Before incorporating an Arkansas LLC, all firms should do an Arkansas Business Name Search.
Arkansas Entity Lookup
1. Adhere to the Arkansas Naming Guidelines
Before finishing your business name search, we suggest double-checking that your company name complies with the standards.
The first and most significant step in forming your LLC is deciding on a name. Make sure your name conforms with Arkansas naming regulations and is readily searched by prospective customers.
Please adhere to the following naming guidelines:
The word “limited liability corporation” or one of its acronyms must be in your name (LLC or L.L.C.).
Your LLC’s name cannot include terms that may be confused with a government organisation (FBI, Treasury, State Department, etc.).
Restricted terms (e.g., bank, attorney, university) may need extra documentation and the participation of a licenced professional, such as a doctor or lawyer, in your LLC.
2. Conduct a business name search in Arkansas.
Before submitting your name reservation request, you may verify the availability of your selected name using Arkansas’ Business Entity Search. To conduct the most effective search, enter the desired name, eliminating identifiers such as “LLC,” and leave all other fields blank. This will return any entities with names that are the same or similar. If your company name consists of many words, you may limit your search to the first two words to guarantee that you find all potential comparable names. If you don’t see the name in your search, it implies it hasn’t been taken and is free to use.
To prevent rejection, whether you submit online or by mail, undertake a thorough search before finishing your papers.
3. Look for Available Domain Names
Another crucial factor to consider when choosing a company name is if the desired web domain name is available. It is critical to have a URL that properly reflects your company name. This apparently little activity may have a significant impact on how potential clients locate your company.
4. Reserve the name of your Arkansas business entity.
All LLC name inquiries and requests are handled by Arkansas’ Secretary of State’s Business and Commercial Services division. Business enterprises incorporated or allowed to conduct business in Arkansas are granted exclusive rights to use their business name(s) at the time of filing with the Arkansas Secretary of State, unless the name is identical to or too similar to one already in use in the state. Corporate names may be booked for 120 days before the creation of the business organisation, and LLCs can renew this reservation only once.
Other Factors to Consider
The sole condition for reserving a name for your LLC in Arkansas is that it be distinct from existing registered business organisations in the state. However, before you file your papers, you should do some further investigation.
You should ensure that your name, or one very similar to it, is not being used by unregistered firms such as sole proprietorships or partnerships, that it has not been trademarked by another company in your state or industry, and that it is otherwise accessible for use on the internet. This will assist guarantee that you have complete and unlimited usage of your company name.
Trademark Lookup
Before registering your company name and related slogans or emblems, do a trademark search to avoid potential expensive lawsuits. The discovery that another entity has trademarked your company name does not immediately exclude you from utilising it.
However, it is critical to understand who is using the name, what sector they are in, and where they are situated in order to avoid unwittingly infringing on anyone’s intellectual property rights.
To finish this step:
Check Arkansas’ trademark records to determine whether your company’s name or any related slogans, logos, or other identifiers are already in use by another company in your state.
Search the digitised records of the United States Patent and Trademark Office for any federally registered trademarks linked with your company name.
Search on Social Media
Finding a domain name that matches your company is just as vital, if not more important, than ensuring that your business name is accessible You may accomplish this by simply Googling your company’s name on each major website, or by using a service like Namecheckr to search across all platforms at once.
In conclusion
Choosing a name for your company is a vital first step in forming a successful LLC, and it is a simple process. After you’ve discovered your ideal name using the Arkansas Business Entity Search, you’ll want to obtain your domain name so that your customers can find you online. Having your name reserved with the Arkansas Secretary of State can help you stand out from the crowd. After you’ve obtained your name, you’ll be ready to take the following steps to create your LLC.