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Name availability · LA

Louisiana business name search

Louisiana's commercial database lets you search by entity name, charter number, trade registration number, name reservation number, or officer and agent name. Type your proposed name without endings like L.L.C. or Inc. The online search is preliminary; the Secretary of State does a full check when you submit your documents.

How to check if a name is available in Louisiana

  1. 01

    Open the business filings search

    Go to Search for Louisiana Business Filings on coraweb.sos.la.gov and search by Entity Name.

  2. 02

    Drop the corporate ending

    Louisiana says to leave out L.L.C., Inc. and similar endings when checking availability on the website.

  3. 03

    Look for revoked entities

    A revoked corporation or company's name stays unavailable until three years after the revocation date, so don't assume a revoked listing frees the name.

  4. 04

    Check the parish for DBAs

    DBAs are filed with parish Clerks of Court, not the state, so ask the clerk in your parish whether your name is already in use.

  5. 05

    Clear trademarks and digital names

    Search https://tmsearch.uspto.gov/ for federal marks and check the domain and social handles.

  6. 06

    Brainstorm more names

    If you hit a conflict, our free /business-name-generator/ can suggest alternatives.

Louisiana business naming rules

  • Filing your Articles or a trade name makes the name unavailable to others.
  • The name of a revoked domestic or foreign corporation or company stays unavailable until three years after revocation.
  • Leave out corporate endings like L.L.C. or Inc. when you run the online availability search.
  • The online search is preliminary. Many rules govern availability, and a full search happens when your documents are submitted.

Reserving a name

A Louisiana name reservation holds the name for 120 days. The Secretary of State says you only need one if you'll wait a while before filing or worry someone else might take the name. Check the current fee on the agency's site.

DBAs and trade names

Louisiana has two systems. Trade names are registered with the Secretary of State, while DBAs are filed at the parish level with the local Clerk of Court, not with the Secretary of State.

Still looking for the right name?

Brainstorm dozens of options with the free generator, then run your shortlist through the Louisiana search above.

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Frequently asked questions

How do I check if a business name is available in Louisiana?

Search the Secretary of State's commercial database by entity name without the L.L.C. or Inc. ending. The office does a full availability check when you submit your filing.

Do I need to reserve a name in Louisiana?

Only if you'll wait a long time before filing or are worried someone else will file first. Filing your Articles makes the name unavailable on its own.

Where do I file a DBA in Louisiana?

With the Clerk of Court in your parish. Trade names, a separate filing, are registered with the Secretary of State.

Can I use the name of a revoked Louisiana company?

Not right away. The name stays unavailable until three years after the revocation date.

General information, not legal advice. Name approval is decided by the Louisiana Secretary of State (Commercial Division); a name showing as available in a search is not a guarantee it will be accepted.