Choose your business name | U.S. Small Business Administration

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type="search" name="query" /> <button class="usa-button" type="submit"> <img src="/themes/custom/sba/dist/uswds/img/usa-icons-bg/search--white.svg" class="usa-search__submit-icon" alt="Search" /> </button> </form> </section> </div> </div> </nav> </header> <main class="main-content usa-layout-docs usa-section padding-top-0 main-content--sidebar" data-test="mainContent"> <a id="main-content" tabindex="-1"></a> <div class="grid-container"> <div class="grid-row"> <div id="block-sba-breadcrumbs" class="block block-system block-system-breadcrumb-block"> <nav class="usa-breadcrumb" aria-labelledby="system-breadcrumb"> <h2 id="system-breadcrumb" class="usa-sr-only">Breadcrumb</h2> <ol class="usa-breadcrumb__list"> <li class="usa-breadcrumb__list-item " > <a href="/" class="usa-breadcrumb__link"> <span>Home</span> </a> </li> <li class="usa-breadcrumb__list-item " > <a href="/business-guide" class="usa-breadcrumb__link"> <span>Business Guide</span> </a> </li> <li class="usa-breadcrumb__list-item " > <a href="/business-guide/launch-your-business" class="usa-breadcrumb__link"> <span>Launch your business</span> </a> </li> <li class="usa-breadcrumb__list-item usa-current" aria-current="page"> <span>Choose your business name</span> </li> </ol> </nav> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div data-drupal-messages-fallback class="hidden"></div> </div> <div class="grid-row "> </div> <div class="sba-layout-docs sba-layout-docs--sidebar"> <div class="layout-sidebar-first"> <nav aria-labelledby="sidebar-menu-navigation"> <h2 class="visually-hidden" id="sidebar-menu-navigation">Section navigation</h2> <ul class="usa-sidenav"> <li class="usa-sidenav__item first"> <a href="/business-guide/10-steps-start-your-business"> <span>10 steps to start your business</span> </a> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a href="/business-guide/plan-your-business"> <span>Plan your business</span> </a> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item expanded dropdown active active-trail"> <a class="usa-current" href="/business-guide/launch-your-business"> <span>Launch your business</span> </a> <ul class="usa-sidenav__sublist"> <li class="usa-sidenav__item first"> <a href="/business-guide/launch-your-business/pick-your-business-location"> <span>Pick your business location</span> </a> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a href="/business-guide/launch-your-business/choose-business-structure"> <span>Choose a business structure</span> </a> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item active active-trail"> <a class="usa-current" href="/business-guide/launch-your-business/choose-your-business-name"> <span>Choose your business name</span> </a> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a href="/business-guide/launch-your-business/register-your-business"> <span>Register your business</span> </a> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a href="/business-guide/launch-your-business/get-federal-state-tax-id-numbers"> <span>Get federal and state tax ID numbers</span> </a> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a href="/business-guide/launch-your-business/apply-licenses-permits"> <span>Apply for licenses and permits</span> </a> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a href="/business-guide/launch-your-business/open-business-bank-account"> <span>Open a business bank account</span> </a> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item last"> <a href="/business-guide/launch-your-business/get-business-insurance"> <span>Get business insurance</span> </a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a href="/business-guide/manage-your-business"> <span>Manage your business</span> </a> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item last"> <a href="/business-guide/grow-your-business"> <span>Grow your business</span> </a> </li> </ul> </nav> </div> <div class="usa-layout-docs__main"> <h1 data-test="title" > <span>Choose your business name</span> </h1> <div id="block-sba-content" class="block block-system block-system-main-block"> <article class="basic-page"> <div> <div class="basic-page__summary" data-test="pageSummary"> You can find the right business name with creativity and market research. Once you’ve picked your name, you should protect it by registering it with the right agencies. </div> <div class="sba-toc sba-standard-margin-spacing"> <hr class="sba-toc__divider-first sba-standard-margin-spacing" role="presentation"> <h2 id="sba-toc-heading" class="sba-toc__heading js-toc-ignore">Content</h2> <nav id="sba-toc__nav" aria-labelledby="sba-toc-heading" class="sba_toc__nav sba-standard-margin-spacing"></nav> <hr role="presentation"> </div> <div class="sba-section-headings"> <h2 class="sba-section-headings" id="register-your-business-name-to-protect-it"> Register your business name to protect it</h2> </div> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--text-section paragraph--view-mode--default sba-standard-margin-spacing"> <div class="usa-prose field__item" data-test="fieldItem"><p>You’ll want to choose a business name that reflects your brand identity and doesn’t clash with the types of goods and services you offer.</p> <p>Once you settle on a name you like, you need to protect it. There are four different ways to register your business name. Each way of registering your name serves a different purpose, and some may be legally required depending on your business structure and location.