The California Secretary of State business search now lives in bizfile Online. Enter the name you want, review the matches, and check that your name is distinguishable from existing entities of the same type. The old businesssearch.sos.ca.gov address no longer works.
Keep in mind that the state calls this a preliminary search, not a formal availability ruling. To hold a name before filing, submit a $10 name reservation, which lasts 60 days. DBAs (fictitious business names) are filed with your county, not the Secretary of State.
Updated October 2026.
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Best LLC Formation Services in California (2026)
Comparing services for forming your LLC once your name is clear in California? Start with this ranked shortlist; details for each pick follow the table.
| 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 | CA Registered Agent.org | California 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 | California Registered Agent.ai | California 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 California. 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. CA Registered Agent.org
CA Registered Agent.org is a California 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. California Registered Agent.ai
California Registered Agent.ai is a California 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.
California name search at a glance
| Item | California (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Office | California Secretary of State, Business Programs Division |
| Search tool | bizfile Online Business Search (free; preliminary only) |
| Name standard | Distinguishable from like entities (corporations vs. corporations, LLCs vs. LLCs) and not likely to mislead |
| Name reservation | $10; 60 days; renewals can’t be back-to-back |
| LLC Articles of Organization (LLC-1) | $70 |
| Articles of Incorporation (stock) | $100 |
| Name change (amendment) | $30 for an LLC or stock corporation |
| DBA (fictitious business name) | Filed with the county clerk where the principal place of business is located |
For the total cost of forming a California LLC, including the annual franchise tax, see Mainstay Filing’s California LLC cost guide.
How to run a California Secretary of State business search
bizfile Online is the Secretary of State’s portal for forming entities, filing Statements of Information and searching records. The search is free and doesn’t require a login.
- Open the search page. Go to bizfile Online Business Search. Update any old bookmarks to businesssearch.sos.ca.gov, which no longer resolves.
- Search the distinctive words. Enter the main words of your name without “LLC” or “Inc.” A search for “Golden Poppy” will also show “Golden Poppy Design, LLC” and similar names.
- Compare like entities. Since January 1, 2021, California checks a proposed name only against entities of the same type. If you’re forming an LLC, an existing corporation with a similar name doesn’t block you, but an LLC does.
- Open the closest results. Review each record’s entity type and status. Active entities and current reservations count; long-dissolved entities may not.
- Decide your next step. If nothing too similar appears, reserve the name or file your formation documents. The Secretary of State reviews the name again when you file.
The Secretary of State’s name availability page advises not to order stationery or signs, or make financial commitments, until your formation documents are filed.
California business name rules
Under SB 522 (Statutes of 2020), a corporation, LLC or limited partnership name must be “distinguishable in the records” of the Secretary of State from existing entities of the same type, and it may not be likely to mislead the public. The state’s Name Regulations, Requirements & Restrictions guide adds specifics:
- LLC endings: “Limited Liability Company,” “LLC” or “L.L.C.” The words “Limited” and “Company” can be abbreviated to “Ltd.” and “Co.”
- Banned in LLC names: “bank,” “trust,” “trustee,” “incorporated,” “inc.,” “corporation,” “corp.,” “insurer” and “insurance company,” or words suggesting the LLC issues insurance policies (Corporations Code § 17701.08(e)).
- Corporations: words such as “bank,” “trust” or “trustee” are allowed only with a Certificate of Approval from the state’s financial regulator attached to the Articles of Incorporation.
- Insurance words: “insurance,” “reinsurance,” “assurance” and “surety” may be treated as misleading for a business that isn’t a regulated insurer.
California doesn’t compare entity names against trademarks or fictitious business names when it reviews your filing. That’s your job, and the next sections show how.
Reserving a California business name
A reservation holds a corporation, LLC or limited partnership name while you prepare your filing. According to the Secretary of State’s name reservation page:
- Fee: $10 (listed on the domestic corporation forms page).
- Length: 60 days.
- Renewals: allowed for the same applicant, but not as consecutive 60-day periods. At least one day must pass between reservations.
- How to file: online through bizfile Online, which the state recommends for faster service.
A reservation doesn’t guarantee the name meets every legal requirement for your entity type. The name is reviewed again when your Articles are filed.
Trademark, domain and social handle checks
Because the Secretary of State ignores trademarks, a federal trademark search matters more in California than in most states. Search the USPTO trademark database for identical and similar marks in your industry before you file.
Your online presence is the last piece. Namechk checks domain names and social media usernames at the same time, so you can see whether a consistent brand is possible. If your first choice is crowded, try the business name generator and run the best ideas back through bizfile Online.
We created a tool that makes it easy.
Filing a DBA (fictitious business name) in California
A California business that operates under any name other than its legal name needs a Fictitious Business Name (FBN) statement. The Secretary of State’s FAQs confirm that FBNs are filed with the county where the principal place of business is located, not with the state.
Rules are set by state law but each county runs its own process. Los Angeles County, the largest, is a useful example:
- Fee: $26 for one business name and one registrant, plus $5 for each additional name or registrant (LA County fees).
- Publication: within 45 days of filing, publish the statement once a week for four consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the county (LA County publication rules).
- Term: the statement expires five years from filing; renew before it expires. Renewals with no changes don’t need to be republished (renewals).
Other counties charge different fees, so check your county clerk-recorder’s website before filing.
Turning your name into a registered California business
After you’ve confirmed the name, the formation steps are covered in our California LLC guide. In short:
- File Articles of Organization (LLC-1) in bizfile Online for $70, or Articles of Incorporation for $100.
- Name an agent for service of process. California’s term for a registered agent. Mainstay Filing includes this with its formation service, and our California registered agent guide explains who can serve.
- File the initial Statement of Information ($20 for an LLC) within 90 days of formation.
- Get an EIN, register for state taxes and apply for local licenses. Our California start-a-business guide lists them.
FAQs
Where is the California Secretary of State business search?
The California Secretary of State business search is part of bizfile Online at bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov. It’s free and doesn’t require an account. The older businesssearch.sos.ca.gov site no longer resolves. The state describes the search as preliminary, so a name that looks clear can still be reviewed again when you file your formation documents.
Does California check my name against all businesses?
No. Since January 1, 2021, the California Secretary of State checks a proposed name only against entities of the same type, so LLC names are compared with LLC names and corporation names with corporation names. The state also doesn’t check trademarks or county fictitious business names, so search the USPTO database separately.
How much does it cost to reserve a business name in California?
A California name reservation costs $10 and holds the name for 60 days. You can file it online through bizfile Online. Renewals are allowed for the same applicant, but not back to back; at least one day must pass between reservation periods. The name is reviewed again when your Articles are filed.
Where do I file a DBA in California?
California DBAs, called fictitious business names, are filed with the county clerk in the county where your principal place of business is located, not with the Secretary of State. In Los Angeles County the fee is $26 for one name and one registrant. You must publish the statement for four consecutive weeks, and it expires after five years.
What words can’t I use in a California LLC name?
Under California Corporations Code section 17701.08(e), an LLC name can’t include bank, trust, trustee, incorporated, inc., corporation or corp., or insurer, insurance company or words suggesting the LLC issues insurance policies. The name must end with Limited Liability Company, LLC or L.L.C., and Limited and Company may be abbreviated.
Can I use a name that is close to an existing California corporation for my LLC?
Often yes, as long as the name isn’t likely to mislead the public. California compares names only against like entities, so an existing corporation doesn’t block an LLC name. However, the other company may hold trademark rights, and a confusing name can still lead to a legal dispute, so check trademarks before you commit.
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