Illinois Business Name Search

Before limited liability companies (LLCs) can register their business with the state, register an assumed name, or start a corporation, they need to complete an Illinois Business Entity Search (LLC name search). This guide will outline the key steps entrepreneurs must take to complete a business name search and secure their chosen LLC name. 

How to Check if Your Illinois LLC Name Is Available

Checking if your desired LLC name is available involves a few key steps, such as ensuring your business name follows state requirements and performing a domain name and state search. These are the steps you need to take to determine if your business name is available in Illinois. 

1. Follow LLC Naming Rules

Before you perform an LLC name search, you need to make sure your business name follows the state’s business name requirements. 

Some key guidelines for Illinois LLC names include:

• Your name must include the phrase “limited liability company,” or one of its abbreviations (e.g., “LLC” or “L.L.C.”). If it’s classified as a “low-profit LLC,” it must contain “L3C.”
• Your name must be the name under which your LLC conducts business unless you register for an assumed name.
• Your name must be distinguishable from any existing business in the state. This includes Illinois reserved names.
• Your name can’t include restricted words, such as “FBI” or “Treasury,” which may confuse it with an official institution.
• Your name can’t include any of the following terms: “Corporation,” “Corp.,” “Incorporated,” “Inc.,” “Ltd.,” “Co.,” “Limited Partnership,” or “L.P.”
• Your name can’t contain any word or phrase that indicates or implies your LLC is in the business of a corporate fiduciary (e.g., “trust,” “trustee,” or “fiduciary”) unless permitted by the Secretary of Financial and Professional Regulation. If the LLC is organized to accept or execute trusts, the name must contain the word “trust.”
• The name may not contain any word or phrase that’s restricted by any other state statute (e.g., LLCs aren’t permitted to operate as banks or insurers in Illinois).

For more information, check out Illinois’ official state statutes.

Distinguishability

Your name must be distinguishable from all other business names. In Illinois, a distinguishable name is substantively different from all other existing or reserved business names in the state.

The following differences do NOT make a name distinguishable in Illinois:

• Business entity identifiers (e.g., “limited,” “liability,” or “company”) or an abbreviation of one of those words
• Articles
• Conjunctions
• Contractions
• Abbreviations
• Different tenses or numbers of the same word

Failure to use a distinguishable name could result in the rejection of your formation filing.

2. Perform an Illinois Business Search

LLC names in Illinois must be distinguishable from other business entities in the state. To ensure your chosen name is unique, you can search for an LLC name in Illinois in two ways:

• Online: Once you know your corporation name meets Illinois business name guidelines, make sure it’s available by using the Illinois Secretary of State’s Business Entity Search tool.  
• Phone: You can call the Illinois Secretary of State at (217) 524-8008 for a preliminary name availability screening.

We recommend calling the Secretary of State for preliminary name approval — even if your name appears as available on the Illinois Business Entity Search.

3. Check Available Domain Names

When choosing a business name you’ll need to find out whether or not a good web domain name is available. Having a URL that clearly matches your business name is important. This small step can make a big difference in how prospective customers find your business.

The best way to determine if your desired URL is available is to search for it using your preferred domain registry, such as GoDaddy.

What if my LLC name is already taken? Our free AI-powered LLC name generator will give you thousands of new ideas.

4. Conduct a Trademark or Service Mark Search

Safeguard your business identity by performing a thorough trademark search. The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)‘s online database allows you to check if your desired name or logo is already trademarked. Remember, approval of your LLC name at the state level doesn’t ensure federal trademark availability. Need expert assistance? Our guide to trademark services for startups can help.

5. Reserve Your LLC Name

You can choose to reserve your LLC name in Illinois for up to 90 days before you officially register it with the state. This prevents other businesses from registering your name until you have the opportunity to register it yourself. However, it isn’t required by the state. 

You can file a name reservation by mail with the Illinois Secretary of State. The filing fee is $25.

6. Form Your Illinois LLC 

To form an LLC in the Land of Lincoln, entrepreneurs must file Articles of Organization with the Illinois Secretary of State either via the business services website or by mail. This step officially brings your business into existence.

Your Articles of Organization should include the LLC’s name, principal place of business, registered agent information, and purpose. Illinois also requires you to list the names and addresses of the initial managers or managing members.

Many entrepreneurs choose to utilize an LLC formation service to ensure the formation process is done correctly. These services also often include various additional perks, such as free registered agent services or assistance in obtaining a business bank account.

Illinois LLC Name Search FAQ

Illinois Business Resources