</p> <ul> <li>Entity name protects you at a state level</li> <li>Trademark protects you at a federal level</li> <li>Doing business as (DBA) doesn’t give legal protection, but it might be legally required</li> <li>Domain name protects your business website address</li> </ul> <p>Each of these name registrations are legally independent. Most small businesses try to use the same name for each kind of registration, but you’re not normally required to.</p> </div> </div> <section style="--background-color: #ffffff" class="sba-card-collection sba-standard-margin-spacing sba-columns--4 padding-y-0" > <ul class="usa-card-group sba-columns--4"> <li class="usa-card usa-card--disable-border"> <div class="usa-card__container"> <header class="usa-card__header"> <p class="usa-card__heading text-align-center">Entity name</p> </header> <div class="usa-card__media"> <div class="usa-card__img"> <div> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/card/public/2023-04/BG_Choose_your_business_name_entity_name2.png.webp?itok=c86yJIE5" width="500" height="280" alt="business guide" /> </div> </div> </div> </div> </li> <li class="usa-card usa-card--disable-border"> <div class="usa-card__container"> <header class="usa-card__header"> <p class="usa-card__heading text-align-center">Trademark</p> </header> <div class="usa-card__media"> <div class="usa-card__img"> <div> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/card/public/2023-04/BG_Choose_your_business_name_trademark2.png.webp?itok=iVIxBArt" width="500" height="280" alt="Trademark" /> </div> </div> </div> </div> </li> <li class="usa-card usa-card--disable-border"> <div class="usa-card__container"> <header class="usa-card__header"> <p class="usa-card__heading text-align-center">DBA</p> </header> <div class="usa-card__media"> <div class="usa-card__img"> <div> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/card/public/2023-04/BG_Choose_your_business_name_dba2.png.webp?itok=4WZx5fD2" width="500" height="280" alt="business name" /> </div> </div> </div> </div> </li> <li class="usa-card usa-card--disable-border"> <div class="usa-card__container"> <header class="usa-card__header"> <p class="usa-card__heading text-align-center">Domain name</p> </header> <div class="usa-card__media"> <div class="usa-card__img"> <div> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/card/public/2023-04/BG_Choose_your_business_name_domain_name2.png.webp?itok=-6nzELtN" width="500" height="280" alt="domain" /> </div> </div> </div> </div> </li> </ul> </section> <aside class="sba-read-more-accordion" aria-labelledby="sba-read-more-accordion--heading-8923"> <h2 id="sba-read-more-accordion--heading-8923" class="sba-read-more-accordion__title">What’s in a name? A lot.</h2> <div class="usa-accordion usa-accordion--bordered sba-read-more-accordion__accordion"> <h3 id="john-and-kelly-brainstormed-to-come-up-with-the-perfect-name-for-their-auto-repair-shop-and-then-built-the-business-online-presence" class="usa-accordion__heading"> <button class="usa-accordion__button" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="sba-accordion-item" > John and Kelly brainstormed to come up with the perfect name for their auto repair shop, and then built the business’ online presence. </button> </h3> <div id="sba-accordion-item" class="usa-accordion__content"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--text-section paragraph--view-mode--default sba-standard-margin-spacing"> <div class="usa-prose field__item" data-test="fieldItem"><p>John and Kelly understand that a name is one of the most important parts of their auto repair shop. They want something unique, but which also clearly reflects the type of business they operate.</p> <p>John and Kelly brainstorm and come up with several potential names for their business. They consider how each name will look on signs and in advertisements. They ultimately choose the name “J&K Auto Repair.” It’s professional, personal (using the first initial of each of their first names), and straightforward.</p> <p>A quick online search shows that no nearby businesses have a similar name. But John and Kelly don’t want to infringe on any existing trademark, which could cause them legal trouble. They use the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s trademark search tool and learn that the name — or any variation of it — is not trademarked, so they’re free to use it.</p> <p>Now that they’ve picked a name for the business, they start to build its presence online. John and Kelly create a Facebook page for their business, adding the address, hours, and phone number, as well as photos of the building.</p> <p>John and Kelly’s auto repair shop has a unique name that potential clients can easily find online.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </aside> <div class="sba-section-headings"> <h2 class="sba-section-headings" id="four-different-ways-to-register-your-business-name"> Four different ways to register your business name</h2> </div> <div class="sba-section-headings"> <h3 class="sba-section-headings" id="entity-name"> Entity name</h3> </div> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--text-section paragraph--view-mode--default sba-standard-margin-spacing"> <div class="usa-prose field__item" data-test="fieldItem"><p>An entity name can protect the name of your business at a state level. Depending on your <a href="/business-guide/launch-your-business/choose-business-structure" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="33fc7b19-2a73-4674-8ac0-116ee501b368" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="Choose a business structure">business structure</a> and location, the state may require you to register a legal entity name.