Rule 1: the LLC ending
Every state's LLC law requires the name to identify the company as a limited liability company. The three forms accepted everywhere are "Limited Liability Company", "LLC" and "L.L.C.". Many states also accept abbreviations such as "Ltd. Liability Co." or "Limited Company", and a few accept "LC" or "L.C.". The state pages list each state's accepted forms.
The ending normally goes at the end of the name: "Blue Fox Bakery LLC". A professional LLC, required in many states for licensed professions, uses its own ending such as "PLLC" or "Professional Limited Liability Company".
Rule 2: words you can't use, and words that need approval
Misleading entity words. An LLC name can't suggest the company is a different kind of entity. "Inc.", "Incorporated" and "Corporation" are out, and so is anything implying a government agency.
Restricted words. These are allowed only with another agency's approval or a licence:
| Kind of word | Usually approved by |
|---|---|
| Bank, banking, trust | The state's banking regulator |
| Insurance, assurance | The state's insurance department |
| University, college | The state's education authority |
| Engineering, architect, attorney, CPA | The professional licensing board |
| Olympic | Protected by federal law |
The list differs by state; each state page shows its own. If your name needs approval, you usually attach the agency's letter to your articles of organization.
Rule 3: distinguishable from existing names
The filing office compares your name with every company, reservation and registered name on its register. Most states use a "distinguishable on the record" test. To apply it, the office ignores:
- the entity ending (LLC, Inc., Corp.);
- "the", "a" and "an";
- punctuation, spacing and capital letters;
- usually the difference between "&" and "and", and between singular and plural.
What's left must differ in a real way: a different word, not a different spelling of the same one. "Blue Fox Bakery LLC" is not distinguishable from "The Blue Fox Bakery, Inc.", but it is from "Blue Fox Coffee LLC". A few states let you use a name that isn't distinguishable if the existing company consents in writing; the state page says when that applies.
Not every state applies the test the same way. Colorado counts the ending and "the", so "ABC LLC" and "ABC Limited Liability Company" are different names there. California compares an LLC's name only with other LLCs. Iowa keeps the names of administratively dissolved companies blocked for five years, and Maine also compares names with trademarks registered with the state. The table below and each state's page show the rule that applies.
Examples
| Proposed name | Likely result | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Fox Bakery | Rejected | No LLC ending |
| Blue Fox Bakery Inc. LLC | Rejected | "Inc." suggests a corporation |
| Blue Fox Bank LLC | Needs approval | Banking term |
| Blue Fox Bakery LLC | Accepted if no core match | Meets all three rules |
Using a different name in trade
An LLC can do business under a name other than its registered one by filing an assumed or fictitious name (a DBA) with the state or county. The DBA still has to follow the rules above on misleading and restricted words, and it gives no exclusive right to the name.
Checking a name against all three rules
The check on the home page tests the ending and the common restricted words and shows the core the state will compare. Then search the state's official register for that core. When everything passes, reserve the name or file your articles of organization.
LLC name rules in every state
“Ending counts” says whether a different ending alone, like LLC against Limited Liability Company, makes two names different there. Each state's page cites the law and the official pages behind its row.
