The Mississippi Secretary of State’s Business Services Division keeps the state’s registry of corporations and LLCs. Use its free business services portal or the Mississippi Business Reports public search to look up a name and see whether anything on file is too close to yours.
An available LLC name can be reserved for 180 days for $25. Mississippi also runs a voluntary statewide Fictitious Business Name Registration for DBAs, which costs $25 and lasts five years.
Updated October 2026.
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Best LLC Formation Services in Mississippi (2026)
Here are our top picks for forming your LLC once your name is clear in Mississippi, ranked. Mainstay Filing comes first for its flat yearly price; the two Mississippi 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 | Mississippi Registered Agent.co | Mississippi 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 | Registered Agent MS.org | Mississippi 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 Mississippi. 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. Mississippi Registered Agent.co
Mississippi Registered Agent.co is a Mississippi 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. Registered Agent MS.org
Registered Agent MS.org is a Mississippi 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.
Mississippi name search at a glance
| Topic | Mississippi (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Filing office | Mississippi Secretary of State, Business Services Division |
| Search tools | Business services portal and Mississippi Business Reports (free) |
| LLC name reservation | $25 (F0110); 180 days; renewable |
| LLC Certificate of Formation | $50 (F0100), filed online |
| LLC amendment (name change) | $50 (F0101) |
| Fictitious business name | $25 (F0070); voluntary; five years |
| LLC annual report | Required, no fee; due April 15; online only |
Fees are from the Business Services Division’s fee schedule. Mainstay Filing’s Mississippi LLC cost guide lists the full startup costs.
How to do a Mississippi Secretary of State business search
Mississippi business filings are made through the Secretary of State’s online portal, and the same system holds the records you’ll search.
Option 1: Search in the business services portal
Open the business services portal and use its business search to look up a name or business ID. This is also where you’ll later file your Certificate of Formation and annual reports, so it’s worth creating an account early if you plan to form the business yourself.
Option 2: Use Mississippi Business Reports
Mississippi Business Reports is a free public search of the corporations database that lets you filter results (for example, by name, domicile or status) and export them to a spreadsheet. It’s handy when you want to see every business that starts with the same word as your idea.
What to look for
- Search the distinctive part of your name without “LLC” or “Inc.”
- Open close matches and check whether they’re active, dissolved or merged.
- Check fictitious business names too; the state’s database of registered fictitious names is searchable, and a registered DBA close to yours signals likely confusion.
- Try plurals, alternate spellings and numbers written both ways.
A search doesn’t hold a name. Only a reservation or an accepted formation filing does. If you find a close match that’s dissolved, don’t assume the name is free; the Secretary of State decides availability when it reviews your filing.
Mississippi name rules
- Distinguishable: an LLC or corporate name must be distinguishable on the Secretary of State’s records from other entity names and reserved names.
- LLC designator: a Mississippi LLC name must include “limited liability company” or an abbreviation such as “LLC” or “L.L.C.”
- Corporate designator: a corporation needs “corporation,” “incorporated,” “company” or “limited,” or an abbreviation.
- Governing law: the Revised Mississippi Limited Liability Company Act.
- Regulated words: names implying banking, insurance or a licensed profession may require regulatory approval.
Need inspiration? Namechk’s business name generator suggests names to test in the Mississippi search.
How to reserve a business name in Mississippi
Under Miss. Code Ann. § 79-29-111, the Secretary of State reserves an available LLC name for the applicant’s exclusive use for 180 days, and that period can be renewed.
- Fee: $25 (MS LLC Application for Name Reservation, F0110).
- Length: 180 days.
- Transfer: $25 (F0111).
- Corporations: a corporate name reservation (F0016) is also $25.
- How: file online through the business services portal.
Six months is a comfortable window, so a reservation makes sense if you need time to finish planning before you form the LLC. If you’re ready now, skip it: filing the $50 Certificate of Formation secures the name once the Secretary of State accepts it, and costs only twice as much as the reservation alone.
Check trademarks, domains and social handles
The Secretary of State’s database doesn’t cover federal trademarks. Search the USPTO trademark database for conflicting marks before you invest in branding.
Then check whether the name is free online. Namechk searches domains and social media usernames at once, and the domain name generator helps if the .com you want is taken.
We created a tool that makes it easy.
Registering a DBA (fictitious business name) in Mississippi
Mississippi’s Fictitious Business Name Registration Act (Miss. Code Ann. § 25-93-1 et seq.) created a statewide registry at the Secretary of State. According to the state’s summary of the Act:
- Voluntary: registration is completely voluntary.
- Who can register: individuals, corporations, LLCs and other entities operating under a name different from their legal name.
- Fee: $25 (Fictitious Business Name Registration, F0070). Amendments, withdrawals and assignments are also listed on the fee schedule.
- Term: five years, renewable indefinitely.
- No exclusivity: the Act states that registration does not grant the exclusive right to use the name.
- Information required: your business’s legal name and, for Mississippi corporations and LLCs, the business ID number.
Even though it’s optional, banks may ask for a registered fictitious name before opening an account or lending under a DBA. Check with your city or county as well, since local business licenses and privilege licenses are handled separately from the state registry.
Why register a fictitious name in Mississippi?
Since registration is optional, the Secretary of State’s summary of the Act lists reasons a business might register anyway:
- Notice to others: a registered name tells other businesses the name is already in use, which can discourage confusingly similar names.
- Evidence of first use: if a trademark dispute arises, a registration can help show when you started using the name.
- Banking: banks may require a registered fictitious name before lending or opening an account in that name.
- Consumer trust: the Act requires a free, searchable online database of registered fictitious names, so customers can see who owns a business.
After the search: forming a Mississippi business
With your name confirmed, our Mississippi LLC guide covers the full process:
- File a Certificate of Formation (F0100, $50) online through the business services portal.
- Appoint a registered agent. Mainstay Filing includes registered agent service in its formation package; our Mississippi registered agent guide covers the requirements.
- Get an EIN and register with the Mississippi Department of Revenue if needed.
- File the free annual report online by April 15 each year. Our Mississippi start-a-business guide lists local licenses.
FAQs
How do I search for a business name in Mississippi?
Use the Mississippi Secretary of State’s business services portal or the free Mississippi Business Reports public search, which lets you filter the corporations database and export results. Search the distinctive words of your name, check the status of close matches, and look at registered fictitious business names too.
How much does it cost to reserve an LLC name in Mississippi?
A Mississippi LLC name reservation costs $25 and lasts 180 days under Miss. Code Ann. section 79-29-111, and the period can be renewed. Transferring a reservation also costs $25. Reservations are filed online through the Secretary of State’s business services portal.
Do I need to register a DBA in Mississippi?
No. Mississippi’s Fictitious Business Name Registration Act makes registration voluntary. If you choose to register, the fee is $25 and the registration lasts five years, renewable indefinitely. It doesn’t give you exclusive rights to the name, but banks may ask for it before opening a business account.
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Mississippi?
The Mississippi Secretary of State charges $50 to file an LLC Certificate of Formation, filed online through the business services portal. LLCs then file an annual report each year by April 15, which has no filing fee. Name reservations ($25) and fictitious names ($25) are optional.
Does a Mississippi fictitious name protect my business name?
No. Mississippi’s Fictitious Business Name Registration Act specifically says registration doesn’t grant an exclusive right to use the name. It puts others on notice and may help show when you started using a name, but forming an entity or registering a trademark gives stronger protection.
Can I file Mississippi business documents on paper?
Mississippi business filings are handled through the Secretary of State’s online portal. The LLC Certificate of Formation and annual report are filed online, and the annual report has no paper option. Create an account in the business services portal before you file.
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