Connecticut LLC or INC Business Name Search

Connecticut Business Entity Search

If you are planning to form a new LLC or corporation in Connecticut, then there are several areas that you need to focus on. One important area is conducting a Connecticut business name search. Of course, you will need to take the state’s governing laws into account first. All states in the USA, including Connecticut, require you to reserve or register your business name with the Secretary of State’s office. This is a three-step process and involves:

• Identifying a business name
• Checking for Connecticut business name availability
• Reserve or register the name

The type of business name you choose will play a defining role in the future success of your company. There is a psychological perspective behind a business name as it evokes emotions in prospective customers. These emotions can be defined by adjectives like strength, trustworthiness, expensive, innovative, and environmentally friendly, among others. It is important to remember that first impressions can be quite difficult to change. So, what can you do? Here are some tips that will help you choose the right business name.

• While choosing a name, it is important to follow the governing laws or Connecticut business name rules
  

  Example: If you want to form an LLC, then the name would be Janet Brown & Associates LLC.

• Always check the list of restricted words in your state. You should not use such words in the name
• Try to avoid any made-up words or acronyms that have no apparent meaning
• Don’t use a name that is similar to the name of another company or competitor
• You can conduct a Connecticut business name search to check the uniqueness of the chosen name
• Be careful with words that have pronounced negative connotations
• Choose a name that is easy to remember, like “Bake and Take”
• Your company name should convey the business purpose or activity, like “Alpine Clothing”
• Research and your business name ideas, including performing keyword research
• Sometimes, you can get a name idea after conducting a Connecticut business name search
• You can use business name generators easily available online
• The chosen name should not in any way cause trademark infringement
• You use a traditional business name or opt for a DBA (doing business as) name
• Ensure your chosen name is web-friendly, and the domain name is easily available

What is a Connecticut business name search?

Ever wondered why experts say that choosing a strong business name is vital for startups? It’s all about reaching out to customers or attracting them. The customer perspective is simple – your company should stand out from the crowd. This is where choosing the right name after conducting a Connecticut business name search is crucial. It takes a long time to remember a name and usually a few seconds to forget. Therefore, your company name needs to be unique. Let’s look at an example to understand how this really works.

Example: You want to establish a new business in Connecticut. It is going to be a real estate company. It is based in Hartford, CT, and is a Corporation. It is important to follow the Connecticut business name rules for a corporation. You want to name it “Carbutti & Co. Realtors INC.” Once you have chosen this name, then the next step is to conduct a Corporation name search. When you conduct the search, it brings up a similar company name based in Wallingford, CT. The entity shows an active status. This means that the said name is not available. Now, if you change the name to “Carbutti Realtors INC.”, and conduct the entity name search again then it will show availability of the said name.

Naming your Connecticut LLC

If you have made a decision to start a limited liability company in Connecticut ,then the first step would be to choose an appropriate business name. The chosen name will be the primary form of identification of the LLC during formation, when applying for licenses, while paying taxes, and for filing annual reports. This name will also be used for marketing and branding activities. Choosing the right name is an entirely time-consuming process in itself and may require you to research and reject, and research again. Once you have identified a good or relevant name for your business, conduct a Connecticut LLC name search. This will reveal whether this name can be reserved with the state or not. There are important factors to consider when naming your limited liability company, as outlined below.

General LLC naming rules

It is imperative to follow Connecticut business name rules and guidelines for an LLC. If you don’t adhere to these laws, then it may lead to the cancellation of the said name. The naming of your limited-liability company is governed by the 2024 Connecticut General Statutes, Title 34, Chapter 613a – Uniform Limited Liability Company Act. The general rules for an LLC name are:

• The name of your limited liability company must contain any of these words: “limited liability company” or any of these abbreviations: “L.L.C.” or “LLC”. It is important to note that “Limited” may be abbreviated as “Ltd.”, and “company” may be abbreviated as “Co.”.
• The chosen name should be distinguishable from the name of any other entity on the records of the Secretary of State, such as any domestic or foreign limited liability company. You can check for distinguishability by conducting a Connecticut LLC name search.
• The chosen name should also be distinguishable from the name of any domestic or foreign corporation, limited liability partnership, or limited partnership pursuant to CT Gen Stat § 34-243k (2024).
• The Connecticut business name rules also state that the name of a domestic or foreign LLC should not contain any language or words that imply or state that such a company is organized for a purpose other than those permitted by subsection (b) of section 34-243h.

If you follow the state naming guidelines for entity names, then it will not only help you to conduct a Connecticut LLC name search properly but also ensure your chosen name can be easily reserved with the office of the Secretary of State.

Search LLC name availability on the Connecticut Secretary of State’s website

Once you have identified a name that is in compliance with the state laws, the next step is to conduct a Connecticut business entity search or name availability search. The CT Secretary of State’s website offers a simple online search option for this. Let’s look at how this search is conducted.

