If you’re starting a new business in Texas, you’ll need to give it a name that’s not already being used by another business. The best place to check for business name availability is the Taxable Entity Search tool on the Texas comptroller's website.
Learn how to complete a Texas LLC name search in our comprehensive guide below.
Recommended: You’ll want to secure your website domain name as soon as possible. Check GoDaddy to make sure it’s available.
Check LLC Name Availability in Texas
Take these steps to check if your business name is available in Texas:
1. Do a Texas Entity Search
You can search for an LLC name in Texas online, by email, and by phone. Business owners should call or email the Secretary of State for preliminary name approval, even if the name is available on the Texas Taxable Entity Search tool.
Online: Do a Texas Taxable Entity Search with the Secretary of State.
Email: Email corpinfo@sos.state.tx.us and request a preliminary name availability screening.
Phone: Call the Secretary of State at (512) 463-5555
Recommended: If you don’t have a business name yet or find that yours is taken, use our LLC Name Generator.
2. Do a Domain Name Search
When you choose a business name, you'll need to find out whether a good web domain name is available. Having a URL that clearly matches your business name is important.
The best way to know if your URL is available is to conduct an online search for it using a domain registry, like GoDaddy.
3. Follow Texas Naming Guidelines
Your LLC name must also meet Texas naming rules.
Some key guidelines for Texas LLC names include:
- According to the Texas Business Organizations Code, your name must include the phrase “limited liability company” or “limited company” or one of its abbreviations (Ltd Co., LLC, L.L.C., LC, or L.C.).
- Your name must be distinguishable from any existing business in the state. This includes Texas reserved names.
Keep an eye out for restricted words. These words, such as “FBI” or “Treasury,” are often restricted to keep your LLC from sounding like an official institution.
Texas also has the following restrictions for LLC names:
- Your name cannot imply that the LLC is organized for an unlawful purpose.
- Your name cannot include the words “lotto” or “lottery.”
- Your name cannot imply that the LLC was created by or for the benefit of war veterans or their families. The following words are expressly prohibited: veteran, legion, foreign, Spanish, disabled, war; and world war.
For more information, check out Texas’s official state statutes.
Distinguishability
It is important that your name be distinguishable from all other limited liability company names. In Texas, a distinguishable name is one that is substantively different from all other existing or reserved business names in the state.
The following differences do NOT make a name distinguishable in Texas:
- Business entity type identifiers
- Use of articles, prepositions, or conjunctions
- Use of periods or spaces
- Use or absence of letters that do not make the name readily distinguishable when spoken aloud
- Geographic designations at the end of the name
- Different order of the same words
- Use of contractions of the same root words
Failure to use a distinguishable name could result in your formation filing being rejected.
Is your name already taken? Our free AI-powered LLC name generator will generate thousands of new ideas.
How to Register Your Business Name
Register Your Name
An LLC name is officially registered when you file your application documents and form an LLC.
Ready to register your LLC name? Use our Texas LLC guide to get started. You can also use a professional online business service.
Registering a DBA in Texas (also known as an assumed name) is a separate process that requires filing with the Secretary of State.
Reserve Your Name
You can optionally reserve your LLC name in Texas for up to 120 days before you officially register it. This prevents other Texas business entities from registering your unique name until you have the opportunity to register it yourself.
Name reservations can be filed online or via hard copy with the Texas Secretary of State. The fee is $40.
You can also renew your name reservation for an additional 120 days if it expires.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I check if an LLC name is taken in Texas?
You can use the Texas Taxable Entity Search tool to see if your business name is available.
You can also call the Texas Secretary of State at (512) 463-5555 or email them at corpinfo@sos.state.tx.us for a preliminary name availability screening before you transact business in the state.
Learn more about business entity name availability in the How to Search Available LLC Names section.
Should I name my LLC after myself?
While there’s no rule against naming an LLC after yourself, most experts advise against doing this.
One of the benefits of starting an LLC is the ability to choose a different name for your business, which can make it sound more professional.
To explore other naming options, use your free AI-powered LLC Name Generator.
What words can’t be used in a Texas LLC name?
Texas business names generally can’t include words that imply the company is a banking or financial institution or that it’s affiliated with a local, state, or federal government agency.
Additionally, according to Section 61.313 of the Texas Education Code, it is not allowed for an organization to use terms like "College," "University," "School of Medicine," "Medical School," "Health Science Center," "School of Law," "Law Center," or "Law School" in its name, in any language. However, this restriction can be waived if the entity obtains a letter of no objection from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
Last but not least, under Sections 31.005 and 181.004 of the Texas Finance Code, the use of terms like "bank," "bank and trust," "trust," "trust company," or any similar words or phrases, including those in foreign languages, is not allowed in an entity's name. This restriction can be waived if the entity obtains a letter of no objection from the Texas Banking Commissioner.
Should I use an LLC name generator?
If you’re having trouble choosing a name for your LLC, an LLC name generator can help you come up with some ideas.
What is a brand name?
A brand name is a name a company gives to a product or line of products. It can be the same as the company’s name or something different.
Learn more about branding with your business entity name with our How to Name an LLC guide.
Do I have to include LLC in my name?
Yes. Texas requires that its LLCs use “Limited Liability Company” or one of its abbreviations (e.g., LLC or L.L.C.) in their legal name.
Learn more about LLC naming requirements in the Texas Naming Guidelines section.
Do I need to renew my Texas business name?
Texas doesn't require LLCs to renew their legal name, but DBA names must be renewed every 10 years with the Secretary of State.
You can renew online or via hard copy. The filing fee is $25.
Learn more with our Texas DBA guide.
Can my business name be different from my LLC name in Texas?
Some companies choose to operate under a name that’s different from their legal name. This can either be called a “doing business as” (DBA) name or an assumed name in Texas.
In Texas, LLC assumed names are filed with the Secretary of State.
Does my LLC need a DBA name?
Your LLC doesn’t need a DBA name unless it plans to do business under a name other than its legal name. Learn more about Texas DBAs by reading our guide on how to get a DBA and selecting Texas from the dropdown menu.
