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 to use, our step-by-step guide will show you how to quickly do a New Mexico business name search using the New Mexico Secretary of State business name database.
Related: Guide to starting 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 do a New Mexico LLC name search 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.” To be able to register a corporation or LLC name in New Mexico, the name must be distinguishable from the other names registered. 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 there is already one registered.
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 “The Pool Guys LLC.”
While the name “The Pool Guys” by itself may not be available, other variants such as “The Pool Guys of New Mexico” or “The Pool Guys of Santa Fe” are. 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 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 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?
By doing a New Mexico business search, you can find several pieces of information about registered businesses in the state. 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,” “Cancelled,” among others. 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 it could be an 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 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.
- 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.
How do I form an LLC in New Mexico?
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, learn how to form a New Mexico LLC by reading our step-by-step guide on filing the Articles of Organization.
While not required in New Mexico, 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 New Mexico business licenses and possibly obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN) so the business is legal to operate.
What are the naming guidelines for a New Mexico 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 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.
