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Swyft Filings is committed to providing accurate, reliable information to help you make informed decisions for your business. That's why our content is written and edited by professional editors, writers, and subject matter experts. Learn more about how Swyft Filings works, our editorial team and standards, what our customers think of us, and more on our trust page.
Regardless of the type of business you want to start, registering a company name will be crucial. Just like your business bank account, P.O. box, and phone number, this name has to be unique. Your first step in launching a company will be to check business name availability.
The good news is that you can check whether your desired corporation or LLC name is taken with a quick search. Swyft Filings has an excellent business name search tool that will help you do just that.
With this free tool, you’ll know whether the name of your new business is available within an hour. Best of all, conducting a business entity search is very straightforward. Here’s what you’ll need to do:
Use the online form to submit your desired business name with the owner’s name and email address.
Wait less than an hour as the tool searches the Kentucky Secretary of State database and looks for registered names that match your own.
Move forward with the company registration process if your name is available, or search again for a different name.
See if your company name is available in Kentucky with our free business name search service. There is no cost or commitment on your part. We will email you within 1 hour to let you know if your name is available Alaska and how to reserve it today.
An online Kentucky business entity search represents convenience for future large or small businesses. It’s easy to confirm if your desired entity name is free without waiting days or weeks, and you won’t need to leave your home to wrap up this initial phase.
Key Takeaways
Business names in Kentucky are subject to specific conventions, and you’ll need to understand and follow those conventions if you want to name your company correctly.
With a unique name, your company won’t encounter name-related obstacles to doing business legally, and your customers will be able to distinguish your business from others in the same market.
The business registration process starts with a name availability check, followed by other business filings, such as registering an Employer Identification Number with the IRS.
Kentucky’s Business Naming Conventions
One of the basic rules of company naming states that your chosen name must be unique compared to all other registered business titles. Luckily, the convention around this rule is relatively lenient. You can change a word or letter to ensure the new name is legally distinct from an existing one.
However, per the Kentucky Business Entity Filing Act, there are several other conventions to adhere to.[1] The rules aren’t particularly complex but will be a prerequisite for ensuring compliance with the state law.
The first convention deals with what a company’s name can’t include. In particular, your business name must not contain any wording suggesting the organization deals in different activities than those stated in the formative act, such as Articles of Incorporation.
Other conventions also focus on words that must or must not be in a company’s name. Let’s look at a list of the most important rules in that regard:
A corporation must contain the word “Corporation,” “Limited,” or “Company,” or their abbreviations (“Corp,” “Ltd,” “Co”) at the end of the name.
A corporation as a nonprofit can not have “Company” or “Co” after “&” or “and.”
A corporation as a professional service must have a name ending with “Professional Service Corporation” or “P.S.C.”
If a corporation is of the public benefit type, its name must end with “Benefit Corporation,” “Public Benefit Corporation,” or “PBC.”
Limited liability companies must end with “Limited Company,” “Limited Liability Company,” “LC,” or “LLC.”
Professional LLCs must add the word “Professional” to the listed phrases or the letter “P” to the abbreviations.
A limited liability partnership must have a name ending with “LLP” or “Registered Limited Liability Partnership.”
Partnerships can’t use the words “Incorporated” or “Corporation” or have “Limited” in the name unless a statement of qualification is filed.
Benefits of a Kentucky Entity Search
A Kentucky entity search will help you find and secure a unique name for your business. This will be of great help in terms of staying compliant with regulations and running a legitimate business. Besides that, performing a Kentucky entity search comes with the following benefits:
Creating a strong brand: An interesting name is a vital part of brand identity, and an entity search can help you find an effective name that will leave a lasting impression on your audience.
Avoiding potential lawsuits: A unique business name protects you from unnecessary complications, such as changing the company name when your organization is already established. This can happen if you choose a name that belongs to another business already.
Registering a domain: Conducting an entity search will help you secure a business name sooner so you can register a domain name that fits the title of your organization.
Getting your business license: You can’t obtain business licenses without a registered company name. Performing one or more name searches will speed up this process, helping your company get off the ground sooner.
