One of the most essential aspects of any business is its name. While forming your Wyoming LLC, it's important to pick a name that not only suits your business and sounds good but is also distinguishable from other businesses and is not being used by another entity. In this article, we will discuss how to conduct an LLC name search in Wyoming and how to secure your business name.
* If you have difficulties using the order form on your smartphone, try turning your phone sideways for a wider display.
The Importance of Checking for Name Availability Prior to Forming Your Wyoming LLC
Ensuring the availability and distinctiveness of your chosen business name before forming a Wyoming LLC is crucial for a successful formation, legal compliance, brand identity, and avoiding confusion. By conducting a thorough name search, you can confirm uniqueness, comply with regulations, save time and effort and prevent potential conflicts with existing entities. A distinct and legally compliant name not only builds trust with customers, investors, and partners but also establishes a strong foundation for your business's long-term success. Investing time in this preliminary research safeguards your brand's reputation, mitigates legal risks, and sets your venture on the path to prosperity.
Step 1: Familiarize Yourself with Wyoming's LLC Naming Regulations
Before embarking on a search for an LLC name in Wyoming, it's crucial to grasp the state's naming criteria:
Your chosen name must contain terms such as "limited company," "limited liability company," or "liability company," or abbreviations like "LLC" or "L.L.C."
Avoid incorporating suffixes reserved for other business entities, such as "L.P.," "Incorporated," "Inc.," or "Corp."
Special approval from the Wyoming State Division of Banking is necessary if you intend to include terms like "bank," "banker," or "trust."
Similarly, approval from the Department of Education is requisite for terms like "academy," "college," or "university."
Certain names starting with "A" or containing special characters might entail additional verification from the Secretary of State.
Step 2: Search for LLC Name Availability
Explore various avenues to ascertain the availability of your desired LLC name in Wyoming:
Utilize the Wyoming Business Entity Search tool available on the Secretary of State's website to conduct a comprehensive search of your proposed name.
Conduct a thorough search on search engines or business directories to identify if similar names are already in use within the state.
Assess the availability of your desired domain name, as securing a matching URL is imperative for establishing your business's online presence.
Research the availability of your desired social media handles on various social media platforms you may use, as this will also be critical for your company's online presence.
Step 3: Reserving Your Wyoming LLC Name
Upon confirming the availability of your preferred name, if you are not yet totally prepared to form your LLC, you can reserve it for a period of 120 days by submitting the "Limited Liability Company Application for Reservation of Name" to the Wyoming Secretary of State and paying a filing fee of $60. Once the 120-day period has expired, if you have yet to form your LLC, your name will no longer be reserved and will be available again for use by other entities. Reserving your LLC name with the state can be a great way to secure your name while you prepare everything you need to launch your LLC.
Step 4: Purchase Your Domain Name and Secure Your Social Media Handles
Once you have confirmed the availability of your preferred LLC name, it's crucial to secure both your desired domain name and social media handles. Here's how to proceed:
Domain Name Purchase: Visit a domain registrar such as GoDaddy, Namecheap, or Google Domains to purchase your desired domain name. Ideally, your domain name should match or closely resemble your LLC name to ensure consistency across all online platforms. Be sure to consider factors like domain extension (.com, .net, .org) and availability when making your selection.
Securing Social Media Handles: Create accounts using your desired social media handles on various platforms that you may use, such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter/X, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Consistency is key, so aim to secure the same handle or a similar variation across all platforms to maintain brand coherence. If your preferred handle is available, claim it on each platform to prevent others from using it.
By purchasing your domain name and securing your social media handles early in the process, you ensure no one else can use your name on these platforms and pave the way to establish a cohesive online presence for your LLC. This step is integral to building brand recognition, driving traffic to your website, and engaging with your target audience effectively.
Step 5: Officially Register Your LLC Name
When you are completely prepared to launch your Wyoming LLC, proceed to register your LLC with the Secretary of State by submitting the Articles of Organization and paying the associated filing fee of $100. This step secures your business name and will formally establish your LLC with the state.
Additional Considerations
Wyoming permits the registration of trade names, also known as DBAs (Doing Business As), a distinct process from registering your LLC name. The purpose behind a DBA or trade name is to enable a business to operate under a name other than the one officially registered with the state.
