Starting a business in New Mexico 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 New Mexico because these business structures must have a unique name.
To help you verify that your corporation or LLC is available, our step-by-step guide will show you how to quickly search a New Mexico business name using the New Mexico Secretary of State business name database.
Related: Checklist To Start A Business In New Mexico
Steps To Do A New Mexico Business Name Search
Step 1: Visit the New Mexico Entity Name Database
Visit the New Mexico Secretary of State website.
Step 2: Search for a Business Name
Enter the name you would like to use in the “Entity Name / DBA Name” field. In this example, we will search for a New Mexico LLC name by looking up “The Pool Guys.” After entering the company name, click “Search.” It is recommended to search both by “Starts With,” “Exact Match,” and “Contains” to be sure to search your name thoroughly.
Step 3: Review the Results
Searching the registered names, we get a list of all the businesses with the words “The Pool Guys.” The name must be distinguishable from the other names registered to register a corporation or LLC name in New Mexico. Words like “The,” “An,” and “And” would not make a name unique, such as “The Pool Guys” and “Pool Guys.”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 any registered business names, click on the link in the “Entity Name” column to see a detailed report. In this example, we will look up “The Pool Guys LLC.”
While the name “The Pool Guys” may not be available by itself, other variants such as “The Pool Guys of New Mexico” or “The Pool Guys of Santa Fe” are available. Searching for those business names brings a result that says, “No data found.” 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 New Mexico. 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.
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 small 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 New Mexico business entity database?
You can find several pieces of information about registered businesses in the state by doing a New Mexico business search. Some of the highlights include:
- Business Entity Name
- Business ID Number: Number assigned by the New Mexico Secretary of State.
- Status: Active Good Standing means all reports and filing fees are up to date. Other results include “Inactive Voluntary Dissolution,” “Inactive Revocation,” and “Cancelled.” The names of these results may be available to register.
- Entity Type: Corporation, Limited Liability Company, etc.
- Principal Address: This could be the business’s physical address or the address where business records are stored.
- Registered Agent Contact Information: A New Mexico registered agent is the singular point of contact for the entity should a legal or tax notice be sent to the business.
- Date the entity was filed with the Secretary of State
- Names of the officers and their title
New Mexico Business Name Search FAQs
How do I find the name of a New Mexico sole proprietorship?
The Secretary of State Business Entity Database provides information on corporations and LLCs registered in New Mexico. Unlike other states, the names of New Mexico sole proprietorships or general partnerships are not registered.
What are the naming guidelines for a New Mexico LLC?
In addition to being unique, a New Mexico LLC 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 New Mexico?
If there is a name you want to use but aren’t ready to form the LLC, the Application for Registration of Limited Liability Company Name can be filed to hold the name for up to 120 days.
