Whether you are in the bustling downtown of New Orleans or a quiet town on the Bayou, Louisiana is a wonderful place to start a small business. Any time you endeavor to be a business owner, it’s important to go into it with a good sense of your business plan and how you will execute on it.
Naming your business is one of the most critical decisions you will make early on in the process. Not only will this name be a part of your official documentation, it is also how clients will find you and will convey your values to them immediately. This guide will help you understand how to be sure the name you choose is unique and available in the state of Louisiana.
Go to:
How to check business name availability in Louisiana
As mentioned, you can’t just pick any name for a Louisiana business, it must be unique and available. How do you find out if a certain name is available? Here’s how:
1. Go to the Louisiana Secretary of State website
You’ll visit the Louisiana Secretary of State website and use a business search tool to research business name availability.
2. Select your search type
Choose “Search by Entity Name” from the options above the search bar.
3. Run the search
Start searching the business names that you like one by one.
The site will return results. If there’s an exact match, the name is not available. If there’s no match, the name is available for you to use.
As in most states, Louisiana won’t allow two businesses to have the same name – not even similar names. Why? If state officials need to reach a business, they need to do so without confusion. So, all business names must be unique.
4. Consider reserving a name
After running a Louisiana business name search, you have two options: You can reserve a name or you can register the name. You should reserve the name if you aren’t planning to set up the business immediately.
Louisiana allows business owners to reserve a name for 120 days for $25.
To do so, you’ll fill out a quick form and provide the payment.
Again, you don’t need to reserve a name if you plan to officially set up your business with the state of Louisiana, but if you’re just doing some homework and plan to set up your business later, reserve the name now so it’s not taken when you’re ready.
5. Check domain name availability
We created a tool that makes it easy.
How to name your Louisiana business
Now that you know a little more about the business landscape in the state, it’s time to start generating a list of names for your business. To do so, follow these steps:
1. Write down basic details about your business
Start by creating a verbal picture of your business. Think about what your business will offer and who it will serve. Will you sell a specific product or service? Who’s going to buy it? Jot down a few details about your company as a starting point.
Next, start creating a list of adjectives that describe your business. Think in terms of keywords. What keywords would your customer use to find the product or service that you offer? Write them down.
2. Stay away from initials and hard-to-say words
There are plenty of businesses that include initials, like A&J Plumbing, but consider upping your game with something a bit more creative and descriptive.
The same goes for names that are hard to say. If your last name is Stackowaski, for example, it’s not conducive to a business name because it’s too hard to pronounce.
3. Don’t pigeon-hole your business
Be careful not to select a name that limits your company’s potential growth. Think about where your business will be in five, ten, even twenty years, and take that into consideration when creating a name.
A company named Bob’s Bargain Books, for example, is a good name, but what if they plan to sell vintage records and cassettes down the road? The name only refers to books, so when vintage music is added people won’t associate it with the store.
4. Consider using a name generator
At this point, you probably have a list of a few ideas. Rather than brainstorm a bunch of different combinations, why not try a name generator? You simply enter a few of the adjectives that you came up with into the search bar and you’ll get a list of possible names.
Name generators can take some of the hassles out of creating a name. Most name generators will only show you available names too, which is helpful.
Check out some of Namechk’s name generators below:
What kind of business structure is right for your Louisiana company?
As you research available business names in Louisiana, you’ll also want to think about what kind of business you want to establish. There are a handful of options to choose from, but some of the most common are Sole proprietorship and LLC.
- A sole proprietorship is ideal for small businesses with no employees that want to test their business out. There’s virtually no paperwork to set up this kind of business, which is a plus. However, a sole proprietorship is not a separate business entity, which means you’re financially and legally responsible for any problems that might arise.
- An LLC, or limited liability company, provides a certain amount of liability protection. Your personal assets and your business are separate with this business structure, which means if the business is sued or goes bankrupt, you will not be forced to use your personal cash reserves to bail the business out.
Steps to register your Louisiana business
Ready to set up your business in LA? Here’s what you do:
1. File your Articles of Organization
Visit the Louisiana Secretary of State website and fill out the Articles of Organization. To fill this out, you’ll need to have an available business name, address, and contact information.
2. Name a registered agent
You’ll also need to name a registered agent. A registered agent is the point-person for your company who will receive important documents like tax notices or legal documents.
