Before you form a corporation, you’ll need to complete a business name search with the Kansas Name Availability Search tool to check if your corporation name is available.
We'll show you how to check corporation name availability in Kansas 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.
Kansas Corporation Name Search
The Kansas 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).
SKIP AHEAD:
How to Search Available Kansas Corporation Names
Once you know your corporation name meets Kansas business name guidelines, make sure it’s available by using the Kansas Name Availability 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 Kansas
Register Your Name
A corporation name is officially registered when you file your Kansas 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.
Reserve Your Name
While not required, you have the option to reserve your corporation name in Kansas for up to 120 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 by mail with the Kansas Secretary of State. The filing fee is $30 online and $35 by mail.
Need Help Forming Your Corporation? ZenBusiness will get you started.
Kansas Corporation Name Requirements
Key Guidelines
Kansas has official requirements for its corporation names.
Unless the corporation is a bank or public benefit corporation, the name must contain one of the following words or abbreviations: association, church, college, company, corporation, club, foundation, fund, incorporated, institute, society, union, university, syndicate, limited, co., corp., inc., or ltd. (or words and abbreviations in another language with the same meaning).
If your company is a public benefit corporation, its name must include one of the following: public benefit corporations, P.B.C., PBC.
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.
Kansas also prohibits the following symbols from being in corporation names:
- Caret ^
- Back slash \
- Tilde ~
- Pipe or Vertical Bar |
- Ellipsis …
- Horizontal bar _____
- Underscore ___
For more information, check out the Name Availability Guidelines webpage on the Kansas Secretary of State website.
Distinguishability
Your name must be distinguishable from all other Kansas business names. In Kansas, a distinguishable name is one that is substantively different from all other existing or reserved business names in the state.
In addition to different words, the following difference make names distinguishable in Kansas:
- Plural forms versus singular forms of words
- Numbers versus words representing numbers
The following differences do NOT make a name distinguishable in Kansas:
- Business entity type suffixes
- The inclusion of An, And, &, The, To, With
- Inclusion of “a,” if used as an article
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.
Kansas Corporation Name Search FAQ
How do I check if a corporation name is taken in Kansas?
You can use the Kansas Name Availability Search tool to see if your business name is available.
Learn more about business entity name availability in the Kansas 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 Kansas 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.
Additionally, Kansas corporation names cannot include the following symbols:
- Caret ^
- Back slash \
- Tilde ~
- Pipe or Vertical Bar |
- Ellipsis …
- Horizontal bar _____
- Underscore ___
Learn more about corporation naming requirements in the Kansas 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?
Kansas corporation names must contain one of the following words or abbreviations: association, church, college, company, corporation, club, foundation, fund, incorporated, institute, society, union, university, syndicate, limited, co., corp., inc., or ltd. (or words and abbreviations in another language with the same meaning).
Learn more about corporation naming requirements in the Kansas Corporation Name Requirements section
Do I need to renew my business name in Kansas?
Kansas doesn't require corporations to renew their legal name.
Can my business name be different from my corporation name in Kansas?
Some companies choose to operate under a name that’s different from their legal name. This is called a DBA. However, Kansas does not require or permit the registration or filing of DBAs.
Does my corporation need a DBA name?
Kansas does not require or permit the registration or filing of DBAs.