Choosing an original and distinctive name is essential when opening a business in Washington state. However, it’s crucial to make sure that the name is available before deciding on it. How to find out if a business name is available in Washington state is provided here.
In the state of Washington, a trade name and a DBA (Doing Business As) are the same thing. It’s a name that a company employs in addition to the one that is listed as its legal name on its records of establishment. To run a retail store under the name “John’s Clothing,” for instance, John Smith would need to register a trade name with the Washington Secretary of State. Smith Enterprises is an example of a limited liability corporation (LLC) that John Smith might create.
Go to the Business Licensing Service website to see if a trade name is registered in Washington. Choose “Start a Business” from the homepage, then “Register a Business Name.” Enter the desired trade name and click “Check Name Availability” on the following screen. The website will show a green “Available” sign if the name is available. You will need to choose an other name if it isn’t available because it will display a red “Unavailable” notice. Where to Check Whether a Business Name Is Available
You can check if a business name is available by searching the Washington Secretary of State’s corporations database in addition to the Business Licensing Service website. To search the database, go to the Corporations & Charities Filing System website and select “Search Database.” Using the search field, type the appropriate company name and choose “Corporation Name” from the drop-down selection. In the event that the name is available, the search results will read “No matching names found.” The name, status, and creation date of the company will be shown in the search results if there is a match.
In conclusion, determining whether a business name is accessible in the state of Washington is an essential step when opening a firm. You may quickly find out if your desired name is available by using the Business Licensing Service website and the Washington Secretary of State’s corporations database. If you want to use a name other than your company’s legal name, you must register a trade name with the Washington Secretary of State. Keep in mind that a trade name and a DBA are the same thing in Washington state.
In Washington State, adding a trade name to your company is possible. In actuality, a lot of companies opt to operate under a trade name that is distinct from their official business name. To utilize a trade name in Washington State, you must first confirm that it is available and has not previously been registered by another company. By visiting the Washington Secretary of State’s website or getting in touch with their office directly, you may determine whether a trade name is available.