I am thinking about starting my own business and need to find out if the name I have in mind has been taken. I have been told there is a website I can go to to find out if the name is available.
2007-03-27 03:19:45 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Business & Finance ➔ Small Business
That would be your state's Secretary of State or Department of Corporations Web site.
2007-03-27 05:03:15 · answer #1 · answered by NC 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I listed some links where you can do some preliminary name checking. However, please be aware that this is merely scratching the surface of what's out there.
Only comprehensive research will tell you if the name is truly available. But, these links are free & a great place to start, so I'd try them out first.
Comprehensive research consists of looking at marks that are similar in Sound, Appearance or Meaning in the pending & registered Federal AND State trademark files as well as the US National Common-Law files.
There are other sites that offer free searching capabilities in conjunction with their commercial services, so I'm not able to post those links due to the Yahoo! TOS. You'll also want to check domain names & yellow pages, so simply do a search for "free domain name search" and "national yellowpages" and the appropriate links will pop up.
Hope that helps! I wish you much success & happiness in all your ventures!
2007-03-27 12:47:13 · answer #2 · answered by TM Express™ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Go to http://background-check.addresses.com/background_checks.php. In the menu bar Select Background Checks. Then scroll down and select Business Records. Click on the state that you reside in or want to open your business in. Type in the desired name for your company. If it does not come up it is not taken. Every business has to report to the Secretary of State. This has all of the listings. Even if the name you desired is taken you may be able to use it still or tweak it a little bit to be as close a possible to what you want.
2007-03-27 10:26:37 · answer #3 · answered by sxyjjust4u 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When looking at business names, there are two things to consider:
1. Your state, which means going to your Secretary of State website to see if the business name has been registered in your state. Most states only require that the business name be distinguishable (ie. different) from the names of other corporations and/or other business entities that are registered in your state. So if you choose the name Fairfax Dog Walking Service and register it in Virginia, then you and only you can use that name in Virginia
2. Check if the name has been trademarked at the US Patent and Trademark Office. Even if you can get permission from your state and no one in your state has registered the business name you want, but if someone has a trademark on that name, then you can't use that name. You can receive a cease and desist letter telling you that you have been infringing on their trademark
Here is an example of a case where a man named Sam Bucks registered his coffee shop business as Sambucks Coffee and he was sued by Starbucks for trademark infringement http://abcnews.go.com/2020/GiveMeABreak/story?id=1390867
2007-03-27 10:32:48 · answer #4 · answered by imisidro 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Try here:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=search+business+name+availability&btnG=Google+Search
It appears from the search results that the Secretary of State departments for various states offer this search.
2007-03-27 10:25:05 · answer #5 · answered by dbmartin 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Go to your local county clerk's webpage (this is where you have to file a DBA) they usually have a county or statewide search on a name. If not go file the dba FAST you'd be surprised how many others hav ethe same idea.
www.wilvanwinkle.com
2007-03-27 10:28:15 · answer #6 · answered by wilvanwinkle 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