How do I legally register a business name?

There are three ways to register a business name: (1) Form an LLC or corporation — your entity name is automatically reserved in your state. (2) File a DBA — registers a trade name with your county or state. (3) File a federal trademark — protects your name nationwide. Most businesses do at least #1 and #3.

How much does it cost to register a business name?

LLC/Corporation formation: $40–$500 (state filing fee). DBA: $10–$150. Federal trademark: $250–$350 per class. Domain name: $10–$15/year. Total to fully register and protect a name: approximately $300–$1,000.

Can two businesses have the same name?

Yes, in many cases. Different LLCs in different states can have the same name. DBAs in different counties can be identical. Only a federal trademark gives you exclusive nationwide rights to a business name in your industry. That's why trademarking is important for brand protection.

How to Register a Business Name: Step-by-Step Guide (2026)

Registering a business name involves up to four layers of protection — entity registration, DBA, trademark, and domain name. Most small businesses need at least two.

Quick answer: For most businesses: (1) Form an LLC (reserves your name in your state, $40–$500), (2) Register a domain name ($10–$15/year), and (3) File a federal trademark ($250–$350, protects your name nationwide). Add a DBA filing ($10–$150) only if your operating name differs from your LLC name.

Four Ways to Register a Business Name

Method	What It Does	Scope	Cost	Protection Level
LLC/Corporation formation	Reserves entity name in your state	State-wide	$40–$500	Moderate (state only)
DBA (Doing Business As)	Registers trade name with county/state	County or state	$10–$150	Low (no exclusivity)
Federal trademark	Exclusive rights to name in your industry	Nationwide	$250–$350 per class	High (enforceable nationwide)
Domain name	Secures your web address	Global (internet)	$10–$15/year	Online only

Step 1: Choose Your Business Name

Name Search Checklist

Check	Where	Cost	Purpose
State business database	Secretary of State website	Free	Ensure no LLC/Corp has the same name
County DBA records	County clerk website	Free	Check existing trade names
USPTO trademark search	tess2.uspto.gov	Free	Check existing federal trademarks
Domain availability	namecheap.com, godaddy.com	Free to search	Check if .com is available
Social media handles	Each platform	Free	Check @yourname availability
Google search	google.com	Free	See who else uses the name

Naming Tips

Do	Don’t
Check all databases before committing	Choose a name without searching first
Make it easy to spell and pronounce	Use numbers or special characters
Ensure the .com domain is available	Pick a name where only .net or .biz is available
Consider SEO (descriptive names rank better)	Choose something so generic it can’t be trademarked
Pick something that works for future growth	Limit yourself to one product or geography

Step 2: Register Your Entity Name (LLC or Corporation)

When you form an LLC or corporation, your entity name is automatically reserved in that state.

Detail	Info
What it protects	Prevents another LLC/Corp from using the exact same name in your state
Scope	Only your state (another LLC in a different state can use the same name)
How to register	File Articles of Organization (LLC) or Articles of Incorporation (Corp)
Cost	$40–$500 depending on state

Name Reservation (Before Filing)

If you’re not ready to form your entity, you can reserve a name:

State	Reservation Fee	Duration
California	$10	60 days
Texas	$40	120 days
Florida	$25	120 days
New York	$20	60 days
Delaware	$75	120 days
Wyoming	$50	120 days
Most states	$10–$75	60–120 days

Step 3: File a DBA (If Needed)

You need a DBA if your operating name is different from your legal entity name.

Scenario	DBA Needed?
“Smith LLC” operating as “Smith LLC”	No
“Smith Holdings LLC” operating as “Sunrise Bakery”	Yes
Solo owner John Smith operating as “Smith Design Co”	Yes
“Acme Corp” launching brand “FreshStart”	Yes

Detail	Info
Where to file	County clerk or state (varies)
Cost	$10–$150
Processing	1–4 weeks
Publication	Required in some states (extra $30–$200)

Step 4: Register a Domain Name

Detail	Info
Where to register	Namecheap, Google Domains, GoDaddy, Cloudflare
Cost	$10–$15/year (.com)
Recommended extension	.com (most trusted, most recognized)
Alternative extensions	.co, .io, .net (less ideal for brand recognition)

Tips:

Register the .com even if you plan to use another extension
Register common misspellings if your brand is valuable
Enable privacy protection (WHOIS guard) to keep your personal info private
Set auto-renewal to avoid losing your domain

Step 5: File a Federal Trademark

A trademark is the only way to get exclusive, nationwide rights to your business name in your industry.

