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Name availability · RI

Rhode Island business name search

Rhode Island checks corporate names and trade names in two separate databases. Use the Corporate Database search on the RI Business Portal for LLC and corporation names, and the Trade Name Database for DBAs. Corporate names are judged against active corporate records only, and trade names against active trade names in the same city or town.

How to check if a name is available in Rhode Island

  1. 01

    Search the Corporate Database

    On the RI Business Portal, search by entity name using Begins with, Full text and Soundex, with Active status selected. Soundex catches names that sound alike.

  2. 02

    Test the variations RI doesn't count

    Rhode Island ignores articles, plurals, obvious misspellings (Kat vs. Cat), abbreviations (NE for Northeast), variations of the same word, entity endings, punctuation, capitalization and spacing.

  3. 03

    Use the Trade Name Database for DBAs

    For a sole proprietor or partnership trade name, search the Trade Name Database for your city or town. A trade name only has to be unique there.

  4. 04

    Search the USPTO

    Rhode Island's availability rules don't look at federal trademarks, so check tmsearch.uspto.gov yourself.

  5. 05

    Line up domain and social handles

    Check the domain and social accounts. If you need more options, our free generator at /business-name-generator/ is a good place to start.

Rhode Island business naming rules

  • Names must be "distinguishable upon the record," meaning not identical to or indistinguishable from active records.
  • Articles, plural forms, obvious misspellings, abbreviations and variations of the same word don't make a name distinguishable.
  • Changing the entity ending (Inc., Corporation, LLC) or adding a number doesn't count, unless the existing holder consents to the number.
  • Punctuation, special characters, capitalization, spacing between letters, and writing a number as a numeral, Roman numeral or word don't create a difference.

Reserving a name

Rhode Island lets you reserve an entity name online for 120 days if you're not ready to form the business yet. Check the current fee on the Department of State's site.

DBAs and trade names

Sole proprietors and partnerships register trade names with the RI Department of State, and the name only needs to be unique in the city or town where they operate. Corporations, LLCs and nonprofits that want a DBA file a fictitious business name statement through the Corporate Online Filing System instead.

Still looking for the right name?

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

Business name generatorName ideas by industryHow to name your business

Frequently asked questions

How do I search business names in Rhode Island?

Use the Corporate Database search on the RI Business Portal for entity names, and the Trade Name Database for DBAs in a specific city or town.

Can my trade name match a corporation's name in Rhode Island?

Trade name availability is decided only by active trade names in the same city or town, not by the Corporate Database. Even so, check for trademark conflicts.

How does an RI LLC get a DBA?

It files a fictitious business name statement through the Corporate Online Filing System, not a trade name registration.

Is "Kat's Bakery" different from "Cat's Bakery" in Rhode Island?

No. Obvious misspellings of the same word don't make a name distinguishable.

General information, not legal advice. Name approval is decided by the Rhode Island Department of State, Business Services Division; a name showing as available in a search is not a guarantee it will be accepted.