Starting a business in Nevada involves several steps, but one of the first is choosing a business name. This step is a little more complicated when setting up an LLC or corporation in Nevada because these business structures must have a unique name.
To help you verify that your corporation or LLC is available to use, our step-by-step guide will show you how to quickly do a Nevada business name search using the Nevada Secretary of State business name database.
Related: Guide to starting a business in Nevada
Steps To Do A Nevada Business Name Search
Step 1: Visit the Nevada Entity Name Database
Go to the Nevada Secretary of State website (SilverFlume Business Portal).
Step 2: Search your Business Name
Enter the name you would like to use. You have multiple options in searching for a business name, but the “Entity Name” selection is the best one for this type of search. In this example, we will do a Nevada LLC name search by looking up “Storage Depot.” After entering a company name, click “Search.”
Step 3: Review Results
Searching the registered names, we get a list of all the businesses with the words “Storage Depot.” To be able to register a corporation or LLC name in Nevada, the name must be distinguishable from the other names registered. Something to keep in mind is that even if you see a result with the name you want to register, check on the “Status” column. If it is “Active,” it means there is a business using it. If you see “Revoked,” “Inactive,” “Cancelled,” or “Expired,” you may still be able to use it. If you were looking to form an LLC with this name, you wouldn’t be able to since there is already one registered and is active.
To find more information about any of the registered business names, click on the link in the “Entity Name” column to see a detailed report. In this example, we will look up, “Storage Depot, LLC.”
These are the basics of searching for a business name in Nevada. Even when the name of the business you want is available, the Secretary of State will make a final determination at the time of filing to ensure the name you picked isn’t too similar to other registered names.
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?
What information can be found on the Nevada business entity database?
A State of Nevada business search can find several pieces of information about the small business. Some of the highlights include:
- Business Name
- Status: Active means the entity is in good standing, and all reports and filing fees are up to date. Other results include “Expired,” “Revoked,” “Withdrawn,” “Dissolved,” or “Cancelled.” The names of these results may be available to register.
- Managed By: Only used by LLCs that are either Manager-Managed or Member-Managed.
- File Date: The date the entity was filed with the Secretary of State.
- Registered Agent Information: A Nevada registered agent is the singular point of contact for the entity should a legal or tax notice need to be sent to the business. This is often one of the owners, and if their home address is used, that address becomes public information. Many people find this concerning and use a Registered Agent service like Northwest Registered Agent, so their home address isn’t publicly listed.
- Officers: Names of officers and their contact information
- Through the Nevada Secretary of State, you also have access to the LLC Articles of Organization and Annual Report filings.
Nevada Business Name Search FAQs
How do I find the business name of a Nevada sole proprietorship?
Unlike corporations and LLCs in Nevada, the names of Nevada sole proprietorships and general partnerships are not listed on the state database. Instead, they are registered with the County Clerk’s office in the county where the business is located.
Registering a name for a sole proprietorship or general partnership requires filing a Nevada Fictitious Firm Name (often referred to as a DBA or Doing Business As name) with the County Clerk.
How do I form an LLC in Nevada?
Before starting your business and forming an LLC, be sure to do the business entity search first to make sure the name is available to use. Once you know the LLC name is available, read our step-by-step guide to learn how to form a Nevada LLC.
While not required in Nevada, an LLC operating agreement, which are the rules for how the LLC operates, is a document worth considering, especially for multi-member LLCs.
After forming a Limited Liability Company, be sure to register for any Nevada business licenses and obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN) so the business is legal to operate.
What are the naming guidelines for a Nevada LLC?
In addition to being unique, the LLC’s name must include a special designator such as Limited Liability Company, LLC, L.L.C., etc., and it may not use restricted words such as bank or insurance unless the entity is licensed to operate as such.
Can an LLC name be reserved in Nevada?
If there is a name you want but are not ready to register the LLC, you can file the Name Reservation Request. The name reservation will hold a name for up to 90 days.
