C./LC. A low-profit LLC uses Low-Profit Limited Liability Company or L3C/L.3.C. | Mich. Comp. Laws § 450.4204 |
Minnesota | Limited Liability Company; LLC. | Minn. Stat. § 322C.0108 |
Mississippi | Limited Liability Company; L.L.C.; LLC. | Miss. Code § 79-29-109 |
Missouri | Limited Company; Limited Liability Company; L.C.; LC; L.L.C.; LLC. | Mo. Rev. Stat. § 347.020 |
Montana | Limited Liability Company; Limited Company; L.L.C.; LLC; L.C.; LC. Limited may be Ltd.; Company may be Co. | Mont. Code § 35-8-103 |
Nebraska | Limited Liability Company; Limited Company; L.L.C.; LLC; L.C.; LC. | Neb. Rev. Stat. § 21-108 |
Nevada | Limited-Liability Company; Limited Liability Company; Limited Company; Limited; Ltd.; L.L.C.; LLC; L.C.; LC. Company may be Co. | Nev. Rev. Stat. § 86.171 |
New Hampshire | Limited Liability Company; L.L.C.; or a similar abbreviation. | N.H. Rev. Stat. § 304-C:32 |
New Jersey | Limited Liability Company; L.L.C.; LLC. Limited may be Ltd.; Company may be Co. | N.J. Stat. § 42:2C-8 |
New Mexico | Limited Liability Company; Limited Company; L.L.C.; LLC; L.C.; LC. Limited may be Ltd.; Company may be Co. | N.M. Stat. § 53-19-3 |
New York | Limited Liability Company; L.L.C.; LLC. | N.Y. LLC Law § 204 |
North Carolina | Limited Liability Company; L.L.C.; LLC; Ltd. Liability Co.; Limited Liability Co.; Ltd. Liability Company. | N.C. Gen. Stat. § 55D-20(a)(2) |
North Dakota | Limited Liability Company; L.L.C.; LLC. | N.D. Cent. Code § 10-32.1-11 |
Ohio | Limited Liability Company; L.L.C.; LLC; Limited; Ltd. | Ohio Rev. Code § 1706.07 |
Oklahoma | Limited Liability Company; Limited Company; L.L.C.; LLC; L.C.; LC. Limited may be Ltd.; Company may be Co. | Okla. Stat. tit. 18, § 2008 |
Oregon | Limited Liability Company; L.L.C.; LLC. | Or. Rev. Stat. § 63.094 |
Pennsylvania | Company; Limited; Limited Liability Company; an abbreviation of one of those terms; or a foreign equivalent. | 15 Pa. C.S. § 204(c) |
Rhode Island | Must end with Limited Liability Company or LLC/L.L.C. A low-profit LLC must end with Low-Profit Limited Liability Company or L3C. | R.I. Gen. Laws § 7-16-9 |
South Carolina | Limited Liability Company; Limited Company; L.L.C.; LLC; L.C.; LC. Limited may be Ltd.; Company may be Co. | S.C. Code § 33-44-105 |
South Dakota | Limited Liability Company; Limited Company; L.L.C.; LLC; L.C.; LC. Limited may be Ltd.; Company may be Co. | S.D. Codified Laws § 47-34A-105 |
Tennessee | Limited Liability Company; L.L.C.; LLC; or a foreign equivalent written in Roman characters. | Tenn. Code § 48-207-101 |
Texas | Limited Liability Company; Limited Company; or an abbreviation of either phrase, such as LLC or LC. | Tex. Bus. Orgs. Code § 5.056 |
Utah | Limited Liability Company; Limited Company; L.L.C.; LLC; L.C.; LC. Limited may be Ltd.; Company may be Co. | Utah Code § 48-3a-108 |
Vermont | Limited Liability Company; Limited Company; L.L.C.; LLC; L.C.; LC. Limited may be Ltd.; Company may be Co. A low-profit LLC uses L3C. | 11 V.S.A. § 4005 |
Virginia | Limited Company; Limited Liability Company; L.C.; LC; L.L.C.; LLC. | Va. Code § 13.1-1012 |
Washington | Limited Liability Company; Limited Liability Co.; L.L.C.; LLC. | Wash. Rev. Code § 23.95.305(5)(a) |
West Virginia | Limited Liability Company; Limited Company; L.L.C.; LLC; L.C.; LC. Limited may be Ltd.; Company may be Co. | W. Va. Code § 31B-1-105 |
Wisconsin | Limited Liability Company; Limited Company; LLC; LC; punctuation/capitalization variants. Limited may be Ltd.; Company may be Co. | Wis. Stat. § 183.0112 |
Wyoming | Limited Liability Company; LLC; L.L.C.; Limited Company; LC; L.C.; Ltd. Liability Company; Ltd. Liability Co.; Limited Liability Co. | Wyo. Stat. § 17-29-108 |
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Corporation suffix requirements by state
Words such as Inc., Corp., Co., and Ltd. identify a corporation under state law when the state accepts them. The suffix does not set the corporation's federal tax treatment. Read what a C corporation is or compare a C corporation, S corporation, and LLC before choosing the entity.
