Steps to Take Before Naming Your California Business or LLC
Starting a new business in San Diego is always an exciting time. However, before you can begin reaping the rewards of your hard work, you need to give your organization a name.
You will use your business name for everything from signing contracts to setting up a bank account – so this is not a decision that you should rush. Indeed, before you settle on a name, you would be smart to follow these simple steps:
Review the State’s LLC Naming Requirements
The state of California has a plethora of rules and regulations about what you can and cannot call your new organization. If you would like to avoid getting your registration rejected, you might wish to make yourself aware of them.
The first thing you should note is that your company name must end with one of the following terms:
- Limited Liability Company
- LLC
- L.C.
It is also vital to note that the names of LLCs in the state of California may not contain any words that can cause the general public to confuse it with a governmental organization, such as:
- Division
- Municipal
- Board
- Bureau
- Commission
- Agency
- Department
Similarly, the names of LLCs cannot include words that the state reserves for corporations and financial services companies, such as:
- Insurance company
- Insurer
- Trustee
- Trust
- Bank
- Corporation
- Incorporated
If you want to make sure that your chosen business name adheres to the state requirements, you can run it past an experienced business attorney in San Diego before sending out your paperwork.
Check for Companies with Similar Names
According to California law, every LLC must have a unique name. As such, you would be wise to conduct a search for organizations with a name that is similar to yours before filing your registration documents.
If you fail to do so, and the Secretary of State finds that another business has already registered your chosen name, you will need to re-file. A delay of this nature may delay the opening of your business.
To check to see if another company has already registered your preferred name, all you need to do is check the state’s online database. If you want to be extra sure that your name is unique, you could also have a California startup lawyer conduct a search on your behalf.
Consider Trademarking Your Business Name
Before you finalize the registration of your new company name, you might also wish to consider getting it trademarked. Taking this step will give you the exclusive right to sell products and services using your name.
When you opt to trademark your name, your attorney will also carry out a search to make sure that nobody else has registered a similar mark. This quick search has the potential to help you avoid a dispute and save you a lot of money in legal fees.
Your Knowledgeable California Startup Lawyer
Do you need a knowledgeable business attorney in San Diego to help you name your new LLC? If so, you are in the right place! The Semanchik Law Group has been helping local companies get off the ground and thrive for years. To set up an initial consultation with a member of our team, all you have to do is give us a call at (619) 535-1811 or contact us online.
