Checking whether your business name is available in California takes about 30 seconds and costs nothing. The California Secretary of State runs a free search tool called BizFile Online. You type in a name, hit search, and you’ll know immediately whether it’s taken.

That’s it. That’s the process.

A few formation services will charge you $30–50 to “check name availability” for you. Don’t pay them. They’re using the same free public database you can access right now.

Here’s how to use it — and what to do when the name you want is already registered.

Go here: https://bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov/search/business

Type your desired business name into the search field and run the search. The results will show every registered California entity with a similar name — active, inactive, and dissolved.

What you’re looking for: no active entity with a name that’s too close to yours.

California law requires your name to be “distinguishable” from existing registered entities. That’s the actual legal standard under California Corporations Code. It doesn’t mean your name has to be completely different — but it can’t be so similar that it causes confusion. “Golden State Plumbing LLC” and “Golden State Plumbing Services LLC” might pass. “Golden State Plumbing LLC” and “Golden State Plumbing, LLC” definitely won’t — that’s the same name.

The Secretary of State makes the call on distinguishability when you file. If they reject your name, you’ll need to revise and refile. Checking carefully upfront saves you that headache.

What the search results show you:

  • Entity name
  • Entity number
  • Type (LLC, Corporation, etc.)
  • Status (Active, Dissolved, Suspended, etc.)

Pay attention to status. A dissolved entity’s name may be available — more on that below.

California LLC Naming Rules

Before you fall in love with a name, make sure it’s actually allowed.

Required designator. Your LLC name must include one of these:

  • Limited Liability Company
  • LLC
  • L.L.C.

No exceptions. “Golden State Plumbing” can’t be your LLC name. “Golden State Plumbing LLC” can.

Can’t look like a different entity type. Don’t include words like Corp, Corporation, Incorporated, or Inc. in your LLC name. That implies you’re a corporation, which you’re not.

Restricted words. Certain words require special licensing or approval before you can use them. These include:

  • Bank, Banker, Banking
  • Insurance
  • University, College
  • Trust

Using one of these without the appropriate license will get your filing rejected. If your business is actually in one of these regulated industries, you’ll need to clear the word with the relevant state agency before filing.

The distinguishability rule. As covered above — your name has to stand apart from existing registered entities. Swapping “and” for ”&” or adding “the” at the front doesn’t make a name distinguishable. The Secretary of State has seen every trick.

Name Taken? Here’s What to Do

Don’t give up on your first idea before trying a few things.

Check the entity’s status first. Go back to your BizFile search results and look at whether the conflicting entity is active or dissolved. If the entity is dissolved, that name may be up for grabs. It’s not automatic — the Secretary of State still has discretion — but it’s worth trying.

Try variations. Small changes can make a name distinguishable:

  • Add your city or region (“Sacramento Valley Plumbing LLC”)
  • Add a descriptor (“Golden State Commercial Plumbing LLC”)
  • Reorder the words
  • Add your name or initials

Avoid variations that are just punctuation tricks or articles — those won’t pass.

Consider a DBA. If you’ve already formed your LLC under one name but want to operate publicly under a different name, you can file a Fictitious Business Name (also called a DBA — “doing business as”).

In California, DBAs are filed at the county level, not with the Secretary of State. The filing fee varies by county but is typically around $10–40. You’ll also need to publish a notice in a local newspaper for four consecutive weeks — a quirky California requirement that’s been on the books for decades.

A DBA doesn’t create a new legal entity. Your LLC is still your LLC. It just lets you operate under a different public-facing name. Useful if you want “Golden State Plumbing” on your trucks without forming a whole separate entity.

Optional — Reserve Your Name

If you’ve found a name that’s available but you’re not ready to file your LLC yet, you can reserve it.

Name reservation details:

  • Holds your name for 120 days
  • Fee: $10, filed with the California Secretary of State through BizFile Online
  • Form: Application for Reservation of Name

That’s it. No complicated process.

One important caveat: if you’re ready to file your Articles of Organization now, skip the reservation. Your name is locked in the moment your Articles are approved — and you’d be paying $10 for something you don’t need. The reservation is only useful if you need time before you’re ready to officially form the LLC.

The BizFile search only checks California state records. It tells you whether another California entity has registered that name. It does not tell you whether someone else owns a federal trademark on it.

Those are two different things — and the distinction matters.

You could have a name that’s completely clear on BizFile, file your LLC, print business cards, launch a website — and then get a cease-and-desist letter from a company in Ohio that trademarked that name years ago. Federal trademark rights can override your state registration.

Do these two additional checks before committing to a name:

  1. USPTO TESS: https://tmsearch.uspto.gov/ — the federal trademark database. Search your name and look for active registrations in your industry category.

  2. Google search: Type your name plus your industry. If a well-established business is already using that name nationally, you’ll want to know before you build a brand around it.

Neither of these is a substitute for legal advice if you’re building something serious. But for most small businesses, a quick TESS search and a Google check will catch the obvious conflicts.

FAQ

<FAQAccordion items={[ { question: “Is the California business name search free?”, answer: “Yes. The California Secretary of State’s BizFile Online search is completely free at https://bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov/search/business. You don’t need to create an account or pay anything to search. Any service charging you to check name availability is just using this same tool.” }, { question: “How long does a California name reservation last?”, answer: “120 days. After that, the name is released back into the pool. You can file another reservation if you need more time, but at that point you should probably just file your Articles of Organization — the filing fee is $70 and your name is secured once approved.” }, { question: “Can two California LLCs have similar names?”, answer: “Not if they’re indistinguishable from each other. California requires every registered entity name to be distinguishable from all others in the Secretary of State’s records. The standard isn’t identical — it’s distinguishable. Minor variations like punctuation, articles (the, a, an), or entity designators (LLC vs Corp) don’t make names distinguishable.” }, { question: “What is a DBA in California, and do I need one?”, answer: “DBA stands for ‘doing business as.’ In California it’s officially called a Fictitious Business Name. You need one if you want to operate your LLC under a name different from your registered LLC name. DBAs are filed at the county level (not with the Secretary of State), fees vary by county, and you’re required to publish a notice in a local newspaper for four consecutive weeks.” }, { question: “Does checking the California Secretary of State database cover federal trademarks?”, answer: “No. BizFile only shows California-registered entities. A name can be available in California and still be federally trademarked by someone else. Always run your name through the USPTO TESS database at tmsearch.uspto.gov before committing.” } ]} />

Bottom line: Run the BizFile search first — it takes 30 seconds. If your name is clear, check TESS. If it’s still clear, you’re good to file. The $70 Articles of Organization filing locks in your name the moment it’s approved. No reservation needed unless you’re not ready to file yet.