Name Availability

Corporation, limited liability company and limited partnership names may be adopted as follows:

• A corporation name may be adopted if the name is not the same as or too similar to an existing name on the records of the California Secretary of State or if the name is not misleading to the public.
• A limited liability company name may be adopted if the name is distinguishable on the records of the California Secretary of State or if the name is not misleading to the public.
• A limited partnership name may be adopted if the name is distinguishable on the records of the California Secretary of State.

When determining name availability, names are checked only against names of like entities registered with the California Secretary of State (e.g., a proposed corporation name is checked for availability only against other corporation names).

Names are not checked against trademark or service mark registrations or against fictitious business names. Laws relating to trademarks and service marks can be found in the California Business and Professions Code section 14200, et seq. and United States Code, Title 15, section 1051, et seq. Laws relating to fictitious business names (which are filed with the county in which the principal place of business is located) can be found in the California Business and Professions Code section 17900, et seq.

Prior to adopting a proposed name, the name may be checked for availability or reserved for a period of 60 days.

A preliminary search of corporation, limited liability company and limited partnership names already of record with the California Secretary of State can be made online through our Business Search. Please note: The Business Search is only a preliminary search and not intended to serve as a formal name availability search.

Stationery, signs, etc., should not be ordered and no financial commitments should be made until the appropriate formation, registration or change documents are submitted to and filed by the California Secretary of State.

Pursuant to statutory and/or regulatory authority, a word contained in the proposed name is not available for use.  There may be additionally rules and regulations that authorize the use of the applicable word which would permit the entity name provided consent is obtained by the regulatory agency.  Please see the section entitled “Additional Statutory Requirements and Restrictions” contained in this link https://bpd.cdn.sos.ca.gov/be/forms/name-guidelines-restrictions.pdf.

Prohibited words include:

• bank
• trust
• trustee
• insurer
• insurance company
• Olympic
• Olympiad
• Citius Altius Fortius
• Paralympic
• Paralympiad
• Pan-American
• LLC

If you are submitting Articles of Incorporation with a consent letter, please submit by mail or our public counter using the form located here: https://bpd.cdn.sos.ca.gov/corp/pdf/articles/arts-gs.pdf.

California Registered Corporate Agent (1505)

• Advanced approval must be obtained from a registered corporate agent prior to designating that corporation as the business's agent for service of process.
• Before a corporation is designated as agent for the business, that corporation must have a current agent registration certificate on file with the California Secretary of State as required by Section 1505 stating the address(es) of the registered corporate agent and the authorized employees that will accept service of process of legal documents and notices on behalf of the company.

Individual Agent

• Many times, a small corporation will designate a member or manager as the agent for service of process.
• Enter the name of the initial agent for service of process and the agent’s complete California street address, city and zip code.
• Do not enter a P.O. Box address, an “in care of” address, or abbreviate the name of the city.

An Agent for Service of Process is responsible for accepting legal documents (e.g. service of process, lawsuits, other types of legal notices, etc.) on behalf of the Corporation.  Select either Individual OR California Registered Corporate Agent (1505).