Choosing a distinctive and memorable name for your brand is one of the most crucial tasks when launching a new business. Make sure the name you’ve selected isn’t currently being used by another business before you can formally register your business. You can follow these procedures to see if a company name is already in use:
1. Perform a name search
On the website of the Oklahoma Secretary of State, a name search should be done first. This will enable you to determine whether the name you’ve picked is already being used by a company in Oklahoma. Using the website’s Business Entity Search function, you may look up company names. To avoid any legal concerns, you must choose an alternative name if the one you’ve chosen is already in use.
Even if the name you’ve selected isn’t currently being used by a company in Oklahoma, it’s still conceivable that someone else has already registered the name as a trademark. You should check the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) database to verify if your preferred name is already trademarked in order to prevent any trademark issues. On its website, the USPTO allows free database searches.
In the current digital era, any firm must have a strong online presence. Check to see if the domain name is available before deciding on your preferred name. Any domain registrar, including GoDaddy or Namecheap, can be used to find available domain names. You might need to select a different name or think about using a different domain extension, like.co or.net, if the desired domain name is already taken.
You must get an Employer Identification Number (EIN), often known as a tax ID number, once you’ve decided on a distinctive name for your LLC. An EIN is a special nine-digit number that the IRS issues to firms for tax-related reasons. On the IRS website, you can apply for an EIN online. You can also do it by mail or fax. Additionally, you must request a state tax identification number from the Oklahoma Tax Commission.
Unfortunately, getting an Oklahoma state ID online is not possible. You must go in person to a Department of Public Safety (DPS) site and present the necessary identification, such as a birth certificate, social security card, and evidence of residency, in order to get an Oklahoma state ID. On the website of the Oklahoma DPS, you may find a list of DPS locations.
You must dissolve the DBA if you’ve made the decision to quit operating your business under a DBA (Doing Business As) name. A Certificate of Termination of Assumed Name must be filed with the Oklahoma Secretary of State in order to dissolve a DBA in Oklahoma. There is a $25 filing fee and the form can be submitted either online or by mail.
How Can I Add Someone to My Oklahoma LLC? You must submit an amendment to the Oklahoma Secretary of State if you want to add a member to your LLC. The name of the LLC, the new member’s name and address, and the modification’s start date must all be included in the amendment. The amendment can be submitted online or by mail, and the filing fee is $50. The new member will be formally admitted to the LLC upon the filing and approval of the modification.