Before you form a corporation, you’ll need to complete a business name search with the Nevada Business Search tool to check if your corporation name is available.
We'll show you how to check corporation name availability in Nevada in this guide.
Recommended: You’ll want to secure your website domain name as soon as possible. Check GoDaddy to make sure it’s available.
Nevada Corporation Name Search
The Nevada Secretary of State requires all business names to be distinguishable from other business entities in the state. So, you’ll want to search and make sure no other businesses in the state are already using your name.
It is also useful to see if your corporation name is available as a web domain (URL).
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How to Search Available Nevada Corporation Names
Once you know your corporation name meets Nevada business name guidelines, make sure it’s available by using the Nevada Business Search tool.
Want to learn more about corporations? Check out our What Is a Corporation guide to get started.
How to Check Available Domain Names
When deciding on a name for your corporation, you should make sure that a similar or exact domain name is available. A matching URL will help potential customers find your corporation faster.
How to Register a Corporation Name in Nevada
Register Your Name
A corporation name is officially registered when you file your Nevada Articles of Incorporation. You can hire a professional service to form a corporation for you or start a corporation yourself.
Ready to register your corporation name? Use our Form a Corporation guide to get started.
If you want to register a DBA in Nevada, known as a fictitious firm name, that’s a separate process that requires filing a separate form with the county where the business is located.
Reserve Your Name
While not required, you have the option to reserve your corporation name in Nevada for up to 90 days before you register it. This prevents other businesses from registering your name until you are ready to register it yourself.
Name reservations can be filed online or via hard copy with the Nevada Secretary of State. The filing fee is $25.
Need Help Forming Your Corporation? ZenBusiness will get you started.
Nevada Corporation Name Requirements
Key Guidelines
Nevada has official requirements for its corporation names.
The name must include a corporate ending (e.g., Incorporated, Inc., Limited, Ltd., Company, Co., Corporation, Corp., etc.) if the name appears to be a person’s given name or initials.
There are also restricted words, such as “FBI” or “Treasury,” that you cannot use in order to keep your LLC from sounding like an official institution.
Nevada requires you to receive additional approval to use certain words in your corporation’s name:
- You need approval from the Nevada State Board of Accounting to use the following words: accountant, accountancy, accounting, auditor, auditing, certified public accountant, and cpa.
- You need approval from the Nevada Commissioner of Financial Institutions to use the following words: bank, banc, banque, savings & loan, banker, bancard, banq, thrift, banking, banco, bancor, trustee, interbanking, bancorp, credit union, debt collection, collection agency, or trust.
- You need approval from the state Commissioner of Insurance to use the following words: adjuster, indemnity, reinsurance, underwriter, annuity, insurance, risk retention group, underwriting, casualty, life & accident, surety, bail, bail bonds, fugitive recovery, bail bondsman/men, bounty hunter, and bale.
- You need approval from the Commissioner of Mortgage lending to use the following words: financial, mortgage, mortgage banking.
- You need approval from the State Board of Professional Engineers to use the following words: engineer, engineered, engineering, professional engineer, registered engineer, and licensed engineer.
- You need approval from the State Board of Architecture, Interior Design and Residential Design to use the following words: architect, architecture, registered architect, licensed architect, registered interior designer, registered interior design, residential designer, registered residential designer, licensed residential designer, and residential design.
- You need approval from the Administrator of the Real Estate Division of the Department of Business and Industry to use the words: common-interest community, community association, master association, unit-owners’ association, and homeowners’ association.
- You need approval from the Ombudsman to include the following words: common-interest community, community association, hoa, home owners association, master association, unit-owners association, and property owners.
- You also need approval to use the following words: college, university, higher education.
For more information, check out the Nevada state statute on corporation names.
Distinguishability
Your name must be distinguishable from all other Nevada business names. In Nevada, a distinguishable name is one that is substantively different from any other registered or reserved business name in the state. Distinctive lettering or a distinctive mark does not make a name distinguishable.
If your corporation name isn’t distinguishable, your Articles of Incorporation filing will likely be rejected.
What if my corporation name is already taken? Our AI-powered corporation name generator will give you thousands of new ideas.
For a list of brainstorming tips, check out our guide to naming your business.
Nevada Corporation Name Search FAQ
How do I check if a corporation name is taken in Nevada?
You can use the Nevada Business Search tool to see if your business name is available.
Learn more about business entity name availability in the Nevada Corporation Name Search section.
Should I name my corporation after myself?
While there’s no rule against naming a corporation after yourself, most experts advise against doing this.
One of the benefits of starting a corporation is the ability to choose a different name for your business, which can make it sound more professional.
To explore other naming options, use our free AI-powered business name generator.
What words can’t be used in a Nevada corporation name?
Business names generally can’t include words that imply the company is a banking or financial institution or that it’s affiliated with a local, state, or federal government agency.
Nevada has a long list of words that require state permission to use, which are included in the Nevada Corporation Name Requirements section.
Should I use a business name generator?
If you’re having trouble choosing a name for your corporation, a corporation name generator can help you come up with some ideas.
Do I have to include ‘corporation’ in my name?
Nevada only requires corporation names to contain a corporate ending (e.g., Incorporated, Inc., Limited, Ltd., Company, Co., Corporation, Corp., etc.) if the name appears to be a person’s given name or initials.
Learn more about corporation naming requirements in the Nevada Corporation Name Requirements section.
Do I need to renew my business name in Nevada?
Nevada doesn't require corporations to renew their legal name, but fictitious firm names must be renewed every five years with the county where the business is located.
Can my business name be different from my corporation name in Nevada?
Some companies choose to operate under a name that’s different from their legal name. This can either be called a “doing business as” (DBA) name or a fictitious firm name in Nevada.
In Nevada, fictitious firm names for corporations are filed with the county where the business is located.
Learn more about fictitious firm names with our Nevada DBA guide.
Does my corporation need a DBA name?
Your corporation doesn’t need a DBA name unless it plans to do business under a name other than its legal name. Learn more with our Nevada DBA guide.