Picking a name for your company might be difficult. The first thing that customers will notice and remember about your company is its name. It’s crucial to pick a name that is distinctive, enduring, and simple to spell. If you’re thinking about creating an LLC, you might be wondering whether your company name and the name of the LLC should match.
The quick answer is no, it’s not necessary for the LLC and the name of your business to match. However, for the sake of branding and marketing, some business owners opt to use the same name. It could be advantageous to utilize the same name for your LLC if your company is already well-known and has a distinctive brand. By doing this, you can keep your brand well-known and keep your clients from becoming perplexed.
In Oklahoma, an LLC is permitted to use a DBA (Doing Business As) name. A DBA is a name that a company employs in its marketing and advertising. It is sometimes referred to as a fictional name, trade name, or assumed name. You must submit a DBA to the Oklahoma Secretary of State if you wish to use a name for your LLC that differs from the legal name that is registered with the state.
In Oklahoma, is a Sole Proprietorship Required to Be Registered? No, a sole proprietorship is not required to be registered in Oklahoma. A sole proprietorship is a single person-owned, unincorporated company. You don’t need to register with the state to run a sole proprietorship in Oklahoma under your given name or a trade name. However, you must submit a DBA to the Oklahoma Secretary of State if you decide to utilize a trade name.
A DBA is a name that a company employs in its marketing and advertising. It doesn’t offer any liability protection because it isn’t a legal company. On the other hand, an LLC is a type of business entity that shields its owners from limited responsibility. It can possess property, enter into contracts, and bring or receive lawsuits in its own name because it is a different legal entity from its owners. An LLC may also utilize a DBA name for marketing and promotional purposes.
By performing a search in the USPTO (United States Patent and Trademark Office) database, you may determine whether a business name is already taken in the US. All federally registered trademarks and pending trademark applications are kept in a database by the USPTO. To check if your preferred company name is already in use or has been registered as a trademark, you can do a free search of the database. If the name you want for your LLC or corporation is not already taken, you can also check the business entity database maintained by your state.
In conclusion, while having the same name for your business and LLC is not needed, it might be advantageous for branding reasons. In Oklahoma, an LLC is permitted to operate under a DBA, while sole proprietorships are not required to be registered. A DBA is a name used for marketing and promotion, but an LLC is a legal company that offers limited liability protection. This is the major distinction between a DBA and an LLC. You can use the USPTO database and your state’s business entity database to see if a business name is already taken in the US.
Yes, the identity of an LLC’s owner is typically public knowledge. The majority of states require the names and addresses of LLC owners to be included on the Articles of Organization that are submitted to the Secretary of State office. The operating agreement for the LLC and other documents submitted to the state also contain this information. It’s necessary to investigate the laws of the particular state because some may have various regulations regarding the disclosure of LLC owner information to the general public.