Verify Your Business Name With an Idaho Business Name Search

Starting a new business can be delicate and daunting. Before you can set up shop, you need a good (and unique) business name. Idaho business name options can be tiresome to navigate if you don’t know where to start. Fortunately, numerous free online tools can help you get there faster.

Using an online tool for your LLC name search is free and takes no more than 10 minutes to complete. One excellent option is the free-of-charge Swyft Filings business name search service. This tool is intuitive and easy to use. Here’s how the process goes:

1. Fill out the online query with your desired small business name. Put Idaho as the location.

2. Submit the form with your name and email address.

3. Wait for the results. You can check your email for a response after one business hour.

4. Continue with your business registration or reserve your entity name. If your desired name is taken, you can try again with a different one.

All future entrepreneurs in Idaho need to register their business entity name with the state. That’s why these handy tools will be beneficial regardless of the type of business you’re starting.

Key Takeaways

• To register your new business, you must have a unique business name.

• Your new Idaho business name must follow specific naming conventions valid for the state of Idaho.

• You’ll easily obtain your Employer Identification Number after getting your company name.

• You want to register your business name quickly and securely, and Swyft Filings offers support every step of the way.

Idaho’s Business Name Conventions

If you’re starting a business in Idaho, you can register one of the following entity types:[1]

• General partnership

• Limited partnership

• Limited liability partnership

• Limited liability company

• Corporation

To start a business in Idaho, you need to learn the state’s naming conventions.[2] The Idaho Secretary of State’s naming conventions for LLCs and other business entities are as follows:

• The business name can’t include words that make people assume you’re an insurer.

• Your LLC must include the abbreviation “LLC” or its full version, “Limited Liability Company,” in the name. The same rules apply when starting a corporation. In that case, the name should include “corporation,” “incorporated,” “corp.,” “inc.,” or words/abbreviations of similar meaning.

• You can’t include offensive, inappropriate, and otherwise forbidden words.

• The business name must be unique compared to other registered businesses in the state.

• Your business name can’t falsely imply that you’re working with the government.

• General partnerships need to include the partners’ last names. If you want a different name, you must file a DBA (doing business as).

Benefits of an Idaho Entity Search

An Idaho business entity search is an essential step in starting your business. It’s also a crucial element in receiving your business license. Here are some of the benefits of this service:

• Allows verification of the business name availability — You can be sure your business name is unique and not already featured on the official Secretary of State’s database of registered businesses.

• Prevents expensive mistakes when you register a taken name — Registering your business with a name already in the registry can come at a hefty price. Performing an Idaho business entity search saves you from additional expenses.

• Protects you from potential legal actions against your entity — The business owner with the same (or similar) registered name can file a lawsuit or otherwise endanger your business. You alleviate this risk with a unique business name.

• Makes it straightforward to secure a domain name — You may not want to launch your company’s website now, but you may decide to do it later on in the future. You can secure a corresponding domain name by choosing a unique business name. This means your customers won’t have trouble looking up your company.

• Obtains results quickly — Performing an Idaho entity search is quick and easy. A Swyft Filings name search requires only a small amount of information: your desired business name, location, name, and email address.

Next Steps

You’ve figured out the name of your Idaho business using Idaho entity search tools. What do you do next? Once you find out your desired business name is available, proceed to the following steps.

Complete Your Name Reservation

New businesses open daily in Idaho. The business name you plan on using may be available today but taken tomorrow. That’s why it’s crucial to reserve the name you choose while it’s still up for grabs.

Per Statute 30-1-402, the state of Idaho lets you reserve a business name for up to four months, giving you plenty of time to wrap everything up and get ready to launch your company. When you’re ready to incorporate, Swyft Filings can help you get prepared with our LLC formation service.

To complete your name reservation, you must complete the Application for Reservation of Legal Entity Name, which you can download from the Secretary of State website. You’ll need to provide the following information:

• Date

• The name you want to reserve

• Your name

• Street (or PO box)

• City, state, zip code

• Signature

• Phone number

• Email address

The fee is $20 for a typed application and $40 for a non-typed application. If you must complete the process on short notice, you must add $40 to the filing fee to expedite. You can also opt for same-day service, which will cost you an additional $400.

If you opt for a non-typed application, you can send it by mail or deliver it in person. Here’s the mailing address:

Office of the Secretary of State

450 N 4th Street

PO Box 83720

Boise, ID 83720-0080

If you need assistance or have questions, contact the Secretary of State’s office at (208) 334-2301.