State | Accepted base designator(s) | Law |
Alabama | Corporation; Incorporated; or an abbreviation. Special benefit-corporation rules apply. | Ala. Code § 10A-1-5.04 |
Alaska | Corporation; Company; Incorporated; Limited; or an abbreviation. | Alaska Stat. § 10.06.105 |
Arizona | Association; Bank; Company; Corporation; Incorporated; Limited; an abbreviation; or a foreign equivalent. Bank and similar financial wording is limited to authorized entities. | Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 10-401 |
Arkansas | Corporation; Incorporated; Company; Limited; Corp.; Inc.; Co.; Ltd.; or a foreign equivalent. | Ark. Code § 4-27-401 |
California | No designator is required for a general stock corporation. A close corporation must use Corporation, Incorporated, Limited, or an abbreviation. | Cal. Corp. Code § 202(a) |
Colorado | Corporation; Incorporated; Company; Limited; Corp.; Inc.; Co.; Ltd. | Colo. Rev. Stat. § 7-90-601(1)(a) |
Connecticut | Corporation; Incorporated; Company; Societa per Azioni; Limited; Corp.; Inc.; Co.; S.p.A.; Ltd.; or a foreign equivalent. | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 33-655 |
Delaware | Association; Company; Corporation; Club; Foundation; Fund; Incorporated; Institute; Society; Union; Syndicate; Limited; an abbreviation; or a foreign equivalent in Roman characters. | 8 Del. C. § 102(a)(1) |
District of Columbia | Corporation; Incorporated; Company; Limited; Corp.; Inc.; Co.; Ltd.; or a foreign equivalent. | D.C. Code § 29-103.02(a) |
Florida | Corporation; Company; Incorporated; Corp.; Inc.; Co. | Fla. Stat. § 607.0401 |
Georgia | Corporation; Incorporated; Company; Limited; Corp.; Inc.; Co.; Ltd.; or a foreign equivalent. | Ga. Code § 14-2-401 |
Hawaii | Corporation; Incorporated; Limited; Corp.; Inc.; Ltd. | Haw. Rev. Stat. § 414-51 |
Idaho | Corporation; Incorporated; Company; Limited; Corp.; Inc.; Co.; Ltd.; or a foreign equivalent. Company/Co. cannot be immediately preceded by and or &. | Idaho Code § 30-21-302(a) |
Illinois | Corporation; Company; Incorporated; Limited; or an abbreviation, separate from any other word in the name. | 805 ILCS 5/4.05 |
Indiana | Corporation; Incorporated; Company; Limited; Corp.; Inc.; Co.; Ltd.; or a foreign equivalent. | Ind. Code § 23-0.5-3-2(a) |
Iowa | Corporation; Incorporated; Company; Limited; Corp.; Inc.; Co.; Ltd.; or a foreign equivalent. | Iowa Code § 490.401 |
Kansas | Association; Church; College; Company; Corporation; Club; Foundation; Fund; Incorporated; Institute; Society; Union; University; Syndicate; Limited; Co.; Corp.; Inc.; Ltd.; or a foreign equivalent. | Kan. Stat. § 17-7919 |
Kentucky | Must end with Corporation; Company; Limited; Corp.; Inc.; Co.; Ltd.; or a foreign equivalent. | Ky. Rev. Stat. § 14A.3-010(2) |
Louisiana | Corporation; Incorporated; Company; Limited; Corp.; Inc.; Co.; Ltd. | La. Rev. Stat. § 12:1-401 |
