Generate business names with complete registration guidance. Get entity-specific names with step-by-step registration processes, costs, and legal requirements.
Cost: $89-$500
Cost: $100-$300
Cost: $10-$100
Cost: $40-$200
Cost: $100-$300
Cost: $275-$1000
Keywords describing your business focus
Names with step-by-step registration instructions for your chosen entity type
Entity-specific naming requirements and state registration compliance
Clear registration costs and timeline estimates for informed decision making
Registering a business name is not a single event — it is a multi-step process that unfolds across multiple government databases, timeframes, and levels of legal protection. Many new entrepreneurs believe that registering their LLC or corporation name is all they need. In reality, full business name registration encompasses at least three distinct layers: the state entity registration (your LLC or corporation), federal trademark registration (for national brand protection), and local DBA registration (if you operate under a trade name different from your entity name).
Each registration type protects a different aspect of your business name rights. State entity registration gives you the exclusive right to operate an entity under that name in that state's records. Federal trademark registration gives you nationwide rights to use that name in commerce for specific categories of goods or services, and the legal presumption of ownership in any dispute. Local DBA (Doing Business As) registration, typically required at the county level, is a public notice that a business is operating under an assumed name.
| Entity Type | Required Designator | Naming Flexibility | Typical Filing Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| LLC | LLC, L.L.C., or "Limited Liability Company" | High — any distinguishable name | $50-$500 (varies by state) |
| Corporation | Inc., Corp., or "Corporation" | High — any distinguishable name | $50-$300 (varies by state) |
| Partnership | LP, LLP (limited partnerships) | Moderate — partner names typically required | $50-$200 |
| DBA (Sole Prop) | None required | Full — any available name | $10-$100 (county level) |
| Nonprofit | Various (e.g., "Foundation," optional) | Moderate — cannot imply profit purpose | $25-$200 |
LLC formation fees vary enormously by state: Wyoming ($100), Delaware ($90), Nevada ($75), Texas ($300), California ($70 filing + $800 annual minimum franchise tax), New York ($200 filing + publication requirement costing $1,500-$2,000). The state where you form your entity is not required to be the state where you operate — many small businesses form in Wyoming or Delaware for favorable laws, then "foreign qualify" to operate in their home state. Factor total first-year costs (formation + annual report + minimum taxes) into your state selection decision, not just the formation fee alone.
Your LLC registration with the state gives you the right to use that name as your entity name within that state. However, if you plan to operate under a different trade name (your LLC is "Smith Holdings LLC" but you want to be known as "City Coffee Co."), you need a separate DBA registration. Additionally, state entity registration does not give you federal trademark rights — those require a separate USPTO filing. So for full name protection, you may need up to three separate registrations: entity name, DBA trade name, and federal trademark.
Delaware is preferred by venture-capital-backed startups because of its sophisticated Court of Chancery (specialized business court), flexible corporate laws, and strong precedents for corporate governance disputes. For small businesses that will not raise venture capital, forming in your home state is usually simpler and cheaper — you avoid dual state registration fees and the complexity of foreign qualification in your home state. The "Delaware advantage" primarily benefits companies with investor complexity, significant litigation risk, or plans to go public.