Verify Your Business Name With a Missouri Business Name Search

One of the most critical requirements of starting a Missouri limited liability company (LLC) is ensuring you have a unique name. Besides making your company stand out, having one also eliminates the risk of liability caused by accidentally using other organizations’ names.

That’s where your Missouri business name search comes in. It allows you to look up your potential business name and determine if it’s taken.

Turn to Swyft Filings. Our convenient business name tool has a user-friendly interface that lets you perform a basic or advanced search, depending on your preferences. You won’t need to spend a dime to utilize our software, and we’ll email you the results within an hour.

Using the Swyft Filings business name search tool only takes a few clicks:

1. Type in the name you wish to use for your business.

2. Tell us your business’s location.

3. Enter your Missouri LLC name and email.

4. Hit the blue “Submit” button and wait up to 60 minutes for our response.

Now that you know how a Missouri LLC business name search works let’s see how you select one and what to do after.

Key Takeaways

• A business search tool tells you the availability of your desired business name.

• Your name must contain appropriate, business-relevant wording.

• After reserving your business name, select a domain name and consider a DBA.

Missouri’s Business Naming Conventions

When starting a new business, you shouldn’t rush headfirst into your name selection. After all, the last thing you want is for the Missouri Secretary of State to deny your request. Therefore, you need to be aware of the guidelines governing your name choice for your business entity:

• There can be no insurance company associations — The name of your Missouri LLC should be such that it doesn’t imply that you’re an insurer or carry insurance risks. Setting up an insurance company radically differs from how you launch your LLC.

• Others must be aware of your LLC status — The only way people can tell that you’re an LLC immediately is if your name provides this information. That’s why you should have the terms “limited liability company” or “limited company” in your name. An abbreviation such as LLC, L.L.C, LC, or L.C. is also acceptable.

• You must use the name under which you do business — You can’t use one business name in your Articles of Organization and others in your business correspondence. The state requires you to select the name under which you’ll do business. The only exception is if you want to create another company under which your LLC operates under state laws.

• No confusing wording is allowed — Transparency is your stepping stone to success, and you want to be transparent from the get-go. More specifically, you need to choose a name that doesn’t contain phrases that may make others mistake your LLC for other types of business entities: limited partnership, corporation, sole proprietorship, incorporated, or limited liability partnership.[1]

• Your name must be unique — Besides making sure your LLC name doesn’t sound like a Missouri corporation, you want to be sure your name is unique. Enter Missouri business name search tools. They enable you to check quickly whether or not your name is available.

Swyft Filings can turn your name search into a breeze. Provide our free tool with basic information about the company you want to set up and state the name you wish to use. Within 60 minutes, you’ll know without a doubt whether you can use the desired name legally.

Benefits of a Missouri Entity Search

Many business owners pay little attention to their business name selection, but this is a major mistake. You don’t want to gloss over this part of your business creation process because it can prevent a world of trouble down the line.

One of the things you can do to ensure your business gets off on the right foot is to perform a Missouri business entity search. Here’s why it’s so significant:

• It eliminates the risk of liability — The word “trademarked” gets thrown around the business world a lot. There’s a reason it’s so widespread, and it has to do with organizations’ names. Namely, companies trademark their products or services under a specific name. They may sue you for violating their trademark rights if you use a similar name.

• It speeds up your business license application — Like every business owner, you want your company to be up and running as soon as possible. Getting a business license and entity number is a crucial factor here, and you can acquire them sooner if you select your name fast. A quick business name search tells you if your name is available within minutes so you can move on to the rest of the process sooner.

• It helps you reserve a domain faster — If your business name selection is fast, every other segment of setting up your company picks up the pace. This includes securing your business domain.

Next Steps

The Missouri business name of your dreams is available, but what’s next? When selecting your LLC name, you shouldn’t put your feet up just yet. The post-Missouri entity search stage should go something like this:  

Complete Your Name Reservation

The story doesn’t end once you check your business name availability. After performing your Missouri business name search, it’s time to reserve your name. The fastest way to do so is to use the Secretary of State’s online portal:

1. Navigate to the Secretary of State’s website.

2. Use your login credentials or create an account if you haven’t done so already. You won’t be able to register your LLC and get your business license online otherwise.

