How to Conduct a Rhode Island Business Search

Step 3: Review results (and dig deeper)

If a match or near match pops up in your business entity name searches, you will need to think of a new name for your business.

Even if you get no exact matches in your Rhode Island business name search, you should still continue to do some further investigation for business names that include the keywords you’d like to use. Using the earlier example of Caffeinated Productions, it would be a good idea to generate search results for similar words like “Caffeine Productions,” “Cafe Productions,” “Caffeinated,” or “Coffee Productions.”

Your business name must be distinguishable, meaning it must be different enough from another business name that customers aren’t confused. This is not only a good idea for branding, but is a legal requirement in Rhode Island.

If, after conducting a name search, you are still unsure whether your name is unique enough to be considered distinguishable, you should consult with a legal expert. 

Step 4: Reserve your name

Once you’re satisfied that you have performed a comprehensive name search and you’ve identified a unique name, you can then begin the process of registering your business.

If you’re not ready to start your business yet, you may want to file a name reservation, which will secure your desired business name for 120 days and allow you time to get your ducks in a row.

Optional: Perform a business search with a business ID or filing number

If you want to see additional information about a specific Rhode Island business entity or find out what other companies exist in your category, you can search by the following parameters via the Rhode Island Secretary of State business search tool:

• The name of someone associated with the company, e.g., the director or officer
• Business identification number
• Filing identification number
• Registered agent
• Business address
• Business purpose
• The North American Industry Classification (NAICS) code 

Why conduct a RI business lookup

You must follow the legal requirements for naming a Rhode Island business entity in order to conduct business in the state. A thorough Rhode Island business name lookup allows you to identify a name that will allow your business formation to go smoothly. 

Choose a distinguishable name

A distinguishable name is one that’s entirely unique. This is a legal requirement to ensure there is no confusion between you and other Rhode Island businesses. Choosing a name that is not distinguishable will result in your filing being rejected, causing delays and possibly incurring additional costs. If your name is accepted but it’s still close to another business name, that business could take legal action against you.

Legal requirements for RI business names

Rhode Island business names must meet the following legal requirements:

• It should be distinguishable
• It should clearly communicate its business designation, for example, “LLC”
• It should not imply inappropriate association with an official or professional entity

Punctuation and filler words are not enough to differentiate a name so as to make it unique.

For the full guidelines, consult the Rhode Island Secretary of State business search website. The website also provides the forms you will need and submit an application for registration.   

Important naming guidelines in Rhode Island

A Rhode Island limited liability company must include one of the following words in the legal business name:

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

Certain words cannot be used in a business name unless you meet certain eligibility requirements. For instance, you cannot use the word “bank” or imply that you’re associated with a government entity or agency. You may also not imply that you have a professional qualification (such as doctor or CPA) unless you hold professional licensure.

Other naming considerations

When choosing a name for your Rhode Island LLC or corporation, there are a few additional considerations to keep in mind:

Domain name availability

Your website is the home of your brand and online presence. Your website domain name should be easy to remember and distinguishable from similar domain names to prevent confusion. You can check available domain names using a domain hosting service like GoDaddy or Squarespace.

You may also want to search social media and see if any accounts with similar names exist.

Conducting a trademark search

You can perform a trademark search to confirm that your business name or offering has not already been trademarked. 

You can search by any of the following criteria:

• Registration number
• Trademark or service mark
• Mark description
• Registrant
• Specific date (or date range) of trademark