Arizona LLC Name Search

You'll need to start your LLC with a distinctive and legally compliant name.

Verify name availability for your Arizona LLC using our Arizona LLC name search guide.

Recommended: Claim your domain name before it's gone. Verify its availability with GoDaddy.

Check LLC Name Availability in Arizona

1. Do an Arizona Business Name Search

Use the Arizona Corporation Commission’s Business Entity Search to check the availability of your desired name.

To perform the most effective search, type in the name you would like to use, excluding identifiers like “LLC”, and leave all other boxes blank.

This will return all entities using the same or similar names. If you can't find the name in your search, that means the name has not been taken and is available for you to use.

NOTE: The Arizona Corporation Commission is not in charge of trade name filings; instead, the Secretary of State handles registration, renewal, and cancellations.

2. Search Available Domain Names

Another important consideration to make when selecting a business name is whether or not your desired web domain name is available.

Having a URL that clearly matches your business name is important. This seemingly small step can make a big difference in how prospective customers find your business.

The best way to determine if your desired URL is available is to search for it online using your preferred domain registry, such as GoDaddy.

3. Follow Arizona Naming Guidelines

Setting up a limited liability company (LLC) in Arizona requires adherence to specific naming regulations as outlined by the state. This section will help you understand the requirements clearly.

Arizona LLC Naming Guidelines

Non-Professional LLCs

For non-professional LLCs (i.e., LLCs that do not require a professional owner such as a licensed doctor or lawyer), the following requirements apply:

• The name must include the words "limited liability company" or "limited company". Alternatively, the abbreviations "L.L.C.", "L.C.", "LLC", or "LC" can be used. If the proposed LLC name does not contain any of these, one must be added.
• The name should not contain words like "association", "corporation", "incorporated", or their abbreviations.

Professional LLCs

If you are establishing a professional LLC (PLLC), the name:

• Must not conflict with any of the rules for non-professional LLCs.
• Should contain the words "professional limited liability company" or the abbreviations "P.L.L.C.", "P.L.C.", "PLLC", or "PLC", in either upper or lower case letters.

Distinguishability of Entity Names

Per the latest statute revisions, an LLC name should be "distinguishable" from existing entity and trade names on file with the Arizona Corporation Commission and the Arizona Secretary of State. The name is "distinguishable" if it's different in any significant way. However, some minor differences are disregarded. These include:

• Entity identifiers (Inc, LLC, Corporation, etc.)
• Spaces between words
• Specific punctuation
• Case of the letters
• Use of ampersand (&) versus "and"
• Use of Arabic numerals (1,2,3, etc) and words representing these numerals
• Use of the articles "a," "an," and "the"

Meanwhile, the following features DO make a name distinguishable:

• Different order of the same words
• Words spelled differently or creatively
• Abbreviations and unabbreviated versions of the same words
• The use of specific letters and symbols (A-Z, %, $, +, =, @)
• Roman numbers
• The use of the word "Arizona"
• The plural form of a word
• Words in a foreign language

Not sure what to name your business? Check out our LLC Name Generator.

Registering Your Arizona Business Name

Arizona does not require you to reserve a business name before submitting your Articles of Organization. This efficient process makes registering your business name and starting your LLC simultaneously possible.

Register Your Arizona LLC Name

In Arizona, registering your LLC name is a convenient task. You'll officially register your business name while filing the Arizona Articles of Organization. This critical document signifies the formal inception of your business in the state.

The Arizona Corporation Commission's website provides a detailed guide on how to complete the form and pay the necessary state filing fee.

Bear in mind: If you choose a professional LLC formation service, they can manage the registration of your LLC name and the setting up of your LLC. To learn more, see our Best LLC Services review.

Reserve Your Arizona Business Entity Name

Arizona’s Corporate Commission handles all LLC naming questions and requests. Arizona requires all domestic and foreign LLCs to obtain a Certificate of Name Reservation before filing formation documents to ensure the chosen name is available for use. This certificate can be requested online or by mail.

When reserving your name, you will have to pay a filing fee. You can file either online or by mail, each option having its own advantages. While you will end up paying more if you file online, your application will be expedited and have special priority. If you want to keep your filing costs down, you may want to consider filing a paper application by mail instead.

After choosing a name for your LLC, take the next step and create a unique logo with our Free Logo Generator.

Arizona Application to Reserve LLC Name

File Online with the Arizona Corporation Commission

- OR -

File by Mail or In-Person

Fee: $45 (online), $10 (by mail or in-person)

Expedited Mailing Fee: $35

Mail or File In-Person at:

Arizona Corporation Commission
Corporate Filings Section
1300 W. Washington St.
Phoenix, Arizona 85007

Considering Using an LLC Formation Service?

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Find out which is best for you.

Other Considerations

While reserving the name for your Arizona LLC is straightforward, there are some other things you should think about when choosing the best name for your business. You may want to do a Trademark and Social Media search for your name to see if it's available for use across the internet. This will help ensure you have full, unrestricted use of your business name.

Trademark Search

Conducting a trademark search of your business name and associated slogans or logos before registering can help prevent costly litigation in the future. Discovering that another entity has trademarked your business name does not automatically disqualify you from using it.

However, it is important to know who is using the name, what industry they operate in, and where they are located to be sure you do not inadvertently infringe upon anyone’s intellectual property rights.

To complete this step:

• Search Arizona’s trademark records to see if your business name or associated slogans, logos, or others are in use by another business in your state.
• Search the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s electronic records to find any federally registered trademarks associated with your business name.

Social Media Search

Just as important, or more so, than finding a domain name that fits your business is ensuring that your business name is available for use across social media platforms. You can do this by simply searching your business name on each major site, or use a tool such as Namecheckr to search across all platforms at once.

Bottom Line

Having a name for your business is an important first step for creating a successful LLC, and one that is incredibly easy to do. Once you have found your preferred name using Arizona's Business Entity Search, you'll want to secure your domain name so that your customers will be able to find your business online. Reserving your name with a Certificate of Name Reservation will help you stand out from the competition. With your name secured, you will be ready to take the next steps to formalize your LLC.

What's Next?

Now that you have your name, it's time to take the next steps to establish your LLC. Check out our full guide on how to form an LLC in Arizona, where we can guide you every step of the way.

Form an LLC

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