To reserve a business name for your consulting LLC in Texas and check its availability, you can follow these steps:
Step 1: Check Name Availability
- Visit the Texas Secretary of State Website: Go to the official website (sos.state.tx.us).
- Access the Business Name Search Tool: Use the "Search for a Business Entity" feature to see if your desired name is already in use.
- You can search by the exact name or variations of it.
- Make sure that the name follows Texas naming guidelines, which generally require the name to include "Limited Liability Company," "LLC," or an appropriate abbreviation.
Step 2: Reserve the Business Name
- Complete the Name Reservation Application: If your desired name is available, you can reserve it by completing a Name Reservation Request Form (Form 501).
- Submit the Application:
- The application can be submitted online through the Texas Secretary of State's SOSDirect portal.
- Alternatively, you can submit it by mail or in person to the Secretary of State’s office.
- Pay the Reservation Fee: There is typically a fee required to reserve the name. As of my last update, the fee was around $40, but check the current fee on the Texas Secretary of State website.
- Check the Reservation Duration: Name reservations in Texas are usually valid for 120 days, and you can renew the reservation if necessary.
Additional Tips:
- Consider Trademark Issues: Even if the name is available in Texas, consider searching federal and state trademark databases to ensure that you aren't infringing on someone else's trademark rights.
- Naming Guidelines: Review Texas naming rules to confirm that your desired name conforms to any restrictions (e.g., not misleading, appropriate for the business structure).
- Finalizing Your LLC Formation: Once your name is reserved, you can proceed with filing the Certificate of Formation for your LLC, using the reserved name.
By following these steps, you should be able to reserve a name for your consulting LLC in Texas successfully.
1 answer