Detail	Info
Where to file	USPTO (uspto.gov)
Cost	$250 (TEAS Plus) or $350 (TEAS Standard) per class of goods/services
Processing time	8–12 months (initial review in 3–4 months)
Duration	10 years (renewable indefinitely)
What it protects	Your name, logo, or slogan in your specific industry

Trademark Classes

You must select the class(es) of goods/services your name applies to:

Class	Category	Example
Class 25	Clothing	T-shirt brand
Class 35	Advertising & business services	Marketing agency
Class 41	Education & entertainment	Online course business
Class 42	Technology & software	SaaS company
Class 43	Food & drink services	Restaurant
Class 9	Software & electronics	App developer

Trademark Application Process

Step	Timeline
1. Search USPTO database (free)	Before filing
2. Submit application	$250–$350 per class
3. Examining attorney reviews	3–4 months after filing
4. Office action response (if issues)	3 months to respond
5. Publication for opposition	30-day public comment period
6. Registration	If no opposition — 8–12 months total

DIY vs. Trademark Attorney

Option	Cost	Best For
DIY (file yourself)	$250–$350 (USPTO fee only)	Simple, clearly unique names
Trademark attorney	$1,000–$2,500 (attorney + USPTO fee)	Complex names, names similar to existing marks

Platform	How to Register	Cost
Instagram	instagram.com → sign up with business name	Free
Facebook/Meta	Create business page	Free
X (Twitter)	x.com → sign up	Free
LinkedIn	Create company page	Free
TikTok	tiktok.com → sign up	Free
YouTube	Create channel	Free

Tip: Register your business name as a handle on all major platforms immediately — even if you don’t plan to use them yet. Handles get taken quickly.

Name Protection Comparison

Level	Cost	Scope	Exclusivity	Enforcement
LLC/Corp formation	$40–$500	One state	Moderate (no identical LLC names)	State will reject duplicates
DBA	$10–$150	County/state	Low (same name can exist elsewhere)	None beyond transparency
Federal trademark	$250–$350	Nationwide	High (exclusive in your industry)	You can sue infringers
Domain name	$10–$15/year	Internet	Exact URL only	ICANN dispute process

Recommended Strategy by Business Type

Business Type	Recommended Steps
Local service business	LLC + Domain + DBA (if needed)
E-commerce/online business	LLC + Domain + Federal Trademark
National brand	LLC + Domain + Federal Trademark + Social Media
Freelancer	LLC + Domain (trademark optional)
Restaurant/retail	LLC + Domain + DBA (if different name) + Trademark (if expanding)
Tech startup	LLC or Corp + Domain + Federal Trademark + Social Media

Common Mistakes

Mistake	Consequence
Not searching before choosing a name	May conflict with existing business, trademark lawsuit
Filing only a DBA (no LLC)	No liability protection
Skipping trademark registration	Someone else can trademark your name and force you to rebrand
Not registering domain early	Someone else buys it, may want thousands to sell it back
Thinking LLC = trademark protection	LLC only protects in one state; trademark protects nationwide
Ignoring social media handles	Squatters or other businesses take your handles

Bottom Line

Fully protecting a business name requires multiple registrations: LLC formation (state-level, $40–$500), domain name ($10–$15/year), and a federal trademark ($250–$350) for serious brands. A DBA ($10–$150) is only needed if your operating name differs from your LLC name. Total cost to fully register and protect a name: $300–$1,000. Don’t skip the trademark — it’s the only registration that gives you nationwide exclusivity.