If you are forming an LLC or a corporation in Maine, the first thing you need to do is a business name search. Like all other states, Maine requires each LLC or corporation registered in the state to have a unique business name. You can do a Maine business name search on the Maine Department of the Secretary of State website to see if the business name you want to use is available.
Related: Checklist To Start A Business In Maine
Steps To Do A Maine Business Name Search
Step 1: Visit the Maine Entity Name Database
Visit the Maine Secretary of State website.
Step 2: Search the Business Name
Enter the name you would like to use in the “Keyword from name to be searched” field. In this example, we will search for a Maine LLC name by looking up “American Made.”
Step 3: Review Results
When we search for a business name, we get a list of all the businesses with the words we searched somewhere in the name. The name must be distinguishable from the other registered names to register a corporation or LLC name in Maine. If you were looking to form an LLC with this name, you wouldn’t be able to since one is already registered.
To find more information about each registered business name, click on the link in the “Information Summary” column to view a detailed report.
While the name “American Made” by itself may not be available, other variants, such as “American Made Furniture” or “American Made in Maine,” are. Searching for those business names brings a result that says, “Found 0 entities for query”. While final approval is still with the Secretary of State, it is likely available to register.
These are the basics of searching for a business name in Maine. Even when the name of the business you want is available, the Secretary of State will make a final determination when filing to ensure the name you picked isn’t too similar to other registered names.
What information can be found on the Maine business entity database?
A Maine business search can find several pieces of information about the businesses in the state. Some of the highlights include:
- Legal Name
- Filing Type: Corporation, Limited Liability Company. Etc.
- Status: Good standing means all reports and filing fees are up to date. Suspended means the business may not be in operation. In some cases, the name of a suspended business may be available to register.
- Filing Date: The date the entity was filed with the Secretary of State
- Registered Agent Information: A Maine registered agent is the singular point of contact for the entity should a legal or tax notice be sent to the business.
- Officer Names: Names of the officers and their title
Something to keep in mind is that even though each Corporation and LLC name must be unique, it may not stop someone else from using that name since business names for a sole proprietorship or partnership are not registered by the Secretary of State and are not required to be unique. To protect your business name, consider getting a trademark.
Related: Should I trademark my business name?
Maine Business Name Search FAQs
How do I find the business name of a Maine sole proprietorship?
Unlike corporations and LLCs in Maine, the names of Maine sole proprietorships and general partnerships are not listed on the state database. Instead, they are registered with the Town or City Clerk’s office where the business is located.
Registering a name for a sole proprietorship or general partnership requires filing a Maine Assumed Name (often referred to as a DBA or Doing Business As name) with the County Clerk.
What are the naming guidelines for a Maine LLC?
In addition to the name being unique, the name of a Maine LLC must include a special designator such as Limited Liability Company, Liability Company, L.L.C., etc., in addition to not using restricted words such as bank or insurance, unless the entity is licensed to operate as such.
Can an LLC name be reserved in Maine?
If there is a name you want to use but aren’t ready to form the LLC, the Application for Reservation of Name (Form MLLC-1) can be filed with the Maine Secretary of State to hold the name for up to 120 days.