Next Steps
While you’ll need to come up with a name for your business first, that will be only the initial step in your journey. After an appropriate name is found available, you’ll need to reserve it. Furthermore, it would be good to register a domain right after that and get a DBA or an assumed name if necessary.
Complete Your Name Reservation
If you’ve found a good name for your company, you’ll want to get other documentation in order. However, filing your Articles of Incorporation or Articles of Organization won’t be a quick process. While doing those essential tasks, somebody could take your desired name.
A name reservation will ensure the title is waiting for you while you get other tasks done.
The Secretary of State will reserve the chosen name for you. Note that this action won’t mean the name is now registered — it will simply be reserved.[2]
The reservation process for Kentucky businesses is very straightforward. Complete a Reservation or Renewal of Reserved Name and mail it to:
Michael Adams
Room 152, Capitol Building
Office of the Secretary of State
700 Capital Avenue
P.O. Box 718 Frankfort, KY 40601
You’ll need to cover a $15 filing fee to submit the document.
Choose a Domain Name
Today’s market makes it necessary to get a website working from day one. You could run a business without a site, but your company would hardly be competitive. That’s why registering a domain should be high on your priority list.
Squarespace’s easy-to-use domain search tool can help you quickly find and register a domain name that matches your Kentucky 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.
Consider a DBA
If you plan to do business under a different name than the one you register, it would be best to get a DBA or “doing business as.” This is also called an assumed name and can represent a public title of your company.
According to the Chamber of Commerce, you’ll need to complete several relatively straightforward steps to get an assumed name as a sole proprietor:[3]
Fill out a Certificate To Do Business Under Assumed Name By Individual
Find a county clerk for your county from the official list
Send the form via mail and cover the $46 filing fee
Corporations or LLCs can use a Certificate of Assumed Name and send it to:
Office of the Secretary of State
PO Box 718
Frankfort, KY 40602-0718
Kentucky Secretary of State — 502-564-3490
The filing fee will be $20 in this case.
File Your LLC Online
After you’ve taken care of all name-related considerations, you’ll be free to move forward with filing your LLC. If that process seems overwhelming, don’t worry — Swyft Filings will help you get it over with in the shortest time possible.
The best part about our services is that you can take care of essential tasks online. Our online platform will help you do just that, while our expert team will be there for any additional assistance you may need.
Besides helping you with online filings, we can offer other services like a business name change. Get in touch with us to find out all we can do for your company.
Enter your desired Kentucky company name to see if it is available with our free business name search.
FAQs
How do I find out if a business name is available in Kentucky?
Using a free business name search tool is the easiest way to learn about business name availability in Kentucky. Kentucky’s Secretary of State website also has a business database that is free to use.
What is the Kentucky Secretary of State Business Entity Search?
The Kentucky Secretary of State business entity search is a free online tool to find information on existing businesses registered in the state’s database.
How do I verify a business in Kentucky?
To get your business in Kentucky verified and registered, you’ll need to register a name, file formation documents, get your EIN from the IRS, establish an account for state taxes, and contact your county clerk to move forward in the process.
How much does a Kentucky business entity search cost?
The Swyft Filings business name search tool allows you to search for any Kentucky business name for free. You can also perform a similar search for free on the Kentucky Secretary of State website.
What is required to form an LLC in Kentucky?
To form an LLC business structure in Kentucky, you must choose a name for your limited liability company, file your Articles of Organization, appoint a registered agent, make an Operating Agreement, and get an EIN.
How do I file for a trademark in Kentucky?
You can get a trademark in Kentucky by filing a registration application with the Secretary of State’s office. If the trademark is available, you’ll be able to register it.
Bibliography
Justia US Law. “2020 Kentucky Revised Statuses, Chapter 14A, Subchapter 14A.3-010.” Accessed May 08, 2023.
Kentucky Secretary of State. “Business Filings Information.” Accessed May 08, 2023.
Chamber of Commerce. “How to File a DBA in Kentucky.” Accessed May 08, 2023.
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