How to choose and enter your company name
Enter a main name and two alternatives without the ending, then pick the ending from the list. The state confirms availability after your order is placed, trying your names in order.
On the Company Name step you give three names. The state tries them in order and uses the first one that's available.
How to fill it in
- In Main name, type your first choice without the ending, for example "Acme Labs".
- In Alternative 1 and Alternative 2, type two other names you'd accept.
- In Ending, pick the ending that goes after each name, for example "Acme Labs LLC".
- Select Continue.
Endings you can pick
- LLC: LLC, L.L.C, L.L.C., Limited Liability Company.
- C-Corp: Inc, Inc., Incorporated, Corp., Corporation, C Corp, C Corporation, CCorp, Company.
Name rules the form checks
- Keep each name under 120 characters.
- Use English letters, numbers and common punctuation only.
- Leave the ending out of the name and pick it from the list instead.
- Each name must be different from the others.
- Some words are restricted in most states and may need extra approval or licensing. The form warns you so you can consider another option.
What happens next
You can still edit your names from the Review step after you pay, until you submit. If the state rejects all three, we come back to you for new ones, and the formation charge still applies. See What happens if the state rejects your company name.