Before you form a corporation, you’ll need to complete a business name search with the Maine Corporate Name Search tool to check if your corporation name is available.
We'll show you how to check corporation name availability in Maine 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.
Maine Corporation Name Search
The Maine 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 Maine Corporation Names
Once you know your corporation name meets Maine business name guidelines, make sure it’s available by using the Maine Corporate Name 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 Maine
Register Your Name
A corporation name is officially registered when you file your Maine 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 Maine, known as an assumed name, that’s a separate process that requires filing a separate form with the Secretary of State.
Reserve Your Name
While not required, you have the option to reserve your corporation name in Maine 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 by mail with the Maine Secretary of State. The filing fee is $20.
Need Help Forming Your Corporation? ZenBusiness will get you started.
Maine Corporation Name Requirements
Key Guidelines
There are restricted words, such as “FBI” or “Treasury,” that you cannot use in order to keep your LLC from sounding like an official institution.
Maine also has the following restrictions for corporation names:
- The name cannot imply that the corporation is organized for an unlawful purpose or one that isn’t outlined in its Articles of Incorporation.
- The name cannot include obscene language.
- The name cannot promote abusive or unlawful activity.
- The name cannot falsely suggest an association with public institutions.
- You must get approval from the Maine Bureau of Financial Institutions to include any of the following words in your name: savings, savings bank, bank, banker, banking, trust, trust company, trust and banking company, and credit union (or any plurals or variations).
For more information, check out the Maine state statute on corporation names.
Distinguishability
Your name must be distinguishable from all other Maine business names. In Maine, a distinguishable name is one that is substantively different from all other existing or reserved business names in the state.
The following differences do NOT make a name distinguishable in Maine:
- Business entity type suffixes (e.g., LLC, Corporation, Company)
- The use of “and” or “the”
- Differences in punctuation or capitalization
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.
Maine Corporation Name Search FAQ
How do I check if a corporation name is taken in Maine?
You can use the Maine Corporate Name Search tool to see if your business name is available.
Learn more about business entity name availability in the Maine 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 Maine 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.
Additional restrictions for Maine corporation names include the following:
- The name cannot imply that the corporation is organized for an unlawful purpose or one that isn’t outlined in its Articles of Incorporation.
- The name cannot include obscene language.
- The name cannot promote abusive or unlawful activity.
- The name cannot falsely suggest an association with public institutions.
- You must get approval from the Maine Bureau of Financial Institutions to include any of the following words in your name: savings, savings bank, bank, banker, banking, trust, trust company, trust and banking company, and credit union (or any plurals or variations).
Learn more about corporation naming requirements in the Maine 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?
The Maine state statute covering corporation names does not list any required words.
Learn more about corporation naming requirements in the Maine Corporation Name Requirements section.
Do I need to renew my business name in Maine?
Maine doesn't require corporations to renew their legal or assumed names.
Can my business name be different from my corporation name in Maine?
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 an assumed name in Maine.
In Maine, assumed names for corporations are filed with the Secretary of State.
Learn more about assumed names with our Maine 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 Maine DBA guide.