It can be difficult to choose a business name, but after you’ve discovered it, you need to be sure it’s available for usage. In Minnesota, the procedure is simple. You can verify if the chosen business name is available in the state’s online business name database.
Visit the Minnesota Secretary of State website and do a search on the Minnesota Business Name Search database to see if your proposed business name is available. There are many ways to search for company names, including by keyword, name type, and name availability. You can start the registration procedure after locating an available name.
If you’re not yet ready to register your firm, you can submit a Name Reservation Application to the Minnesota Secretary of State to reserve your preferred business name for a period of 12 months. Both online and mail applications may be submitted. A business name must be reserved for $55 and renewed annually if you want to maintain the name reserved. Cost of Business Name Registration in Minnesota
The legal term for registering a business name in Minnesota is “Assumed Name Registration,” and the fee is $50. This registration, commonly referred to as “doing business as” (DBA), is necessary if you run a business under a name other than your legal name. The registration is good for five years, and for $50 you may renew it for another five. DBA versus LLC
The terms DBA and LLC are not interchangeable. When you run a business under a name other than your legal name, the state requires you to register as a DBA. The proprietors of the business are protected from personal liability by an LLC, which is a type of legal structure. Since an LLC is a different legal entity from its owners, it is able to engage into contracts, file lawsuits on its own behalf, and acquire property.
In conclusion, using the online business name search database to determine whether a business name is available in Minnesota is simple. If you’re not yet prepared to establish your company, you can pay $55 to reserve the name you want. A business name can be registered for $50, good for five years. An LLC is a legal company that offers personal liability protection to the business owners, but a DBA is a registration required by the state when you’re operating a business under a name other than your legal name.
In general, you cannot use a name for your business that is already taken. This is because in order to prohibit the use of duplicate names, the Secretary of State’s office in each state keeps a database of registered business names. However, you might be able to apply to use the name if the current business has shut down or stopped using it, provided that it is legal to do so in your state and does not infringe upon anybody else’s trademark or intellectual property rights. To prevent any legal concerns in the future, it is generally advisable to undertake a comprehensive search before selecting a business name.