Whether you’re searching for the right business name or registering your LLC with the Nevada Secretary of State (SOS), we can help. We’ve got all the information you need to perform a Nevada business search, plus LLC naming rules, fictitious names and registering your business.
General Rules for LLC Names
These rules typically apply to all LLCs, no matter what state they’re formed in.
You cannot choose a business name in use by any other LLC or corporation in the State of Nevada. This is why it's imperative to perform a Nevada business entity search of the SOS registry before you begin the filing process.
Business Name
It’s not enough for your LLC name to be unique. It also cannot be similar to the name of a corporation or LLC in Nevada. In addition, you cannot use the following factors to say your name is different from the name of another business:
- Suffixes, such as Corporation, Company, Incorporated, Incorporation, Limited, Corp., Co., Inc., Ltd., LLC, etc.
- Definite articles, such as “A,” “An,” or “The”
- The conjunction "And," or “&"
- The singular, plural or possessive forms of words
- Abbreviations, punctuation, symbols, fonts, typefaces, etc.
All LLCs must have the words “Limited Liability Company,” “L.L.C.” or “LLC” in their names, normally at the end of the name.
Most states will not allow the formation of LLCs with names that:
- Are very similar to the name of a federal or state agency or organization (e.g., FBI, FDA, Nevada SOS, Nevada Police, Treasury, etc.)
- Suggest affiliation with a federal or state agency or organization
- Use the term “Olympic” or any terms that are trademarks of the International Olympic Committee
- Imply a purpose that would be illegal for your business to carry out
Specific Rules for Nevada Business Names
In addition to the general rules listed above, Nevada imposes some specific rules in the Nevada Revised Statutes, Chapter 86. You’ll need to follow these rules if you want to name your business appropriately. For example, an LLC name:
- May not contain the words “accountant,” “accounting,” “accountancy,” “auditor” or “auditing” without review and permission from the Nevada State Board of Accountancy.
- May not contain the words “bank” or “trust” unless the business will carry out banking activities, and has been reviewed and approved by the Commissioner of Financial Institutions.
- May not contain the words “engineer,” “engineered,” “engineering,” “professional engineer,” “registered engineer” or “licensed engineer” without review and approval from the State Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors.
How to Come Up with a Business Name
Finding the perfect business name can be tricky. We have a complete guide to choosing the right business name, but basically, you'll want to choose a name that will:
Best represent your product or services
Appeal to your customers
Be memorable and stand out
Not be used by any other business in Nevada
Need help coming up with business name ideas? Try our free name generator.
Nevada Business Search
Once you have an idea of the business name you’d like to use, you’ll need to perform a Nevada business entity search to make sure another business doesn’t already have that name.
Incfile offers a fast, simple and convenient tool to look up your desired business name. The Nevada SOS also has a tool that lets you search the state's registry of LLCs and corporations to see whether someone already has your proposed business name.
Trademarks and Service Marks
You must be careful that your Nevada LLC name doesn’t infringe on the trademark or service mark of another business. The easiest way to make sure your proposed business name doesn’t do that is to complete a trademark search through Incfile. If no one else is using it, you can even register it as a trademark yourself.
Let Incfile run a trademark search for you.
Nevada DBA or Fictitious Name
You may do business as a different name from your legal LLC name. Some states call this a trade name or assumed name. In Nevada, it’s known as a fictitious firm name or a DBA. You may choose to use a fictitious firm name for a variety of reasons.
For example, your LLC might be called Nevada Property Holdings, LLC, and you have a chain called Mojave Luxury Resorts. You should register a fictitious firm name with the County Clerk in the county where your business will operate. Or you can have Incfile do it on your behalf through our DBA Name service.
Note: A trade name is not the same as a trademark.
Register Your Business Name with the Nevada SOS
Once you’ve completed a Nevada entity search, checked availability, followed the naming rules and decided whether you need a trade name, you can register your LLC name. There are a couple of ways to do this.
If you don’t want to form your LLC right now, you can reserve the business name with the Nevada SOS. You’ll need to complete a Name Reservation Request form, and file it with the Nevada SOS. Once you do so, your name will be reserved for 90 days. You don’t need to reserve a name if you’re forming your business right away.
If you’re ready to start your LLC, you can file your Articles of Organization with the Nevada SOS, or have Incfile do it for you.
Form an LLC in Nevada for $0 + State Fee.
FAQs about Nevada Business Names
Just go to the free Business Name Search tool and enter your proposed business name. You can also perform a Nevada business search of the state's registry, which will tell you whether any corporations or LLCs in the state already have that name.
Yes. Most LLCs will be bound by general rules (applicable to all LLCs) and specific rules (applicable in the State of Nevada). We’ve detailed these rules above.
Yes. You can conduct business under a DBA or fictitious firm name. Details are above.
Yes. The Nevada Secretary of State allows you to reserve a name if you don’t want to start your business immediately. Details are above. If you’re ready to start your business now, you don’t need to reserve a name.
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