How to Conduct a Virginia Business Search

Why conduct a Virginia entity search or LLC lookup?

Conducting a Virginia corporate search or a Virginia LLC search is an important step in the business formation process because it ensures that your business entity name is unique. If you don’t take the time to see if the name is available and distinguishable from other registered names in the state, then you run the risk of having your business filing rejected by the State Corporation Commission.

Important naming guidelines in Virginia

Here are the main naming guidelines for businesses in Virginia:

• Limited liability companies must include “limited liability company” or “limited company” (or their abbreviations) in the name.
• Corporations must contain “limited,” incorporated,” “corporation,” or “company” (or their abbreviations) in the name.
• They must be distinguishable from registered or reserved names and cannot be misleading.

There are more specific VA business naming restrictions for public service companies and banking and insurance institutions.

Other naming considerations

Your VA corporate search or VA LLC lookup shouldn’t stop with the State Corporation Commission—expand your search to domain names, social media, and trademarks.

Research domain names

Sites like GoDaddy, Squarespace, and Bluehost allow you to check if your preferred domain name is available. If the exact domain is already taken, these sites typically provide details on other variations that can be purchased.

Check social media handles

Do a quick search on social media platforms to see if your preferred business name is available, and ensure that it aligns with your domain name, too.

Search existing trademarks

Ticking this off your VA business search to-do list will help you avoid trademark infringement. Search for trademarks with LegalZoom, on the United States Patent and Trademark Office database, and on the state’s trademark information site. 

Next steps to start your business in VA

Once you’ve taken the necessary steps for a Virginia entity search, it’s time to move forward with starting your business. 

1. Register your Virginia business entity. Submit your articles of organization or articles of incorporation with the State Corporation Commission, or if you’re not ready to register your business, you can also reserve your business name. 
2. Apply for a trademark. A trademark isn’t required, but it does provide commercial protection. Understand if you should trademark your business name.
3. Organize other aspects of your business, like obtaining an employment identification number (EIN) and a business license, drawing up agreements, registering your domain name, and more.