| State | Endings accepted | Ending counts | Name reservation | LLC filing fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Limited Liability Company, L.L.C., LLC | No | $28 online ($25 by mail), 1 year (required) | $200Certificate of Formation |
| Alaska | Limited Liability Company, L.L.C., LLC | Not stated | $25, 120 days | $250 (unconfirmed)Articles of Organization |
| Arizona | Limited Liability Company, Limited Company, L.L.C., LLC, L.C., LC | No | $10, 120 days | $50Articles of Organization |
| Arkansas | Limited Liability Company, Limited Company, L.L.C., LLC, L.C., LC | No | $22.50 online ($25 by mail), 120 days | $45 online ($50 by mail)Certificate of Organization |
| California | Limited Liability Company, LLC, L.L.C. | No | $10 (unconfirmed), 60 days | $70Articles of Organization |
| Colorado | Limited Liability Company, Ltd. Liability Company, Limited Liability Co., Ltd. Liability Co., Limited, L.L.C., LLC, Ltd. | Yes | $25, 120 days | $50Articles of Organization |
| Connecticut | Limited Liability Company, L.L.C., LLC | No | $60, 120 days | $120Certificate of Organization |
| Delaware | Limited Liability Company, L.L.C., LLC | Not stated | $75, 120 days | $110Certificate of Formation |
| District of Columbia | Limited Liability Company, Limited Company, L.L.C., LLC, L.C., LC | No | $50, 120 days | $99Articles of Organization |
| Florida | Limited Liability Company, L.L.C., LLC | No | Not offered | $125Articles of Organization |
| Georgia | Limited Liability Company, Limited Company, LLC, L.L.C., LC, L.C. | Not stated | $25 online ($35 by mail) (unconfirmed), 30 days (not renewable) | $100 online ($110 by mail)Articles of Organization |
| Hawaii | Limited Liability Company, L.L.C., LLC | Not stated | $10, 120 days | $50Articles of Organization |
| Idaho | Limited Liability Company, Limited Company, L.L.C., LLC, L.C., LC | No | $20 online ($40 by mail), 4 months | $100 online ($120 by mail)Certificate of Organization |
| Illinois | Limited Liability Company, L.L.C., LLC | No | $25, 90 days | $150Articles of Organization |
| Indiana | Limited Liability Company, L.L.C., LLC | No | $10, 120 days (renewable) | $75 online ($100 on paper) (unconfirmed)Articles of Organization |
| Iowa | Limited Liability Company, Limited Company, L.L.C., LLC, L.C., LC | No | $10, 120 days | $50Certificate of Organization |
| Kansas | L.L.C., L.C., LLC, LC, Limited Liability Company, Limited Company | Not stated | $35, 120 days | $85 online ($90 by mail)Articles of Organization |
| Kentucky | Limited Liability Company, Limited Company, LLC, LC | Not stated | $15, 120 days | $40Articles of Organization |
| Louisiana | Limited Liability Company, L.L.C., L.C. | Not stated | $25, 120 days | $125Articles of Organization (with Initial Report) |
| Maine | Limited Liability Company, Limited Company, L.L.C., LLC, L.C., LC | Not stated | $20, 120 days | $175Certificate of Formation |
| Maryland | Limited Liability Company, L.L.C., LLC, L.C., LC | Not stated | $25, 30 days | $100Articles of Organization |
| Massachusetts | Limited Liability Company, Limited Company, L.L.C., L.C., LLC, LC | Not stated | $30, 60 days (unconfirmed) | $500Certificate of Organization |
| Michigan | Limited Liability Company, L.L.C., L.C. | Not stated | $25, 6 months | $50Articles of Organization |
| Minnesota | Limited Liability Company, LLC | Not stated | $35 (unconfirmed), 1 year | $135Articles of Organization |
| Mississippi | Limited Liability Company, L.L.C., LLC | Not stated | $25, 180 days | $50Certificate of Formation |
| Missouri | Limited Company, Limited Liability Company, LC, LLC, L.C., L.L.C. | Not stated | $20 (unconfirmed), 60 days (renewable up to 180 days total) | $45 online ($100 by mail) (unconfirmed)Articles of Organization |
| Montana | Limited Liability Company, Limited Company, L.L.C., L.C., LLC, LC | Not stated | $10, 120 days (not renewable) | $35Articles of Organization |
| Nebraska | Limited Liability Company, Limited Company, L.L.C., LLC, L.C., LC | Not stated | $30, 120 days (unconfirmed) | $100 online ($110 in office)Certificate of Organization |