Be mindful that certain terms, such as "FBI," "Treasury," or "Olympic," are typically restricted and may require additional authorization.
Using an LLC name generator can facilitate the creation of unique and available business names tailored to your preferences.
Consider registering a trade or service mark for your Wyoming LLC. A trade or service mark can help safeguard your company's identity and assets from potential encroachment by competitors. It establishes ownership over your company's name, logos, and slogans, providing legal protection against unauthorized use or infringement. To see if a trade or service mark is available for use, you can search the federal trademark database.
Take into account the potential implications for search engine optimization (SEO) and online visibility when selecting your LLC name, as a unique and memorable name can boost your ranking in the search engines and enhance your digital presence. Names that happen to be correlated with other general non-related subjects can minimize your presence in the search results and negatively impact your business.
You are not allowed to renew your LLC name reservation. Once the 120-day period expires the name will once again be available to the public.
Choose a name that allows for the evolution of your company. If your business has the potential to evolve and grow into new areas, you may want to consider a name that will stay relevant with these changes. If you think you may want to diversify or expand into different areas of business in the future, picking a name that locks you into a specific niche or market can hinder your growth and negatively impact your brand identity.
Before making a final decision and registering your LLC name, consider seeking feedback from trusted colleagues, mentors, legal advisors or business professionals to ensure your name aligns with your business objectives and avoids any potential confusion or conflicts in the future that you may have overlooked.
How Can MyLLC.com Help with the Formation of Your Wyoming LLC?
Forming an LLC in Wyoming can be a challenging task as there are many aspects to consider, many of which are often overlooked and can lead to frustration and delays in formation or a variety of problems in the future. At MyLLC.com, we pride ourselves on offering comprehensive and personalized services to assist individuals and businesses like yours in the formation and management of LLCs in the state of Wyoming. If you choose to work with us, here are some of the ways we can help you in your business journey:
LLC Formation: We can quickly and accurately prepare and file all necessary documents, such as the Articles of Organization, forming your LLC in Wyoming on your behalf and ensuring compliance with state business laws.
Registered Agent Services: MyLLC.com can serve as your designated Wyoming registered agent, ensuring compliance with state requirements for receiving legal documents and official notices on behalf of your LLC.
Obtaining Your EIN: MyLLC.com can simplify the process of obtaining your Employer Identification Number (EIN) for your LLC, ensuring compliance with IRS regulations. We handle the paperwork and submission, saving you time and ensuring accuracy in acquiring this essential identifier for your business.
Annual Report Filings: Our team can help you stay compliant by managing and filing annual reports and other required documentation with the appropriate state authorities.
DBA Preparation and Filing: MyLLC.com offers comprehensive assistance with Wyoming DBA (Doing Business As) filing. Our expert team can efficiently complete the process on your behalf, ensuring compliance with state regulations.
You will always have a live person to talk to with MyLLC.com, and we are committed to helping businesses succeed. Our friendly and dedicated staff can guide you along your business journey and help you achieve your goals with our knowledge and expertise. We offer a variety of services designed to streamline the process of forming and managing your Wyoming-based LLC. This allows you to focus on growing your business while we handle the necessary legal and administrative tasks to ensure compliance with legal and regulatory obligations. Don't hesitate to reach out to us today to learn more and get the process started!
* If you have difficulties using the order form on your smartphone, try turning your phone sideways for a wider display.
Need Advice? Ask us Anything!
*Information required. Your personal information is only used to contact you. MyLLC will never sell or share your information.
Disclaimer: This information is made available by MyLLC.com, Inc. (the "Company"), and is intended for educational purposes only, and it is not legal or tax advice. No action should be taken in reliance on any information in or on this site without verification with legal or tax counsel, after review of the facts and current law, that the action to be taken is appropriate under the circumstance. Except as expressly provided to the contrary in writing by the Company, the materials contained on this site are provided on an "as-is" basis without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. Company disclaims all other warranties, express or implied, including, without limitation, implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, title and non-infringement as to the information, content and materials on and in the site. Company does not represent or warrant that materials on and in the site are accurate, complete, reliable, current or error-free.
