Maine Business Entity Search

Check your name against Maine law before you file. The state's search tells you whether a name exists. It does not tell you whether yours is legal, or whether it is too close to one already on the register. This does both.

Form this LLC for $399

What this does not check

  • • Whether the name is already taken. That needs the state’s live register, which we link below.
  • • Trademarks. A name can be free on the state register and still infringe a federal or common law mark.
  • • Domain and social handle availability.
  • • Whether the name is available in any other state you later register in.

Maine LLC naming rules

31 M.R.S. § 1508 and 31 M.R.S. § 1508(2)

Your name must include one of

  • Limited Liability Company
  • Limited Company
  • L.L.C.
  • LLC
  • L.C.
  • LC
  • Ltd. Co.
  • Limited Co.
  • Ltd. Company
  • L3C

Your name must not

  • • The Secretary of State may refuse a name that consists of or comprises obscene language
  • • The Secretary of State may refuse a name that inappropriately promotes abusive or unlawful activity
  • • The Secretary of State may refuse a name that falsely suggests an association with public institutions
  • • The Secretary of State may refuse a name that violates any other Maine law about names

When is a name too close to one already registered?

This is what catches most filings. Maine compares your name against what is already on the register, and a difference that looks obvious to you may not count.

These do

  • • The name must be distinguishable on the records of the Secretary of State from every corporation, limited liability company, limited liability partnership and limited partnership organised or authorised in Maine
  • • It must also be distinguishable from assumed, fictitious, reserved and registered name filings for all entities
  • • And from marks registered under Title 10, chapter 301-A, unless you are the registered owner of the mark and file proof of ownership

Names Maine will accept with the other company's consent

  • • The entity in possession of the name consents in writing and submits an undertaking, in a form satisfactory to the Secretary of State, to change its own name to a distinguishable one
  • • Or you deliver a certified copy of a final court judgment establishing your right to the name in Maine

Our comparison cannot judge: Repeated or dropped letters. Texas treats "Texxas Strong" as the same name as "Texas Strong". Words that sound alike. Texas treats "Xpress Auto" as the same as "Express Auto". Words that mean the same thing in another language, where the state translates them. Anything the filing officer decides at their own discretion, which every state reserves.

Searching the official register

  • • Maine checks registered trademarks as well as entity names, which most states do not
  • • We have not published a direct link to the corporate name search because the Secretary of State’s site would not serve us when we checked, and we only publish a link once we have loaded it ourselves

Exceptions worth knowing

  • • A low-profit limited liability company uses "L3C" or "l3c"
  • • Where the full words "Limited Liability Company" are used, the company may also use "L.L.C." or "LLC" without filing an assumed name

Maine Secretary of State

Entity search
Run the search from the Maine Secretary of State website. We only publish a direct link once we have loaded it ourselves.

Maine business name questions

How do I search Maine business entity names?

Maine Secretary of State runs the official register. Search there for the exact name you want. Before you do, use the checker above to confirm the name satisfies 31 M.R.S. § 1508, because a name can be unused and still be refused for breaking the naming rules.

What must a Maine LLC name contain?

Under 31 M.R.S. § 1508, the name must include one of: Limited Liability Company, Limited Company, L.L.C., LLC, L.C., LC, Ltd. Co., Limited Co., Ltd. Company, L3C.

What words are not allowed in a Maine LLC name?

Maine does not allow: The Secretary of State may refuse a name that consists of or comprises obscene language; The Secretary of State may refuse a name that inappropriately promotes abusive or unlawful activity; The Secretary of State may refuse a name that falsely suggests an association with public institutions; The Secretary of State may refuse a name that violates any other Maine law about names.

What makes two Maine business names too similar?

Maine requires the name to be distinguishable on the register but does not publish a mechanical list of what counts. The name must be distinguishable on the records of the Secretary of State from every corporation, limited liability company, limited liability partnership and limited partnership organised or authorised in Maine

Can I use a name that is already taken in Maine?

Sometimes. The entity in possession of the name consents in writing and submits an undertaking, in a form satisfactory to the Secretary of State, to change its own name to a distinguishable one The consent has to be filed with your formation document.

Does a name search reserve or protect my Maine name?

No. A search tells you what is on the register at that moment. It is not an approval, and it gives you no rights in the name. Availability is finally determined only when your formation document is reviewed.

Can StartGlobal form my Maine LLC?

Yes. Formation is $399 one time with all state and government fees included, and it works from anywhere in the world with no SSN and no US address required.

More for Maine

Check a name in another state

Sources for Maine

  1. 31 M.R.S. § 1508, Limited liability company name — Maine Legislature (checked Aug 10, 2026)