| Nevada | Limited-liability Company, Limited Liability Company, Limited Company, Limited, Ltd., L.L.C., L.C., LLC, LC | Not stated | $25, 90 days (unconfirmed) | $75 (plus $150 initial list and $200 state business license due at formation) (unconfirmed)Articles of Organization |
| New Hampshire | Limited Liability Company, L.L.C. | Not stated | $15, 120 days | $100Certificate of Formation |
| New Jersey | Limited Liability Company, Limited Liability Co., Ltd Liability Company, Ltd Liability Co., L.L.C., LLC | Not stated | $50, 120 days (unconfirmed) | $100Certificate of Formation |
| New Mexico | Limited Liability Company, Limited Company, L.L.C., LLC, L.C., LC | Not stated | Fee not confirmed, 120 days | $50 (unconfirmed)Articles of Organization |
| New York | L.L.C., LLC | Not stated | $20, 60 days (up to two 60-day extensions) | $200Articles of Organization |
| North Carolina | Limited Liability Company, L.L.C., LLC, Ltd. Liability Co., Limited Liability Co., Ltd. Liability Company | No | $10, 120 days (not renewable) (unconfirmed) | $125Articles of Organization |
| North Dakota | Limited Liability Company, LLC, L.L.C. | No | $10, 12 months (renewable) | $135Articles of Organization |
| Ohio | Limited Liability Company, L.L.C., LLC, Limited, Ltd., Ltd | Not stated | $39, 180 days | $99Articles of Organization |
| Oklahoma | Limited Liability Company, Limited Company, LLC, L.L.C., LC, L.C. | No | $10, 60 days | $100Articles of Organization |
| Oregon | Limited Liability Company, L.L.C., LLC | No | $100 (unconfirmed), 120 days | $100Articles of Organization |
| Pennsylvania | Limited Liability Company, Company, Limited | Not stated | $70, 120 days (unconfirmed) | $125Certificate of Organization |
| Rhode Island | Limited Liability Company, L.L.C. | No | $52.50 online ($50 by mail), 120 days (unconfirmed) | $156 online ($150 by mail) (unconfirmed)Articles of Organization |
| South Carolina | Limited Liability Company, Limited Company, L.L.C., LLC, L.C., LC | Not stated | $25, 120 days (not renewable) | $110Articles of Organization |
| South Dakota | Limited Liability Company, Limited Company, L.L.C., LLC, L.C., LC | Not stated | $25, 120 days | $150 online ($165 on paper)Articles of Organization |
| Tennessee | Limited Liability Company, LLC, L.L.C. | No | $20, 120 days | $300 minimum ($50 per member, up to $3,000)Articles of Organization |
| Texas | Limited Liability Company, Limited Company | No | $40, 120 days | $300Certificate of Formation |
| Utah | Limited Liability Company, Limited Company, L.L.C., LLC, L.C., LC | No | $22 (unconfirmed), 120 days | $59 (unconfirmed)Certificate of Organization |
| Vermont | Limited Liability Company, LLC, Ltd. Liability Co., Limited Company, LC, Ltd. Co. | No | $25, 120 days (unconfirmed) | $155Articles of Organization |
| Virginia | Limited Company, Limited Liability Company, L.C., LC, L.L.C., LLC | No | $10, 120 days | $100Articles of Organization |
| Washington | Limited Liability Company, Limited Liability Co., L.L.C., LLC | No | Not offered | $200 online ($180 by mail)Certificate of Formation |
| West Virginia | Limited Liability Company, Limited Company, L.L.C., LLC, L.C., LC, Ltd. Co. | No | $15, 120 days (unconfirmed) | $101 online ($100 by mail)Articles of Organization |
| Wisconsin | Limited Liability Company, Limited Company, LLC, LC | Not stated | $15, 120 days (unconfirmed) | $130 online ($170 by mail) (unconfirmed)Articles of Organization |
| Wyoming | Limited Liability Company, LLC, L.L.C., Limited Company, LC, L.C., Ltd. Liability Company, Ltd. Liability Co., Limited Liability Co. | No | $60, 120 days | $102.40 online ($100 by mail)Articles of Organization |
Common questions
Can my LLC name include 'Inc.' or 'Corporation'?
No. An LLC name can't include words that suggest it's a corporation, such as 'Inc.' or 'Corporation', because they'd mislead people about what kind of company it is.
Can I use my own name for my LLC?
Yes, as long as it carries the LLC ending and no LLC with the same core name is already registered in the state, for example 'Jane Rivera Design LLC'.
Can an LLC use a name with numbers or symbols?
Usually yes for numbers and common symbols like the ampersand. States vary on unusual characters, so plain letters, numbers and basic punctuation are safest.