Question
How to reserve a business name for an LLC in Texas
Answers
Answered by
GPT-4o mini
To reserve a business name for a Limited Liability Company (LLC) in Texas, follow these steps:
1. **Check Name Availability**:
- Before you reserve a name, ensure that your desired LLC name is available. You can do this by searching the Texas Secretary of State's online database to check if the name is currently in use or if it too similar to an existing business name.
2. **Determine Name Requirements**:
- Your LLC name must include one of the following designators: "Limited Liability Company," "LLC," or "L.L.C."
- The name should not include words that could confuse it with a government agency (like FBI or Treasury).
3. **Fill Out the Name Reservation Application**:
- You can reserve a name online or by mail. To reserve online, visit the Texas Secretary of State’s website and navigate to the appropriate section for business name reservations.
- Alternatively, you can download and fill out the "Application for Reservation or Renewal of Reservation of an Entity Name" form.
4. **Submit the Application**:
- Submit the completed application either online or by mailing it to the Texas Secretary of State's office. If you're submitting by mail, send it to:
```
Secretary of State
P.O. Box 13697
Austin, TX 78711-3697
```
5. **Pay the Reservation Fee**:
- There is a reservation fee (as of my last update, the fee is $40, but it's a good idea to check for any updates). Payment can usually be made online via credit card, or by check or money order if you're applying by mail.
6. **Duration of Reservation**:
- Once approved, your business name will be reserved for 120 days. During this time, you should complete your LLC formation if you haven't already.
7. **Consider Filing Formation Documents**:
- After reserving your name, you can proceed to file the Certificate of Formation for your LLC with the Texas Secretary of State, ensuring your business name is officially registered to you.
8. **Additional Considerations**:
- Keep in mind that reserving a name does not grant you trademark protection. If you're looking for trademark rights, you may want to consider registering a trademark with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
For the most current information and forms, it's always best to visit the Texas Secretary of State’s official website.
1. **Check Name Availability**:
- Before you reserve a name, ensure that your desired LLC name is available. You can do this by searching the Texas Secretary of State's online database to check if the name is currently in use or if it too similar to an existing business name.
2. **Determine Name Requirements**:
- Your LLC name must include one of the following designators: "Limited Liability Company," "LLC," or "L.L.C."
- The name should not include words that could confuse it with a government agency (like FBI or Treasury).
3. **Fill Out the Name Reservation Application**:
- You can reserve a name online or by mail. To reserve online, visit the Texas Secretary of State’s website and navigate to the appropriate section for business name reservations.
- Alternatively, you can download and fill out the "Application for Reservation or Renewal of Reservation of an Entity Name" form.
4. **Submit the Application**:
- Submit the completed application either online or by mailing it to the Texas Secretary of State's office. If you're submitting by mail, send it to:
```
Secretary of State
P.O. Box 13697
Austin, TX 78711-3697
```
5. **Pay the Reservation Fee**:
- There is a reservation fee (as of my last update, the fee is $40, but it's a good idea to check for any updates). Payment can usually be made online via credit card, or by check or money order if you're applying by mail.
6. **Duration of Reservation**:
- Once approved, your business name will be reserved for 120 days. During this time, you should complete your LLC formation if you haven't already.
7. **Consider Filing Formation Documents**:
- After reserving your name, you can proceed to file the Certificate of Formation for your LLC with the Texas Secretary of State, ensuring your business name is officially registered to you.
8. **Additional Considerations**:
- Keep in mind that reserving a name does not grant you trademark protection. If you're looking for trademark rights, you may want to consider registering a trademark with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
For the most current information and forms, it's always best to visit the Texas Secretary of State’s official website.