An Alabama Secretary of State business search is free and takes a minute: open the state’s Business Entity Records page, choose Entity Name, and type the name you want. If no existing entity uses the same or a deceptively similar name, the name is probably available.
Alabama adds one step most states don’t: before you file a Certificate of Formation, you must obtain a Certificate of Name Reservation ($25 by mail or $28 online, valid for one year). The search itself doesn’t hold the name for you; only the reservation and, later, the formation filing do.
Updated October 2026.
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Best LLC Formation Services in Alabama (2026)
Here are our top picks for forming your LLC once your name is clear in Alabama, ranked. Mainstay Filing comes first for its flat yearly price; the two Alabama registered agent services below it are options if you only need an agent.
| Rank | Provider | Best for | Price | What’s included |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mainstay Filing | Forming an LLC with the agent, EIN and annual report included | $199/year + state fee at cost | LLC formation filing, registered agent for the year, EIN application, annual report preparation and filing |
| 2 | AL Registered Agent.org | Alabama registered agent service only | $99/year | $99 per year, flat; in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online |
| 3 | Alabama Registered Agent.co | Alabama registered agent service only | $99/year | in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online |
1. Mainstay Filing
Mainstay Filing is our top pick in Alabama. It costs $199/year + state fee at cost and covers lLC formation filing, registered agent for the year, EIN application, annual report preparation and filing. The price stays the same every year, with no add-on menu.
2. AL Registered Agent.org
AL Registered Agent.org is a Alabama registered agent service at $99/year. It provides $99 per year, flat; in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online. It’s a fit if you only need a registered agent rather than full formation help.
3. Alabama Registered Agent.co
Alabama Registered Agent.co is a Alabama registered agent service at $99/year. It provides in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online. It’s a fit if you only need a registered agent rather than full formation help.
Alabama business name search at a glance
| Item | Alabama details (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Filing office | Alabama Secretary of State, Business Entities Division |
| Search tool | Business Entity Records (free) |
| Search options | Entity name, entity number, officer/agent/incorporator, reservation or registration ID |
| Name reservation | Required before forming a domestic entity; $25 by mail, $28 online (includes portal fee); lasts one year |
| Certificate of Formation fee | $200 (domestic LLC or corporation) |
| Name change (amendment) | $100 |
| DBA filings | No statewide DBA certificate; DBA matters are handled locally at the county level |
| State trade name registration | Optional, through the SOS trademark program; $30; five-year term |
| Online filing | Alabama Interactive SOS online services |
Fees come from the Secretary of State’s fee schedule (revised August 23, 2023) and trademark forms. Online prices include a vendor portal fee. For a full breakdown of formation costs, see Mainstay Filing’s Alabama LLC cost guide.
How to do an Alabama Secretary of State business search
The Alabama Secretary of State keeps the official registry of corporations, LLCs, partnerships and other entities. Here is how to use it to check a name.
1. Open the Business Entity Records page
Go to the Secretary of State’s Business Entity Records page. It offers four separate lookups: Entity Name, Entity Number, Officer | Agent | Incorporator, and Reservation | Registration by ID. For an availability check, start with Entity Name.
2. Search the core words, not the full name
Type the distinctive part of your name and leave off endings such as “LLC” or “Inc.” Searching “Magnolia Coast” instead of “Magnolia Coast Outfitters LLC” surfaces close matches that a full-name search might hide. Run a few variations: singular and plural, with and without spaces, and any common misspelling.
3. Read the status of every close match
Open each close match to see its entity type and status. An active name blocks yours if the two aren’t distinguishable. Names belonging to dissolved or withdrawn entities may become usable again, but the Secretary of State decides that at filing, so treat them with caution.
4. Treat reserved names as taken
Because Alabama requires a reservation before formation, some names are held by founders who haven’t filed yet. A name reserved by someone else isn’t available to you until the reservation expires or is withdrawn, even if no company exists under it.
5. Note old entity numbers
Alabama moved from six-digit to nine-digit entity IDs. If you’re looking up an existing business by an older number, add three leading zeros.
A clean search result is a strong signal, not a guarantee. The Secretary of State makes the final call when it reviews your reservation request.
What makes a business name available in Alabama?
Alabama’s Business and Nonprofit Entities Code (Title 10A) requires every new entity name to be distinguishable on the Secretary of State’s records from names already in use or reserved. In practice, that means:
- LLC designator: an Alabama LLC name must contain “Limited Liability Company,” “L.L.C.” or “LLC” (SOS LLC guidance).
- Corporate designator: a corporation needs a word such as “Corporation,” “Incorporated” or an abbreviation like “Inc.” or “Corp.”
- Small changes don’t count: adding punctuation, an article such as “The,” or a different entity ending to an existing name usually won’t make it distinguishable.
- No misleading names: avoid words that suggest a regulated business (such as banking or insurance) or a government agency unless you are licensed or authorized to use them.