Maine | No entity-type word or abbreviation is required. | 13-C Me. Rev. Stat. § 401 |
Maryland | Company; Corporation; Incorporated; Limited; or an abbreviation. Company cannot be preceded by and or &. | Md. Code, Corps. & Ass'ns § 1-502(a) |
Massachusetts | Corporation; Incorporated; Company; Limited; Corp.; Inc.; Ltd.; or a foreign equivalent. | Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 156D, § 4.01 |
Michigan | Corporation; Company; Incorporated; Limited; Corp.; Co.; Inc.; Ltd. | Mich. Comp. Laws § 450.1211 |
Minnesota | Corporation; Incorporated; Limited; an abbreviation; or Company/Co. if it is not immediately preceded by and or &. | Minn. Stat. § 302A.115 |
Mississippi | Corporation; Incorporated; Company; Limited; Corp.; Inc.; Co.; Ltd.; or a foreign equivalent. | Miss. Code § 79-4-401 |
Missouri | Corporation; Company; Incorporated; or Limited may appear in the name. An abbreviation of one of those words must be at the end. | Mo. Rev. Stat. § 351.110 |
Montana | Corporation; Incorporated; Company; Limited; Corp.; Inc.; Co.; Ltd.; or a foreign equivalent. | Mont. Code § 35-14-401 |
Nebraska | Corporation; Incorporated; Company; Limited; Corp.; Inc.; Co.; Ltd.; or a foreign equivalent. | Neb. Rev. Stat. § 21-230 |
Nevada | A designator is required only when the name appears to be a natural person's name. Add Corporation, Incorporated, Limited, Company, an abbreviation, or another identifying term. | Nev. Rev. Stat. § 78.035 |
New Hampshire | Corporation; Incorporated; Limited; Corp.; Inc.; Ltd.; or a foreign equivalent. | N.H. Rev. Stat. § 293-A:4.01 |
New Jersey | Corporation; Company; Incorporated; an abbreviation; Ltd.; or a foreign equivalent. | N.J. Stat. § 14A:2-2 |
New Mexico | Corporation; Company; Incorporated; Limited; or an abbreviation, used as a separate word. | N.M. Stat. § 53-11-7 |
New York | Corporation; Incorporated; Limited; or an abbreviation. | N.Y. Bus. Corp. Law § 301 |
North Carolina | Corporation; Incorporated; Company; Limited; Corp.; Inc.; Co.; Ltd. | N.C. Gen. Stat. § 55D-20(a)(1) |
North Dakota | Company; Corporation; Incorporated; Limited; or an abbreviation. | N.D. Cent. Code § 10-19.1-13 |
Ohio | Company; Co.; Corporation; Corp.; Incorporated; Inc. | Ohio Rev. Code § 1701.05 |
Oklahoma | Association; Company; Corporation; Club; Foundation; Fund; Incorporated; Institute; Society; Union; Syndicate; Limited; an abbreviation; or a foreign equivalent in Roman characters. | Okla. Stat. tit. 18, § 1006 |
Oregon | Corporation; Incorporated; Company; Limited; or an abbreviation. | Or. Rev. Stat. § 60.094 |
Pennsylvania | Corporation; Company; Incorporated; Limited; an abbreviation; Association; Fund; Syndicate; or a foreign equivalent. | 15 Pa. C.S. § 203(a) |
Rhode Island | Corporation; Company; Incorporated; Limited; or an abbreviation. | R.I. Gen. Laws § 7-1.2-401 |