A registered agent must be trustworthy and be available during regular business hours when documents are delivered. The business owner can serve as the registered agent in Louisiana, or another person or company can be named.
You might decide to name your accountant or co-founder, for example. You can also hire a registered agent service to serve in this role. Northwest Registered Agent, ZenBusiness, and Bizee are a few examples. These companies will receive documents on your behalf and notify you of their arrival.
3. Pay the filing fee
Every state charges a filing fee to file LLC formation documents with the government. In Louisiana, the cost is $100.
4. Wait for approval
Louisiana will review your application and typically provides approvals within five business days. Once approved, your business is officially set up.
Our picks of the best registered agent services
Louisiana small business facts
Before you start considering business name availability in Louisiana, take a look at these small business statistics from the U.S. Business Administration:
- Louisiana small businesses employed 905,147 people, or 53.6% of the private workforce, in 2017.
- Firms with 20 to 99 employees have the largest share of small business employment. Figure 1 provides further details on firms with employees.
- The number of proprietors increased in 2018 by 2.8% relative to the previous year.
- In the fourth quarter of 2019, Louisiana grew at an annual rate of 1.1%, which was slower than the overall US growth rate of 2.1%. Louisiana’s 2019 overall growth rate of 1.3% was down from the 2018 rate of 2.6%.
- In April 2020, the unemployment rate was 14.5%, up from 4.5% in April 2019. This was below the April 2020 national unemployment rate of 14.7%.
- Private-sector employment decreased 15.8% during the 12-month period ending in April 2020. This was below the increase of 0.4% during the prior 12-month period.
- The median income for self–employed individuals at their own incorporated businesses was $46,877 in 2018. For self– employed individuals at their own unincorporated firms, median income was $22,793.
- Small businesses created 8,760 net jobs in 2019. Firms employing fewer than 20 employees experienced the largest gains, adding 10,608 net jobs. The largest losses were in firms employing 100 to 499 employees, which lost 2,638 net jobs.
FAQs
To further help entrepreneurs, check out these frequently asked questions about starting a business in Louisiana:
Why is it so important to check on business name availability?
Louisiana will not allow two businesses in the state to have the same name. There are many reasons for this, but at its core, it’s to avoid any confusion. For example, if someone plans to sue Bob’s Fruit Stand and there are two of these companies in the state, things can get complicated quickly.
All businesses must have a unique name. And, you can’t just add a hyphen to a name to make it different. Each name must be “distinguishingly different.”
Do you need a business bank account?
A separate account for your business is critical to help maintain liability protections gained from registering your business, as it demonstrates you have disentangled your personal finances from your business. The simplest way to achieve this is a business bank account. This allows you to draw a clear line between what assets are yours and which are owned by your business.
What do you need to open a business bank account?
You’ll need to obtain an EIN (Employer Identification Number), which doubles as your business’ tax ID. This is a nine-digit number used by the IRS to uniquely identify the entity of your business- like a Social Security Number for your business.
This can be done once your LLC is approved by the Louisiana Secretary of State. In addition to the IRS at a federal level, you will also need to register your business with the Louisiana Department of Taxation.
Does a business need a credit card?
Many people choose to open a business credit card in addition to their bank account. This can help with small purchases where you do not have cash upfront, and can also build credit in the name of your company. Business credit cards can have competitive rates, rebate programs, and other benefits if you find the right provider.
Can I file in Louisiana if I am in another state?
In Louisiana, an LLC formed in another state is considered a foreign LLC. According to the Louisiana LLC Act, any company that is transacting business with Louisiana requires registration in the state. This includes any activity with a physical presence in Louisiana, like a warehouse or a storefront.
To register in Louisiana, you will need to file an Application of Foreign LLC, which is very similar to the application to register an LLC domestically.
What business licenses or permits are required in Louisiana?
All businesses in Louisiana must file for a general business license, sometimes called a business tax certificate. These are issued by cities and municipalities and may differ in requirements. If you will be operating in multiple locations, you will need a license from each.
Depending on your industry, other permits may become necessary to file with the county. For example, if you are serving alcohol, a liquor license is required. The city offices will have information on specific licenses you may be required to have.
CHK_ YOUR NAME RIGHT NOW
Use our engine to quickly check your content right now!
