How to Check Corporation Name Availability in Wyoming


Before you form a corporation, you’ll need to complete a business name search with the Wyoming Business Entity Search tool to check if your corporation name is available.

We'll show you how to check corporation name availability in Wyoming 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.

Woman doing a Wyoming corporation name search on her computer.

Wyoming Corporation Name Search

The Wyoming 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:

  1. How to Register a Corporation Name in Wyoming
  2. Wyoming Corporation Name Requirements
  3. Wyoming Corporation Name Search FAQ

How to Search Available Wyoming Corporation Names

Once you know your corporation name meets Wyoming business name guidelines, make sure it’s available by using the Wyoming Business Entity 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.

Find a Domain Now

How to Register a Corporation Name in Wyoming

Register Your Name

A corporation name is officially registered when you file your Wyoming 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 Wyoming, known as a trade 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 Wyoming 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 Wyoming Secretary of State. The filing fee is $50.

Need Help Forming Your Corporation? ZenBusiness will get you started.

Wyoming Corporation Name Requirements

Key Guidelines

Wyoming has official requirements for its corporation names.

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.

Wyoming also has the following restrictions for corporation names:

  • The name cannot imply that the corporation is formed for any unlawful purpose or one not outlined in its Articles of Incorporation.
  • You must have approval from the state Division of Banking to include any of the following words (or words of similar meaning): bank, banker, banc, bancorp, bancorporation, banque, banquers, banco, banca, trust.
  • You must have approval from the state Department of Education to include any of the following words: academy, college, educate, education, educational, institute, institution, school, or university.
  • The Wyoming Secretary of State requires an additional review of names that begin with the letter “A” followed by a space or punctuation; contain special characters, or are in a language other than English.

For more information, check out the How to Choose a Company Name guide provided by the Wyoming Secretary of State.

Distinguishability

Your name must be distinguishable from all other Wyoming business names. In Wyoming, 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 Wyoming:

  • Business entity type identifiers
  • Singular, plural, possessive forms of words
  • Articles
  • Punctuation and special characters
  • Spacing

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.

Wyoming Corporation Name Search FAQ

How do I check if a corporation name is taken in Wyoming?

You can use the Wyoming Business Entity Search tool to see if your business name is available.

Learn more about business entity name availability in the Wyoming 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 Wyoming 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, Wyoming has the following restrictions for corporation names:

  • The name cannot imply that the corporation is formed for any unlawful purpose or one not outlined in its Articles of Incorporation.
  • You must have approval from the state Division of Banking to include any of the following words (or words of similar meaning): bank, banker, banc, bancorp, bancorporation, banque, banquers, banco, banca, trust.
  • You must have approval from the state Department of Education to include any of the following words: academy, college, educate, education, educational, institute, institution, school, or university.
  • The Wyoming Secretary of State requires an additional review of names that begin with the letter “A” followed by a space or punctuation; contain special characters, or are in a language other than English.

Learn more about corporation naming requirements in the Wyoming 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?

Wyoming’s state statute does not list any requirement to include the word “corporation” in a corporation’s name.

Learn more about corporation naming requirements in the Wyoming Corporation Name Requirements section.

Do I need to renew my business name in Wyoming?

Wyoming doesn't require corporations to renew their legal name, but trade names must be renewed every 10 years with the Secretary of State.

Can my business name be different from my corporation name in Wyoming?

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 trade name in Wyoming. 

In Wyoming, trade names for corporations are filed with the Secretary of State

Learn more about trade names with our Wyoming 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 Wyoming DBA guide.