A New Mexico Secretary of State business search now runs through SOS Enterprise (SOSE), the Secretary of State’s online business system at enterprise.sos.nm.gov. Its Business Search lets you look up an entity by name or Business ID and check whether the name you want is already taken. If nothing on file is the same once you ignore the LLC or Inc. ending, the name is likely available.
New Mexico is one of the cheapest states to keep an LLC: $50 to form, no annual report and no state DBA filing. A 120-day LLC name reservation costs $20, and it can’t be renewed.
Updated October 2026.
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Best LLC Formation Services in New Mexico (2026)
Our ranked picks for forming your LLC once your name is clear in New Mexico are below, starting with Mainstay Filing. Each entry lists the yearly price and what the service covers.
| 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 | NM Registered Agent.org | New Mexico 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 | New Mexico Registered Agent.co | New Mexico 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 New Mexico. 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. NM Registered Agent.org
NM Registered Agent.org is a New Mexico 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. New Mexico Registered Agent.co
New Mexico Registered Agent.co is a New Mexico 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.
New Mexico business name search at a glance
| Item | New Mexico details (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Filing office | New Mexico Secretary of State, Business Services Division |
| Search tool | SOS Enterprise Business Search |
| Filing method | Online only; paper business filings are no longer accepted (SOS) |
| LLC Articles of Organization | $50 (NMSA § 53-19-63) |
| LLC name reservation | $20; 120 days; not renewable |
| DBA | No statewide DBA registration; an LLC lists any other name it will use in its Articles of Organization |
| LLC annual report | None required |
Fees are set in Chapter 53 of the New Mexico Statutes. Mainstay Filing’s New Mexico LLC cost guide shows what forming an LLC costs in total.
How to check business name availability in New Mexico
1. Go to SOS Enterprise
Open SOS Enterprise and choose Business Search. The old portal.sos.state.nm.us search and the businessportal.nm.gov pages no longer work, so update any bookmarks. The Secretary of State’s business protection page explains that the system restricts access from outside the United States, so use a U.S. connection.
2. Search by name
Enter the distinctive words of your name without LLC or Inc. The SOS user guides describe searching by entity name or Business ID, with an Advanced option for more filters.
3. Rule out close matches
New Mexico requires an LLC name to be distinguishable from other LLCs, corporations and limited partnerships on file, foreign companies authorized in the state, and reserved names. A name that differs only by its ending won’t pass.
4. Reserve or file
If the name is clear, reserve it in SOSE or go straight to filing Articles of Organization, which is also done online. The Secretary of State makes the final call on availability when it reviews your filing, so keep a backup name in mind.
Need a fresh idea? Namechk’s business name generator can suggest names to check.
New Mexico business name rules
The LLC naming rules are in NMSA § 53-19-3 (Chapter 53):
- LLC designator: “limited liability company” or “limited company,” or L.L.C., LLC, L.C. or LC. “Limited” may be abbreviated “Ltd.” and “company” “Co.”
- Other names: since a 2021 amendment, the Articles of Organization must also state any different name the LLC will do business under in New Mexico.
- Distinguishable: from New Mexico LLCs, limited partnerships and corporations, foreign LLCs and corporations authorized in the state, and reserved names. A court decree establishing a prior right is the main exception.
- Corporations: must contain the separate word “corporation,” “company,” “incorporated” or “limited,” or an abbreviation, and can’t be the same as or confusingly similar to an existing or reserved name without consent.
How to reserve a business name in New Mexico
- Where: online in SOS Enterprise; paper reservations aren’t accepted.
- Fee: $20 for an LLC name; transferring a reservation also costs $20. Corporate name reservations cost $25.
- Term: 120 days.
- No renewal: the LLC Act no longer allows a reservation to be renewed.
Since forming an LLC costs only $50, many founders skip the reservation and file Articles of Organization as soon as the name checks out. A reservation covers only the state’s records, not trademarks or domains.
Check trademarks, domains and social handles
SOSE shows business entities, not federal trademarks. Search the USPTO trademark database before you commit. New Mexico also registers state trademarks through the Secretary of State’s Commercial Services division.
Then confirm the name is free online. Namechk checks domain and social media handle availability in one search, and the domain name generator suggests alternatives.
We created a tool that makes it easy.
Do you need a DBA in New Mexico?
New Mexico has no statewide DBA, assumed name or trade name registration for general businesses. How you handle a second name depends on your structure:
- LLCs: list any different name the company will do business under in New Mexico in its Articles of Organization (NMSA § 53-19-3). To add one later, file an amendment.
- Corporations: the Secretary of State’s resources include an application for a fictitious name used by corporations.
- Sole proprietors and partnerships: check with your city or county business licensing office, which may record the name on your local business license.
Whatever your structure, expect your bank to ask for proof of any name you trade under before it opens an account in that name. The Secretary of State’s resources page lists current forms.
Steps to register your New Mexico business
Once your name is clear, our New Mexico LLC guide walks through the full process.
- File Articles of Organization online in SOSE. The fee is $50 (SOS LLC formation).
- Appoint a registered agent: a New Mexico resident at least 18 years old or a business authorized in the state. The LLC can’t serve as its own agent. Mainstay Filing includes registered agent service in its formation package (New Mexico costs); our New Mexico registered agent guide explains the rules.
- Get an EIN from the IRS (free).
- Register for state taxes. New Mexico LLCs file no annual report with the Secretary of State. Corporations do file a corporate report and owe a $50 annual franchise tax (Taxation and Revenue). The New Mexico start-a-business guide covers gross receipts tax and licenses.
FAQs
Where do I search for a business name in New Mexico?
Use the Business Search in SOS Enterprise (enterprise.sos.nm.gov), the New Mexico Secretary of State’s online business system. You can search by entity name or Business ID. The old portal.sos.state.nm.us search no longer works, and the system restricts access from outside the United States, so use a U.S. connection.
How much does it cost to reserve an LLC name in New Mexico?
Reserving an LLC name in New Mexico costs $20 and holds the name for 120 days. The reservation can’t be renewed, and transferring it costs another $20. Reservations are filed online in SOS Enterprise. Because LLC formation costs only $50, many people file their Articles of Organization instead.
Does New Mexico require a DBA?
New Mexico has no statewide DBA registration. An LLC must list any other name it will do business under in New Mexico in its Articles of Organization. Sole proprietors and partnerships should check with their city or county business licensing office about recording a trade name.
Do New Mexico LLCs file an annual report?
No. New Mexico doesn’t require LLCs to file an annual or biennial report with the Secretary of State, which makes it one of the lowest-maintenance states for LLCs. Corporations are different: they file a corporate report and pay a $50 annual franchise tax to the Taxation and Revenue Department.
How much does it cost to form an LLC in New Mexico?
Filing Articles of Organization for a New Mexico LLC costs $50 under NMSA § 53-19-63, and amended articles also cost $50. Filing is online only, through SOS Enterprise. A name reservation ($20) is optional, and there’s no recurring state report fee for LLCs.
How do I change my LLC’s name or add a DBA in New Mexico?
File amended Articles of Organization online in SOS Enterprise; the statutory fee is $50. The same amendment is how an LLC adds a different name it will do business under, since New Mexico has no separate DBA filing. Search the new name in SOS Enterprise first and keep an LLC designator in the legal name.
Does a New Mexico business search include trademarks?
No. SOS Enterprise shows business entities registered with the Secretary of State. Federal trademarks are in the USPTO database, and New Mexico state trademarks are handled by the Secretary of State’s Commercial Services division. Check domains and social media handles before you commit to a name.
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