Massachusetts business entities are registered with the Corporations Division of the Secretary of the Commonwealth (the state’s Secretary of State). Its free Corporations Search is where you check whether a corporation or LLC name is already on file.
A name reservation costs $30 and lasts 60 days. DBAs work differently in Massachusetts: a business certificate is filed with the clerk of each city or town where you do business, not with the state.
Updated October 2026.
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Best LLC Formation Services in Massachusetts (2026)
Comparing services for forming your LLC once your name is clear in Massachusetts? 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 | MA Registered Agent.org | Massachusetts 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 | Massachusetts Registered Agent.co | Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts. 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. MA Registered Agent.org
MA Registered Agent.org is a Massachusetts 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. Massachusetts Registered Agent.co
Massachusetts Registered Agent.co is a Massachusetts 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.
Massachusetts name search at a glance
| Topic | Massachusetts (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Filing office | Secretary of the Commonwealth, Corporations Division |
| Search tool | Corporations Search (free) |
| Name reservation | $30; 60 days |
| LLC Certificate of Organization | $500 by mail; $520 online or by fax (includes $20 expedite fee) |
| LLC amendment (name change) | $100 |
| LLC annual report | $500 |
| Corporation Articles of Organization | $275 minimum |
| DBA (business certificate) | Filed with the city or town clerk |
Fees are from the Corporations Division’s filing fee page. Massachusetts is one of the more expensive states for LLCs, so see Mainstay Filing’s Massachusetts LLC cost guide for the full picture.
How to do a Massachusetts Secretary of State business search
The Corporations Division database covers corporations, LLCs, limited partnerships and other entities registered in Massachusetts.
1. Open Corporations Search
Go to the Corporations Division’s business entity search. Searching is free and doesn’t require a login, so check several variations.
2. Search by entity name
Enter the distinctive words of your proposed name and skip the ending. For “Back Bay Bike Works LLC,” search “Back Bay Bike” to see related names. Then repeat with plural and singular forms, alternate spellings and numbers written both ways, since small differences can hide a conflict.
3. Check name reservations too
Reserved names don’t always look like active businesses. The Division also offers a name reservation search, so check whether someone is holding your name for the next 60 days.
4. Open close matches
Review each similar record’s status and entity type. An active entity or current reservation with an indistinguishable name blocks your filing.
5. Remember local DBAs
Business certificates (DBAs) are kept by city and town clerks, not the Corporations Division, so a local business could be trading under your name without showing up in the state search. Check with your town clerk for local filings.
Massachusetts name rules
- Distinguishable on the records: a new entity name must be distinguishable from names of other entities and reservations on file with the Corporations Division.
- LLC designator: an LLC name must include “limited liability company,” “limited company,” or an abbreviation such as “LLC” or “L.L.C.”
- Corporate designator: a corporation needs a word such as “corporation,” “incorporated” or “limited,” or an abbreviation.
- Regulated words: names implying banking, insurance or a licensed profession may require regulatory approval.
If your favorite is taken, Namechk’s business name generator suggests options to check in the Massachusetts search.
How to reserve a business name in Massachusetts
The Corporations Division’s fee page lists a name reservation at $30 for 60 days, for corporations and LLCs alike.
- Fee: $30.
- Length: 60 days.
- How to file: online through the Corporations Division’s filing system or on paper; see the Corporations Division site for forms.
Because forming an LLC costs $500, a $30 reservation can be worthwhile if you need a few weeks to line up partners or financing before filing the Certificate of Organization. Keep the 60-day limit in mind and calendar the expiration date the day you file the reservation, because the name becomes available to anyone once it lapses.
Check trademarks, domains and social handles
The Corporations Division doesn’t check federal trademarks. Search the USPTO trademark database for registered and pending marks before you invest in a brand.
Then make sure the name works online. Namechk checks domains and social media usernames in a single search, and the domain name generator can help if the .com is taken.
We created a tool that makes it easy.
Filing a DBA (business certificate) in Massachusetts
In Massachusetts, a DBA is called a business certificate, and it’s a local filing. According to Mass.gov, each city and town has its own process, usually through the clerk’s office.
- Who must file: under M.G.L. c. 110, § 5, anyone conducting business in Massachusetts, individually or as a partnership, under a name other than their real name must file a business certificate with the clerk of each city or town where the business is located (see, for example, Groton’s business certificate page).
- Where: the city or town clerk in every municipality where you have an office.
- Term: town clerk pages describe business certificates as valid for four years, after which they must be renewed.
- Fees: set by each city or town.
- What it doesn’t do: a business certificate identifies the owners for consumers and creditors. It does not protect a business name the way a corporate filing or trademark does.
Massachusetts name search mistakes to avoid
- Stopping at the state search. Business certificates live with each city and town clerk, so a local shop can be trading under your name without appearing in the Corporations Division database.
- Overlooking reservations. A reserved name blocks you for up to 60 days even though no company exists yet.
- Assuming a DBA protects you. A business certificate identifies owners; it doesn’t stop anyone else from using the name.
- Budgeting for the wrong fee. Online LLC filings cost 20, not 00, because of the mandatory 0 expedite fee on electronic filings.
- Forgetting the annual report. The 00 LLC annual report is due every year, not just after formation.
After the search: forming your Massachusetts business
With a clear name, our Massachusetts LLC guide walks through the full process:
- File a Certificate of Organization (LLC form) with the Corporations Division: $500 by mail or $520 online.
- Appoint a resident agent. Massachusetts uses that term for a registered agent. Mainstay Filing includes one in its formation package; our Massachusetts registered agent guide covers the rules.
- Get an EIN and register with the Department of Revenue through MassTaxConnect if needed.
- File the $500 LLC annual report each year on the anniversary date. Our Massachusetts start-a-business guide covers local licenses.
FAQs
How do I search for a business name in Massachusetts?
Use the free Corporations Search run by the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s Corporations Division. Search the distinctive words of your name, open close matches to check their status, and also check the name reservation search. DBAs are filed with city and town clerks, so ask your local clerk about business certificates too.
How much does it cost to reserve a business name in Massachusetts?
A Massachusetts name reservation costs $30 and lasts 60 days, according to the Corporations Division’s filing fee page. The same $30 fee applies to corporations and LLCs. If you’re ready to file, you can skip the reservation and file your Certificate of Organization, which secures the name once accepted.
Where do I file a DBA in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts DBAs, called business certificates, are filed with the clerk of each city or town where you do business, not with the state. Under M.G.L. chapter 110, section 5, individuals and partnerships using a name other than their real name must file. Each municipality sets its own process and fee.
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Massachusetts?
Filing a Certificate of Organization for a Massachusetts LLC costs $500 by mail, or $520 online or by fax because a $20 expedite fee applies to electronic filings. LLCs then file a $500 annual report each year, which makes Massachusetts one of the more expensive states to keep an LLC.
How long is a Massachusetts business certificate valid?
Town and city clerk pages in Massachusetts describe business certificates as valid for four years. After that, you renew with the same clerk’s office. Because each municipality runs its own process, check your town clerk’s website for the current form, fee and renewal steps.
Does a Massachusetts DBA protect my business name?
No. A business certificate identifies the owners of a business for consumers and creditors, but it doesn’t protect the name the way a corporate filing or trademark registration does. To secure a name statewide, form an entity with the Corporations Division, and consider a trademark for broader protection.
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