New York Business Entity Search

Check your name against New York 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.

Search the official New York register 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.

New York LLC naming rules

N.Y. Limited Liability Company Law § 204 and N.Y. Limited Liability Company Law § 204(b)

Your name must include one of

  • Limited Liability Company
  • L.L.C.
  • LLC

Your name must not

  • • attorney
  • • board of trade
  • • chamber of commerce
  • • community renewal
  • • cooperative
  • • cooperation
  • • corporation
  • • incorporated
  • • partnership
  • • state police
  • • state trooper
  • • tenant relocation
  • • urban development
  • • urban relocation

Words that need another regulator's approval

These are not banned. They need written consent from the body named, obtained before you file.

Words Who must approve
acceptance, annuity, assurance, bank, benefit, bond, casualty, endowment, fidelity, finance, guaranty, indemnity, insurance, investment, loan, mortgage, savings, surety, title, trust, underwriter New York State Department of Financial Services (LLC Law § 204(f))
academy, arboretum, college, conservatory, education, elementary, historical, historical society, history, institute, kindergarten, library, museum, prekindergarten, preschool, school, secondary, university New York State Education Department (LLC Law § 204(i)). "College" and "university" also need written authorisation from the Board of Regents under Education Law § 224(1)(a)
blind, handicapped New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, social services consent (LLC Law § 204(g))
exchange New York State Attorney General (LLC Law § 204(h))
olympic, olympiad, paralympic, paralympiad, pan-american, citius altius fortius, america espirito sport fraternite United States Olympic Committee (36 U.S.C. § 220506)
united nations Secretary General of the United Nations (General Business Law § 141)
doctor, lawyer No consent needed if an LLC uses the word in a context that clearly denotes a purpose other than practising medicine or law. Otherwise it cannot be used

When is a name too close to one already registered?

This is what catches most filings. New York 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 from every other LLC, foreign LLC and fictitious name on file with the Department of State
  • • It must also be distinguishable from domestic and foreign business corporations, not-for-profit corporations and limited partnerships, and their fictitious names

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

  • • New York will not check name availability over the telephone under any circumstances
  • • The online Corporation and Business Entity Database is intended for status inquiries about entities already on file. The Department of State says it should not be read as telling you whether a name is available
  • • A formal name availability search must be requested in writing, and the Department charges a fee for each name searched under Executive Law § 96
  • • Even a finding of availability "is not an approval of the name by the Department of State and is not a determination that the proposed name satisfies any particular requirement of law". The Department warns against spending money or making commitments in reliance on it
  • • Any abbreviation or derivative of a restricted word carries the same restriction as the word itself

Exceptions worth knowing

  • • Where a restricted word needs another agency’s consent, that consent must be obtained before the articles of organization are filed with the Department of State

New York Department of State

Division of Corporations, State Records and Uniform Commercial Code

Phone
(518) 473-2492
Address
One Commerce Plaza, 99 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12231

New York business name questions

How do I search New York business entity names?

New York Department of State runs the official register at https://apps.dos.ny.gov/publicInquiry/. Search there for the exact name you want. Before you do, use the checker above to confirm the name satisfies N.Y. Limited Liability Company Law § 204, because a name can be unused and still be refused for breaking the naming rules.

What must a New York LLC name contain?

Under N.Y. Limited Liability Company Law § 204, the name must include one of: Limited Liability Company, L.L.C., LLC.

What words are not allowed in a New York LLC name?

New York does not allow: attorney; board of trade; chamber of commerce; community renewal; cooperative; cooperation.

Which words need approval from another New York agency?

acceptance, annuity, assurance, bank, benefit need New York State Department of Financial Services (LLC Law § 204(f)). academy, arboretum, college, conservatory, education need New York State Education Department (LLC Law § 204(i)). "College" and "university" also need written authorisation from the Board of Regents under Education Law § 224(1)(a). blind, handicapped need New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, social services consent (LLC Law § 204(g)). exchange need New York State Attorney General (LLC Law § 204(h)). olympic, olympiad, paralympic, paralympiad, pan-american need United States Olympic Committee (36 U.S.C. § 220506). united nations need Secretary General of the United Nations (General Business Law § 141). doctor, lawyer need No consent needed if an LLC uses the word in a context that clearly denotes a purpose other than practising medicine or law. Otherwise it cannot be used.

What makes two New York business names too similar?

New York requires the name to be distinguishable on the register but does not publish a mechanical list of what counts. The name must be distinguishable from every other LLC, foreign LLC and fictitious name on file with the Department of State

Does a name search reserve or protect my New York 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 New York 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 New York

Check a name in another state

Sources for New York

  1. Restricted and prohibited words and phrases, with the consent required for each — New York Department of State (checked Aug 10, 2026)
  2. N.Y. Limited Liability Company Law § 204, Limited liability company name — New York State Senate (checked Aug 10, 2026)
  3. FAQs: Corporations and Business Entities — New York Department of State (checked Aug 10, 2026)
  4. Corporation and Business Entity Database — New York Department of State (checked Aug 10, 2026)