</p> <p>Your entity name is how the state identifies your business. Each state may have different rules about what your entity name can be and usage of company suffixes. Most states don’t allow you to register a name that’s already been registered by someone else, and some states require your entity name to reflect the kind of business it represents.</p> <p>In most cases, your entity name registration protects your business and prevents anyone else in the state from operating under the same entity name. However, there are exceptions pertaining to state and business structure.</p> <p>Check with your state for rules about how to register your business name.</p> </div> </div> <div class="sba-section-headings"> <h3 class="sba-section-headings" id="trademark"> Trademark</h3> </div> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--text-section paragraph--view-mode--default sba-standard-margin-spacing"> <div class="usa-prose field__item" data-test="fieldItem"><p>A trademark can protect the name of your business, goods, and services at a national level. Trademarks prevent others in the same (or similar) industry in the United States from using your trademarked names.</p> <p>For example, if you were an electronics company and wanted to call your business Springfield Electronic Accessories and one of your products Screen Cover 5000, trademarking those names would prevent other electronics businesses or similar products from using those same names.</p> <p>Businesses in every state are subject to trademark infringement lawsuits, which can prove costly. That’s why you should check your prospective business, product, and service names against the <a href="https://www.uspto.gov/trademark">official trademark database</a>, maintained by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.</p> </div> </div> <div class="sba-section-headings"> <h3 class="sba-section-headings" id="doing-business-as-dba-name"> Doing business as (DBA) name</h3> </div> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--text-section paragraph--view-mode--default sba-standard-margin-spacing"> <div class="usa-prose field__item" data-test="fieldItem"><p>You might need to register your DBA — also known as a trade name, fictitious name, or assumed name — with the state, county, or city your business is located in. Registering your DBA name doesn’t provide legal protection by itself, but most states require you to register your DBA if you use one. Some <a href="/business-guide/launch-your-business/choose-business-structure" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="33fc7b19-2a73-4674-8ac0-116ee501b368" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="Choose a business structure">business structures</a> require you to use a DBA.</p> <p>Even if you’re not required to register a DBA, you might want to anyway. A DBA lets you conduct business under a different identity from your own personal name or your formal business entity name. As an added bonus, getting a DBA and <a href="/business-guide/launch-your-business/get-federal-state-tax-id-numbers" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="9dd6a21f-800e-4d19-8f29-e81374accdf4" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="Get federal and state tax ID numbers">federal tax ID number (EIN)</a> allows you to open a <a href="/business-guide/launch-your-business/open-business-bank-account" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="3fe3623a-1daf-4bed-8940-e986cceae4f3" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="Open a business bank account">business bank account</a>.</p> <p>Multiple businesses can go by the same DBA in one state, so you’re less restricted in what you can choose. There’s also more leeway in the clarity of business function. For example, a small business owner could use Springfield Electronic Accessories for their entity name but use TechBuddy for their DBA. Just remember that trademark infringement laws will still apply.</p> <p>Determine your DBA requirements based on your specific location. Requirements vary by business structure as well as by state, county, and municipality, so check with local government offices and websites.</p> </div> </div> <div class="sba-section-headings"> <h3 class="sba-section-headings" id="domain-name"> Domain name</h3> </div> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--text-section paragraph--view-mode--default sba-standard-margin-spacing"> <div class="usa-prose field__item" data-test="fieldItem"><p>If you want an online presence for your business, start by registering a domain name — also known as your website address, or URL.</p> <p>Once you register your domain name, no one else can use it for as long as you continue to own it. It’s a good way to protect your brand presence online.</p> <p>If someone else has already registered the domain you wanted to use, that’s okay. Your domain name doesn’t actually need to be the same as your legal business name, trademark, or DBA. For example, Springfield Electronic Accessories could register the domain name techbuddyspringfield.com.</p> <p>You’ll register your domain name through a registrar service. Consult a directory of <a href="http://www.internic.net/regist.html">accredited registrars</a> to determine which ones are safe to use, and then pick one that offers you the best combination of price and customer service. You’ll need to renew your domain registration on a regular basis.</p> </div> </div> <section id="block-counselormatchcta" class="sba-call-to-action sba-standard-margin-spacing padding-y-0" style="background-color:#ffffff"> <div class="sba-call-to-action__inner"> <div class="sba-call-to-action__content left dark short"> <h3>Need help? 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