South Carolina | Corporation; Incorporated; Company; Limited; Corp.; Inc.; Co.; Ltd.; or a foreign equivalent. | S.C. Code § 33-4-101 |
South Dakota | Corporation; Incorporated; Company; Limited; Corp.; Inc.; Co.; Ltd.; or a foreign equivalent. | S.D. Codified Laws § 47-1A-401 |
Tennessee | Corporation; Incorporated; Company; Corp.; Inc.; Co.; or a foreign equivalent in Roman characters. | Tenn. Code § 48-14-101 |
Texas | Company; Corporation; Incorporated; Limited; or an abbreviation. | Tex. Bus. Orgs. Code § 5.054 |
Utah | Corporation; Incorporated; Company; Corp.; Inc.; Co.; or a foreign equivalent. | Utah Code § 16-10a-401 |
Vermont | Corporation; Incorporated; Company; Limited; Corp.; Inc.; Co.; Ltd.; or a foreign equivalent. | 11A V.S.A. § 4.01 |
Virginia | Corporation; Incorporated; Company; Limited; Corp.; Inc.; Co.; Ltd. | Va. Code § 13.1-630 |
Washington | Corporation; Incorporated; Company; Limited; Corp.; Inc.; Co.; Ltd. A social purpose corporation must use Social Purpose Corporation, SPC, or S.P.C. | Wash. Rev. Code § 23.95.305(1)(a) |
West Virginia | Corporation; Incorporated; Company; Limited; Corp.; Inc.; Co.; Ltd.; or a foreign equivalent. | W. Va. Code § 31D-4-401 |
Wisconsin | Corporation; Incorporated; Company; Limited; Corp.; Inc.; Co.; Ltd.; or a foreign equivalent. | Wis. Stat. § 180.0401 |
Wyoming | No entity-type word or abbreviation is required. | Wyo. Stat. § 17-16-401 |
Professional corporation names
Professional corporation naming rules depend on the licensed profession and state. Common forms include Professional Corporation, P.C., Professional Association, P.A., Chartered, and P.S.C. Use one of these forms only when the governing law and licensing board permit or require it.
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S corporation suffix requirements
There is no separate S corporation suffix. S corporation status comes from a federal tax election. The underlying entity remains an LLC or corporation, and its legal-name designator stays the same.
- An LLC with S corporation tax treatment keeps its LLC suffix, such as Acme Consulting LLC.
- A corporation with S corporation tax treatment keeps its corporate suffix, such as Acme Consulting Inc.
An eligible corporation or other eligible entity generally makes the election with IRS Form 2553. State tax treatment and filing requirements may differ. Read what an S corporation is before filing.
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Nonprofit corporation suffix requirements by state
A nonprofit corporation's name does not always need the word Nonprofit. Some states require a corporate designator, some permit one, and some restrict common corporate words. Federal tax-exemption language usually belongs in the articles' purpose and dissolution clauses. Read the complete nonprofit organization guide for the wider formation process.
