Name availability · VA
Virginia business name search
In Virginia, use the State Corporation Commission's Clerk's Information System (CIS), which has a Name Availability search alongside the business entity search. The SCC compares "core names": it strips out designators, some short words and certain symbols, then checks for a match. If two core names come out the same, the names aren't distinguishable.
How to check if a name is available in Virginia
- 01
Open CIS and run Name Availability
Go to cis.scc.virginia.gov, accept the cookie notice, and use the Name Availability search on your proposed name.
- 02
Work out your core name
Drop words like company, corporation, Inc. and LLC, words like the, and, or, of and for, and symbols such as brackets and quotation marks. Example: "ABC of Virginia, Inc." and "ABC Virginia Company" share the core name ABCVIRGINIA.
- 03
Check restricted words
Bank, trust, insurance, engineer, architecture and land surveying can only be used by businesses actually doing that work, unless the context makes the meaning clear.
- 04
Search federal trademarks
The SCC doesn't decide who has the right to use a name. Check tmsearch.uspto.gov for trademark conflicts.
- 05
Domain, socials and alternates
Look up the domain and handles. If your core name is taken, our free generator at /business-name-generator/ can help you build a different one.
Virginia business naming rules
- A name must be distinguishable on the Commission's records from names designated, registered or reserved for use and from all active entities except general partnerships.
- Names are compared by core name, which ignores entity designators, nondescript articles, conjunctions and prepositions, and certain symbols.
- A name can't imply it is a different type of entity than it actually is.
- Bank, trust, engineer, architecture and land surveying are limited to businesses that actually provide those services, unless context makes the meaning clear.
- A foreign entity whose name isn't distinguishable must adopt a designated "for use in Virginia" name.
Reserving a name
Virginia reserves a name for 120 days, and you can renew for another 120 days during the 45 days before it expires. File the reservation online in CIS, and check the current fee on the SCC's site.
DBAs and trade names
The SCC Clerk's Office is the central filing office for all certificates of assumed or fictitious names, for entities, sole proprietors, general partnerships and trusts. Some older fictitious names are on file with circuit courts.
Still looking for the right name?
Brainstorm dozens of options with the free generator, then run your shortlist through the Virginia search above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check business name availability in Virginia?
Use the Name Availability search in the SCC's Clerk's Information System at cis.scc.virginia.gov. The SCC compares core names, ignoring designators, short words and some symbols.
Where do I file a fictitious name (DBA) in Virginia?
With the SCC Clerk's Office, the central filing office for all assumed or fictitious name certificates. Sole proprietors and general partnerships file there too.
Can someone else file the same fictitious name in Virginia?
Yes. The Commission doesn't decide who has the right to use a fictitious name. Disputes go to an attorney.
Can I renew a Virginia name reservation?
Yes, for another 120 days, if you file during the 45 days before it expires.
General information, not legal advice. Name approval is decided by the Virginia State Corporation Commission, Office of the Clerk; a name showing as available in a search is not a guarantee it will be accepted.