Business records search by name or keywords

This is the only method for conducting a Connecticut LLC name search. You can search for a company name that starts with a specific word or phrase. You can conduct this search with or without a designator, such as LLC. You need to choose the ‘All Business Services’ column. This Connecticut business name availability search will reveal all forms of entities and their existing status, such as active or dissolved. Let’s look at an example to understand this process.

Example: You want to form an LLC in Connecticut that provides mechanical and electrical solutions. It’s a consultancy registered out of Middletown, CT. Your chosen name is ‘Collective Design Associates’. Now you provide this exact name or a part of the name in the ‘Business records search’ option. The Connecticut business name availability search reveals that a company with the same name is operating out of Westport, CT. It shows an active status, which means you cannot use the same name. In such a scenario, you will need to make slight adjustments to the name. You can change it to ‘Collective Engineering Associates’ and conduct Connecticut LLC name search again. The said name is available. Now you can easily reserve this name with the CT Secretary of State.

If your chosen LLC name is available, then you can file the “Application for Reservation of Name” (Form BUS-002) with the Secretary of the State of Connecticut pursuant to CT Gen Stat § 34-243l. (2024). There is a filing fee of $60.

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Naming your Connecticut Corporation

There are different entity structures that you can form in the state of Connecticut. One of the most popular structures is that of a traditional corporation, also known as a C-Corp. If you are planning to establish a corporation, then the first step is to choose a corporate name. You will need to follow Connecticut business name rules and guidelines as governed by the 2024 Connecticut General Statutes, Title 33 – Corporations, Chapter 601 – Business Corporations Section 33-655. – Corporate name. This will be followed by conducting a Connecticut Corporation name search. This search will ensure the chosen name is available for reservation. Let’s look at the various aspects to consider when naming your new company.

General Corporation naming rules

The Connecticut business name rules and guidelines vary depending on the entity type. The guidelines for a corporation will differ from those for a limited liability company (LLC) or a Partnership. It is important to follow the state business name rules and regulations, as this will minimize the risk of your chosen business name getting rejected. It is also necessary to conduct a Connecticut Corporation name search. This will help you check if your chosen name is available for reservation or not. The general corporate name guidelines and rules are:

• If you are planning to incorporate in the state of Connecticut, then your chosen name should contain words like the word “corporation”, “incorporated”, and “company, Societa per Azioni “or” limited. The name may also contain abbreviations like “corp.”, “inc.”, “co.”, “S.p.A.” or “ltd.,” pursuant to CT Gen Stat § 33-655. (2024).
• The law states that the chosen corporate name should be distinguishable upon the records of the Secretary of the State. It should be distinguishable from the names of other domestic or foreign stock and non-stock corporations, nonprofit corporations, domestic or foreign limited partnerships, limited liability companies, and limited liability partnerships.
• You should also check the list of restricted words, especially those associated with specific professions or industries like banking or insurance.

Search the Corporation name availability on the Connecticut Secretary of State’s website

Once you have finalized a name for your corporation, the next step is to conduct a Connecticut Corporation name search. The website of the CT Secretary of State offers you access to conduct this type of search. You can conduct the search for both domestic and foreign corporations. Let’s look at how a corporate name search is conducted.

Business records search for Corporate Name

This is the only option available for conducting a Connecticut business entity search. It is a fairly simple process and can be carried out using a specific name, full name, or abbreviation. You can conduct this search with or without using an appropriate designator like Inc. or Corp. The Connecticut Corporation name search will bring out a list of names that are either the same as your company name or similar. This list will include names of entities that are active or dissolved. Let’s look at an example to understand this process.

Example: You want to start a corporation in Connecticut that will provide AI consulting services and offer custom-tailored solutions. Your chosen name is Quartus Technology, and it is based out of Groton, CT. You can conduct a Connecticut business name availability search by using the full name or a part of the name, like “Quartus” or “Quartus Tech.” The results will reveal that such a name is already being used by another Corporation based out of Westport, CT. Hence, you cannot reserve this name. You can change the name completely or modify the same name. You can modify it to “Quartus Tech solutions” and conduct the Connecticut Corporation name search again. This time, the search reveals no such name registered with the state. This means your modified corporate name is available.

Need any Assistance in a Connecticut Business Name Search?

The process of Connecticut business name search for an LLC or a corporation is an important process. If you bypass this process and try to reserve your company name, then there is a high probability of the name getting rejected or denied reservation. Hence, it’s important to not only choose the name based on state laws but also conduct a business name search. IncParadise can also help you to conduct this search properly and quickly.

We are one of the leading business formation service providers in Connecticut and provide a host of services, from helping with Connecticut business entity search to registering a new company. You can take advantage of our additional services that will help you to comply with Connecticut’s annual requirements.