3. Click the “Create a Business Entity” button.

4. Explore the available options until you find “Name Reservation” in the dropdown menu.

5. Complete the rest of the process by following on-screen instructions.

6. Pay a $25 state fee.

If you prefer the old-fashioned physical reservation process, the Secretary of State has you covered. You only need to download and fill out your Application for Reservation of Name.

1. Open your browser and download the State of Missouri Application for Reservation of Name form.[2]

2. Provide the requested information, including the name you wish to reserve and critical details about your company.

3. Send the form to the following address:

• Secretary of State, Corporations Division

• P.O. Box 778

• Jefferson City, MO 65102

Like with online applications, reserving your name by mail is subject to a $25 filing fee. It takes the state of Missouri approximately 24 hours to process online submissions and between four and five days for written ones.

Choose a Domain Name

You’ve performed your Missouri entity search, verified your name availability, and completed a name reservation, but the work isn’t over just yet. The next step is to select a domain name for your LLC. But why do you need one?

There are several reasons you should have a business domain name:

• Higher credibility — To boost your credibility, you must let your target audience know you mean business (literally). One of the best ways to do so is to buy a domain. It tells your prospects you’re in it for the long haul.

• Higher memorability — Choosing a unique domain name allows your clients to revisit your website more easily. As a result, they’re less likely to give up trying to find your page because they can’t remember your name. This leads to higher customer engagement which helps increase your customer base.

• Higher identity control — Generic names plague many companies, which is one of the reasons they have few website visitors. Securing your own unique domain solves this problem. It lets you choose the exact name that matches your trade and grabs your visitors’ attention.

Now that you know why having a domain name for your Missouri business matters, here are a few tips for choosing one:

• Don’t use more than 14 characters.

• Avoid numbers and hyphens to improve visibility.

• Incorporate relevant keywords.

• Make sure the name is easy to pronounce.

Squarespace’s easy-to-use domain search tool can help you quickly find and register a domain name that matches your Missouri 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

Suppose your Swyft Filings or Missouri Secretary of State business search says your name is unavailable. In that case, you’ll need to use a so-called fictitious business name.[3] Also known as a trade name or DBA (doing business as), it’s different from the legal name of your business entity. Companies generally take this route when entering a new industry not reflected in their current name.

Filing for a DBA in Missouri is simple. You can complete it online or submit a completed fictitious name form at the following address:

• Secretary of State, Corporations Division

• P.O. Box 778

• Jefferson City, MO 65102

File Your LLC Online

You can now file for your LLC if you’ve completed your Missouri entity search and your business name is ready. Swyft Filings can take care of the paperwork on your behalf. Contact us, and we’ll provide the Missouri Secretary of State with all the information necessary to set up your LLC and help keep it in good standing. With us by your side, the creation process will be a breeze.

FAQs

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

You can find out if your entity name is available in Missouri by performing a business name search using Swyft Filings’ free tool.

What is the Missouri Secretary of State Business Entity Search?

A Missouri Secretary of State business entity search is a process that can tell you whether your desired business name is available.

How can I find out if a business is registered in Missouri?

The best way to determine if a company is registered in Missouri is to consult the Missouri Secretary of State website.

How much does a Missouri business entity search cost?

Business name searches for Missouri are free.

What are some of the benefits of a business entity search?

A business entity search reduces the risk of trademark-related lawsuits and helps you set up your LLC faster.

How do you form a business in Missouri?

You form a business in Missouri by filing your Articles of Organization with the Secretary of State or using an online filing service like Swyft Filings.

Bibliography

1. Missouri Secretary of State. “Business Services: Starting a Business.” Accessed May 8, 2023.

2. Missouri Secretary of State. “Application for Reservation of Name.” Accessed May 8, 2023.

3. Missouri Secretary of State. “Business Services: Fictitious Name Registration FAQ.” Accessed May 8, 2023.