How to Conduct a Utah Business Search

Omit the suffix (such as LLC or Inc.) or the word “the” at the beginning of business names to get a better sense of businesses that may have similar names. 

Keep in mind that there is a two-year reinstatement period for entities that have registered under a name and then been dissolved. Check Details to see whether a business name is available. 

Why conduct a Utah entity search?

The Utah Division of Corporations and Commercial Code is responsible for registering Utah business entities, trademarks, and Article 9 lien notice filings. It will deny business names that don’t adhere to its rules. 

For instance, it won’t approve names that are too similar to that of another entity, names that misrepresent the business as a state agency, or names that suggest that the business is organized for a purpose other than that listed in the company’s articles of incorporation or application. 

Important naming guidelines in Utah

Key naming guidelines in Utah include incorporating required information, avoiding restricted terms, and choosing a distinct name. 

Follow requirements for corporations and limited liability companies

If you want to register your business as a corporation or a limited liability company (LLC), there are specific naming requirements you must follow.

For instance, a corporation name must include at least one required word, such as “corporation” or “company,” while the name of an LLC cannot contain certain words, including “association” or “L.P.”

Avoid prohibited terms 

There are certain words you can’t use without first getting written approval from specific agencies, such as “bank,” “olympic,” and “escrow.” These protect consumers from deceptive businesses trying to mask themselves as official or regulated without the proper licensure.

Ensure your business name is distinguishable 

A distinguishable Utah business name meets one of the following criteria:

• One of the key words (words other than function words or entity identifiers such as “company” or “incorporated”) is unique
• The key words are similar to others but the spelling of one of the key words is different
• The key words are similar to others but have different contextual meanings and can not be confused for one another

Other naming considerations

Other naming considerations you should be aware of include domain name availability and trademarked business names. 

Domain name availability

Consider checking website domain name availability before selecting your business name. It will be easier for your audience to find—and trust—your business if your business and domain names match. 

You can research businesses on social media and use services provided by domain registrar companies such as GoDaddy, Wix, or Google Domains to check domain name availability. 

Trademarked business names 

You should search the federal trademark database to make sure your business name won’t infringe on another company’s trademark. Large corporations (e.g., Apple or Meta) are known to aggressively defend their brands from any other businesses with names close to theirs.

Trademark searches can be complex; you may want to consult an attorney to help you with the search.