State | Accepted base designator(s) | Law |
Alabama | No statutory designator is required. | Ala. Code § 10A-1-5.04(b) |
Alaska | No statutory designator is required. | Alaska Stat. § 10.20.021 |
Arizona | No statutory designator is required. | Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 10-3401 |
Arkansas | No statutory designator is required. | Ark. Code § 4-33-401 |
California | No statutory designator is required. | Cal. Corp. Code §§ 5122, 7122, 9122 |
Colorado | A designator is optional; the standard corporate terms and abbreviations are permitted. | Colo. Rev. Stat. § 7-90-601(1)(b) |
Connecticut | Corporation; Incorporated; Company; Corp.; Inc.; Co.; or a foreign equivalent. | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 33-1045 |
Delaware | Association; Company; Corporation; Club; Foundation; Fund; Incorporated; Institute; Society; Union; Syndicate; Limited; an abbreviation; or a foreign equivalent in Roman characters. | 8 Del. C. § 102(a)(1) |
District of Columbia | No statutory designator is required. | D.C. Code § 29-103.02(b) |
Florida | Corporation; Incorporated; Corp.; Inc.; or a foreign equivalent that identifies a corporation. Company and Co. are not permitted. | Fla. Stat. § 617.0401 |
Georgia | Corporation; Incorporated; Company; Limited; Corp.; Inc.; Co.; Ltd.; or a foreign equivalent. | Ga. Code § 14-3-401 |
Hawaii | No statutory designator is required. | Haw. Rev. Stat. § 414D-61 |
Idaho | Corporation; Incorporated; Company; Limited; Corp.; Inc.; Co.; Ltd.; or a foreign equivalent. Company/Co. cannot be immediately preceded by and or &. | Idaho Code §§ 30-30-202, 30-21-302(a) |
Illinois | A designator is generally optional. NFP is required only when the name otherwise implies a purpose outside the nonprofit act or the articles. | 805 ILCS 105/104.05 |
Indiana | Corporation; Incorporated; Company; Limited; Corp.; Inc.; Co.; Ltd.; or a foreign equivalent. | Ind. Code § 23-0.5-3-2(a) |
Iowa | No statutory designator is required. | Iowa Code § 504.401 |
Kansas | Association; Church; College; Company; Corporation; Club; Foundation; Fund; Incorporated; Institute; Society; Union; University; Syndicate; Limited; Co.; Corp.; Inc.; Ltd.; or a foreign equivalent. | Kan. Stat. § 17-7919 |
Kentucky | Must end with Corporation; Company; Limited; Corp.; Inc.; Co.; Ltd.; or a foreign equivalent. Company/Co. cannot be immediately preceded by and or &. | Ky. Rev. Stat. § 14A.3-010(2) |
Louisiana | No entity designator is required; the name may be in any language but must use English letters or characters. | La. Rev. Stat. § 12:204 |
Maine | No statutory designator is required. | 13-B Me. Rev. Stat. § 301-A |
Maryland | Company; Corporation; Incorporated; Limited; or an abbreviation. Company cannot be preceded by and or &. | Md. Code, Corps. & Ass'ns § 1-502(a) |
Massachusetts | The name must indicate that the organization is a corporation. Churches and other religious societies are exempt. | Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 155, § 9 |
Michigan | No statutory designator is required. | Mich. Comp. Laws § 450.2212 |
Minnesota | No statutory designator is required. | Minn. Stat. § 317A.115 |
Mississippi | No statutory designator is required. | Miss. Code § 79-11-157 |
Missouri | No statutory designator is required. | Mo. Rev. Stat. § 355.146 |
Montana | No statutory designator is required. | Mont. Code § 35-2-305 |
Nebraska | No statutory designator is required. | Neb. Rev. Stat. § 21-1931 |
Nevada | A designator is required only when the name appears to be a natural person's name; add an identifying corporate word or abbreviation. | Nev. Rev. Stat. § 82.086 |
New Hampshire | No statutory designator is required. | N.H. Rev. Stat. § 292:3 |
New Jersey | A New Jersey nonprofit corporation; Incorporated; Corporation; Inc.; or Corp. Certain Title 16 entities are exempt. | N.J. Stat. § 15A:2-2 |
New Mexico | No statutory designator is required. | N.M. Stat. § 53-8-7 |
New York | Corporation; Incorporated; Limited; or an abbreviation, unless a statutory exemption applies, including specified charitable or religious entities. | N.Y. Not-for-Profit Corp. Law § 301 |
North Carolina | Corporation; Incorporated; Company; Limited; Corp.; Inc.; Co.; Ltd. | N.C. Gen. Stat. § 55D-20(a)(1) |
North Dakota | No statutory designator is required. | N.D. Cent. Code § 10-33-10 |
Ohio | No statutory designator is required. | Ohio Rev. Code § 1702.05 |