Choose a Domain Name

The next step is to pick a domain name for your business. If you plan to do any marketing for your new entity and make it easy for people to find you, creating a website is necessary. Your domain name is how people can access your website, buy your products, use your services, and more.

As mentioned, choosing a unique business name typically opens the doors to selecting a distinguishable domain name. Since you want people to find you easily, you probably want your company’s name to be the domain name (www.yourbusinessname.com).

Squarespace’s easy-to-use domain search tool can help you quickly find and register a domain name that matches your Idaho business. You can then choose from Squarespace’s flexible website templates, pre-designed layouts, and curated design elements to build a website — no coding required. Start your business with Swyft Filings and receive a free domain from SquareSpace for one year.

If your desired domain name isn’t available, you can always try different variations until you find a name that’s up for grabs.

There’s another option. If you like a domain name that's already taken, you can contact the owner and ask them to sell it. This likely won’t work, primarily if the person uses it for their business. Alternatively, it might be excessively costly compared to using an available similar domain.

Consider a DBA

A DBA (doing business as) is a fictitious business name for your Idaho LLC. You can choose this name if you don’t want to use your LLC’s actual name when advertising your company or dealing with customers. Of course, a DBA is usually very similar to your company’s real name, but different conventions apply to DBA names. The most significant difference is that DBAs don’t require “LLC,” “Corp.” or similar abbreviations.

Suppose you have a business named “Rosa’s Diner LLC.” If you register for a DBA (also called a trade name), you can choose “Rosa’s Diner” and use this name in your marketing campaigns.

Although the trade name is similar to your company’s original name, you must register it to use it. The process is pretty much the same as the one we discussed above. You have two options:

1. Conduct an Idaho Secretary of State business search.

2. Let Swyft Filings handle it to check if the name is available.

If the system gives you the green light, you must submit a specific form. The Idaho state refers to DBA as ABN (assumed business name). To register your ABN, you must submit a Certificate of Assumed Business Name with the Idaho Secretary of State. The filing fee is $25, and you’ll need the names and addresses of all the owners/users.

File Your LLC Online

Once the Idaho entity search is complete, you’re one step closer to forming your Idaho LLC.

If you’re ready to start your new business adventure and get your new LLC up and running, contact Swyft Filings. Our LLC filing service costs $0 (plus the state fee) and can save you from dealing with all the extra paperwork. All you need to do is complete an online form (it takes no more than 10 minutes), and we’ll take care of the rest.

Swyft Filings also offers its services to existing business owners. We can help you with business name changes, annual reports, and other compliance forms.

FAQs

How do I find out if a business name is available in Idaho?

You can perform a quick business entity search using online tools to look up available business names in the state of Idaho. You can reserve your business name and use it for later, look up an alternative in case the chosen one is taken, and more.

What is the Idaho Secretary of State Business Entity Search?

Idaho Secretary of State Business Entity Search allows you to look up all registered businesses in the state. You can use this tool to look up unique names for your new business or find an existing business. The service is free of charge and incredibly easy to use, so even those who aren’t tech-savvy will have no trouble with it.

How do I find a business entity in Idaho?

You can find a business entity in Idaho using online tools available at the Idaho Secretary of State’s official website or use Swyft Filings as another great option for finding registered business entities.

How much does an Idaho business entity search cost?

Searching for names for your business with Swyft Filings or with the Idaho Secretary of State’s website is free.

What is the process for forming an LLC in Idaho?

To start your LLC in Idaho, you must first name the company and register the entity type with the Secretary of State, create a solid business plan, get an employer identification number (EIN), file the Certificate of Organization, get your business permit, and draft an operating agreement.

How much does a business license cost in Idaho?

The state of Idaho doesn’t offer state business licenses.[3] When you start your business, you register it, but you don’t license it.

How do I get a registered agent in Idaho?

To operate an LLC in Idaho, you'll need a registered agent who has a physical street address in the state. The agent's role is to accept legal communications and liaise with the Idaho Secretary of State. While you can serve as your own agent, many businesses opt for registered agent services like Swyft Filings for benefits such as privacy protection, regulatory expertise, and operational flexibility.

Bibliography

1. Idaho Secretary of State’s Office. “Choosing a Business Entity.” Accessed May 16, 2023.

2. IDAPA 34, Secretary of State. “Rules Governing Business Entity Names.” Accessed May 16, 2023.

3. Business.Idaho.Gov. “Licenses, Permits, and Regulations.” Accessed May 16, 2023.