Stuck on ideas? Namechk’s business name generator produces options you can then run through the Alabama search.
How to reserve a business name in Alabama
In most states a name reservation is optional. In Alabama, the Secretary of State’s LLC page says you must obtain a Certificate of Name Reservation before filing formation documents, under Ala. Code § 10A-1-4.02(f). The same applies to corporations and other domestic entities.
- Reserve online through Alabama Interactive for $28, or mail the reservation request with $25.
- The reservation lasts one year from the date it’s accepted.
- To keep it longer, file a renewal request during the 90 days before it expires. A lapsed reservation can’t be renewed; you would need to reserve again.
- Attach or reference the reservation when you file your Certificate of Formation. You can withdraw a reservation you no longer need (free by mail, $4 online).
Because the reservation is mandatory, it doubles as the state’s official availability check: if the Secretary of State issues the certificate, the name has passed review.
Check trademarks, domains and social handles
The Alabama search only covers entities on the state’s records. A business that never formed an entity, or one registered in another state, can still hold rights in a name. Before committing, search the federal register with the USPTO trademark search, and look up the Alabama state trademark records as well.
Then confirm you can get matching online names. Namechk checks domain availability and usernames across dozens of social platforms in one search, and the domain name generator helps when the exact .com is taken.
We created a tool that makes it easy.
Do you need a DBA or trade name in Alabama?
A DBA (“doing business as”) lets a business operate under a name other than its legal one. Alabama has no statewide DBA or fictitious name certificate; DBA matters are handled locally at the county level, so start with your county probate judge or license office. Separately, the Secretary of State offers an optional trade name registration through its trademark program:
- Where: Alabama Secretary of State, Trademarks section (an online application is available).
- Fee: $30 per the state’s Form LAT-1 application, which must be notarized.
- What to include: the application, three specimens showing the name in use, and the fee.
- Term: five years, renewable with an application, one specimen and the renewal fee.
An LLC or corporation that operates under its exact registered name doesn’t need a trade name. If you plan to trade under something else, ask your county office and your bank what they require, since many will want proof of the name before opening accounts or issuing licenses.
After the search: registering your Alabama business
Once the name is reserved, forming the business follows a short sequence. Our Alabama LLC guide covers each step in detail.
- File the Certificate of Formation with the Secretary of State. The fee is $200 for a domestic LLC or corporation (fee schedule).
- Appoint a registered agent with a physical Alabama address who can accept legal papers during business hours. You can serve yourself or hire a service; Mainstay Filing includes a registered agent with its formation package (see Alabama costs). Our Alabama registered agent guide explains the rules.
- Get an EIN from the IRS (free).
- Register for state taxes and local licenses before you open. The Alabama start-a-business guide lists what most new companies need.
FAQs
Is the Alabama Secretary of State business search free?
Yes. The Alabama Secretary of State’s Business Entity Records search is free and needs no account. You can search by entity name, entity number, officer or registered agent, or by a reservation or registration ID. Fees apply only when you reserve a name, form an entity or order certified copies, as listed on the state’s fee schedule.
Do I have to reserve a name before forming an LLC in Alabama?
Yes. Alabama requires a Certificate of Name Reservation before you file a Certificate of Formation for a domestic LLC, corporation or other entity. The reservation costs $25 by mail or $28 online and lasts one year. It can be renewed during the 90 days before it expires. Without it, the Secretary of State will not accept the formation filing.
How long does an Alabama name reservation last?
An Alabama name reservation lasts one year from the date the Secretary of State accepts it, or until you withdraw it, whichever comes first. You can renew it for another year by filing a renewal request during the 90-day window before the expiration date. Once a reservation lapses it can’t be renewed, so you would need to file a new reservation.
Does a clean search mean my business name is approved?
No. A search that shows no matching entities is a strong sign the name is available, but the Alabama Secretary of State decides whether a name is distinguishable when it reviews your reservation request. Small differences such as punctuation or a different ending like LLC versus Inc. usually aren’t enough. The name is only held once the reservation certificate is issued.
How do I register a DBA in Alabama?
Alabama has no statewide DBA certificate; DBA matters are handled locally at the county level, so check with your county probate judge or license office. For broader notice, the Secretary of State registers trade names through its trademark program: an application (Form LAT-1), three specimens and a $30 fee, notarized. Registration lasts five years. Details are on the Trademarks page.
How much does it cost to change an Alabama business name?
Changing an Alabama entity’s name requires an Amendment to the Certificate of Formation. The Secretary of State’s fee schedule lists the amendment fee at $100. The new name must meet the same rules as any new name, so run an Alabama Secretary of State business search for the new name first and confirm it is distinguishable.
Does an Alabama business search cover trademarks?
No. The Business Entity Records search covers only entities on file with the Alabama Secretary of State. To check whether another business holds rights in a name, search the USPTO’s federal trademark database and Alabama’s state trademark records. Also check domain names and social handles, since another company may already use the name online.
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