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.
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.
Getting your Maryland business name right is one of the most critical stages of starting your organization. You need something that stays in your target audience’s heads and helps them associate your enterprise with your offerings.
But that’s not all — the legal aspect of naming your entity is even more significant. Your business name must be unique to remain in good standing with the Maryland Secretary of State and avoid lawsuits due to similarities with other organization names.
Thankfully, a bevy of tools are available to help you avoid legal trouble, one of which is our free Maryland business name search:
Go to the business name search page
Enter the name you want to use for your business
Tell us your name, email address, and where your company is located
Press “Submit” to launch your search
Once we receive your request, we’ll process it quickly and send the results within an hour. If your search tells you your name hasn’t been taken, we’ll guide you through the next step: name reservation.
See if your company name is available in Maryland 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.
Let’s first dig deeper into a Maryland business search. Read on, and we’ll tell you why a search is advantageous and the rules you need to remember when choosing a name for your organization.
Performing a business name search prevents legal liability caused by using the same or a similar name as other Maryland enterprises.
If you’re starting an LLC or corporation, your business name must contain a phrase or abbreviation that describes your structure (e.g., limited or incorporated).
You should reserve your name after verifying its availability promptly to stop others who may want to use a similar name from getting ahead of you.
One of the biggest mistakes in the small business world is rushing headfirst into the naming process. Some owners want to get it over as quickly as possible, so they select the first name that comes to mind. But there’s a few Maryland naming conventions that you must follow:
Maryland LLCs must include “Limited Liability Company” or an abbreviation (L.L.C or LLC) in the name
Maryland corporations must include “corporation,” “incorporated,” or the “Inc., abbreviation in the name
Maryland LLCs and corporations cannot use words or phrases in the name that may make others believe the business structure is different
Maryland benefit corporations must include “Benefit Corporation” in the business name, or “Benefit Co./Corp.” as viable alternatives
Business names cannot have the same or similar wording as government organizations, such as State Department or IRS
Entity names must be unique and distinguishable from existing businesses
Many consider a Maryland business entity search redundant. After all, anyone can come up with a unique name that adheres to state requirements, right? Well, doing so is much trickier than it seems.
That’s because, as of 2021, there are more than 140,000 companies in the state.[1] Chances are, the owner of at least one of these enterprises had the same or similar vision as you when they established their organization, so the probability of names overlapping is high.
Therefore, don’t take any chances — always run your business name through an advanced search tool to verify your LLC’s name availability. Here’s what makes name lookups so beneficial:
One of the main reasons you want to start a business and receive an entity number is freedom. However, you can never be free if the concern you’ve taken somebody else’s name is in the back of your mind. A quick business name search is a great way to ease your mind.
There can be many serious consequences of using the same or similar name as another enterprise. Fines are the least of your concerns. You might not even be able to get your enterprise underway. Additionally, an owner can sue you for a trademark violation.[2] A simple entity name lookup is all it takes to avert this scenario.
Digging through Maryland business databases takes ages. By the time you’re done, someone else will have likely taken the name, preventing you from reserving the entity name of your dreams. In addition, a manual search will delay the start of your business. A name search tool automates the process and expedites your launch.
If your Maryland entity search has given you the green light for your desired Maryland business name, it's not time to put your feet up. Here's what you should do next.
The first thing you should do after a Maryland business name search is to reserve the business name for your LLC. Once your name availability checks out, take the following steps to perform your name reservation:
Download and fill out the Corporate Name Reservation Application.
Mail the form to the State Department of Assessments and Taxation /UCC at 301 W Preston Street, Baltimore, MD 21201
Pay a $25 filing fee
If your business name is available and reserved, it’s time to select a domain name for your Maryland business. A domain gives you the reins of your online presence and reinforces your authenticity. Plus, it makes you discoverable on the internet, allowing more people to find your company.
Bear these tips in mind when selecting your domain name:
Avoid domains longer than 63 characters
Include a keyword
Make it the same or similar as your business name
Squarespace’s easy-to-use domain search tool can help you quickly find and register a domain name that matches your Maryland 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.
A DBA (doing business as) is a fictitious business name or trade name you can use if your Maryland SOS business search tells you the desired name is unavailable. It eliminates the need to set up a new business entity if you can’t use the preferred name for your Maryland LLC.[3]
Here are a few other scenarios where a DBA might be worth considering:
Providing services or products unrelated to a business name
Opening a bank account that requires a DBA
Separating personal property from business property
Looking for a name that reflects your mission better
Here’s how filing a DBA works in Maryland:
Fill out your Trade Name Application
Send it to the State Department of Assessments and Taxation /UCC at 301 W Preston Street, Baltimore, MD 21201
Pay a $25 state filing fee
Ensuring you can safely use the desired business name for your Maryland LLC sets the stage for the rest of your filing process. Still, what comes after your Maryland entity search is much more challenging due to the piles of paperwork you must submit.
Why not outsource the work to Swyft Filings? We’ll do all the filings on your behalf, so you start your trade in good standing with the Maryland Secretary of State. Business documentation is smooth sailing with our LLC formation services — contact us today!
Enter your desired Maryland company name to see if it is available with our free business name search.
You can search for a business name in Maryland using the Maryland Business Express website. You can also use Swyft Filings’ free business name search to quickly determine if your preferred business name is available.
The quickest way to check if an organization is registered in Maryland is to utilize the Swyft Filings free business name search. You can also access the Maryland Secretary of State business database on the Maryland Business Express website.
With a business name search, you can see whether your desired business name is available in Maryland. These tools go through the database of all companies in the state and find similarities to the existing names. You can safely use your LLC name if your search comes up blank.
The Maryland Secretary of State business entity search lets you look up any company in the state, along with key details about the enterprise, such as their registered agent.
Swyft Filings Maryland business name search is 100% free. Just fill in the required information and tap the “Submit” button.
You can check the status of your Maryland LLC by contacting the Maryland Secretary of State or using a business entity search, which includes basic information about your firm, such as its status, articles of organization, company name, phone number, and employer identification number.
United States Census Bureau. “QuickFacts Maryland.” Accessed May 24, 2023.
United States Patent and Trademark Office. “About Trademark Infringement.” Accessed May 24, 2023.
Chamber of Commerce. “How to File a DBA in Maryland.” Accessed May 24, 2023.
No matter the business type, Swyft Filings can help you form your new company.