Oklahoma | Association; Company; Corporation; Club; Foundation; Fund; Incorporated; Institute; Society; Union; Syndicate; Limited; Co.; Corp.; Inc.; Ltd.; or a foreign equivalent in Roman characters. | Okla. Stat. tit. 18, § 1006 |
Oregon | No statutory designator is required. | Or. Rev. Stat. § 65.094 |
Pennsylvania | No statutory designator is required. | 15 Pa. C.S. § 203(b) |
Rhode Island | No statutory designator is required. | R.I. Gen. Laws § 7-6-11 |
South Carolina | No statutory designator is required. | S.C. Code § 33-31-401 |
South Dakota | No statutory designator is required. | S.D. Codified Laws § 47-22-7 |
Tennessee | No statutory designator is required. | Tenn. Code § 48-54-101 |
Texas | A corporate designator is permitted but not required. | Tex. Bus. Orgs. Code § 5.054(b) |
Utah | A corporate designator is permitted but not required. | Utah Code § 16-6a-401 |
Vermont | Corporation; Incorporated; Company; Limited; Corp.; Inc.; Co.; Ltd.; or a foreign equivalent. | 11B V.S.A. § 4.01 |
Virginia | No statutory designator is required. | Va. Code § 13.1-829 |
Washington | No designator is required. For entities formed after 1968, the name generally may not include or end with Incorporated, Company, Corporation, Partnership, Limited Partnership, Ltd., or an abbreviation. | Wash. Rev. Code § 23.95.305(2) |
West Virginia | Corporation; Incorporated; Company; Limited; Corp.; Inc.; Co.; Ltd.; or a foreign equivalent. | W. Va. Code § 31E-4-401 |
Wisconsin | Corporation; Incorporated; Company; Limited; Corp.; Inc.; Co.; Ltd.; or a foreign equivalent. | Wis. Stat. § 181.0401 |
Wyoming | No statutory designator is required. | Wyo. Stat. § 17-19-401 |
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DBA suffix requirements
A DBA has no nationwide entity suffix. It is an assumed, fictitious, or trade name registered by a person or existing entity. The filing office may be the state, county, city, or a combination of offices.
Start with what a DBA is and review the differences between an LLC and a DBA.
- A sole proprietor should not use LLC or Inc. when the wording falsely suggests a registered entity.
- An existing LLC or corporation should provide its exact legal name on the DBA application.
- A DBA registration does not create liability protection or federal trademark rights.
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Restricted words and final name checks
The suffix is one part of the name review. Complete these checks before filing:
- Use a designator that matches the entity and appears in the applicable state row.
- Search the formation state's business database. A suffix or punctuation change often does not make a name distinguishable.
- Check regulated terms. Bank, trust, insurance, credit union, cooperative, university, engineer, architect, and government-related wording may require approval or a license.
- Search trademarks separately. State name availability does not grant federal trademark rights. Read trademark vs. LLC.
- Check the name again when the business registers in another state through foreign qualification. The new state may require an alternate or fictitious name.
Scope and legal note
This article summarizes base legal-name designators for standard domestic entities. It does not list every profession-specific rule, regulated word, legacy exception, or filing-office practice. Statutes and filing instructions can change. Confirm the current state form before submitting. The content is general information and is not legal or tax advice.
Selected primary sources
FAQs
It is the legal-name word or abbreviation that identifies the entity type, such as LLC, Corporation, Inc., or Ltd. It is also called an entity designator.
Yes. LLC is a widely accepted abbreviation for Limited Liability Company. Each state controls the exact forms it accepts.
Inc. confirms that the business is a corporation under state law. The corporation may have C corporation tax treatment or make an S corporation election if eligible.
Yes. An eligible LLC can elect S corporation tax treatment. Its state-law name and LLC designator do not change.
No. California general stock corporations, Maine business corporations, and Wyoming corporations have no base designator requirement. Nevada requires one when the name appears to be a natural person's name.
Only when the wording accurately reflects the owner and the filing jurisdiction allows it. A DBA cannot turn a sole proprietorship into an LLC or corporation.
