To run a Washington Secretary of State business search, use the Corporations and Charities Filing System (CCFS). The business search is free, covers every corporation, LLC and partnership registered in the state, and shows each entity’s status and UBI number. A name is likely available if no active entity or reservation matches it after you ignore endings, punctuation and plurals.
Washington splits naming across two agencies. The Secretary of State handles entity names and reservations ($30 for 180 days), while trade names (DBAs) are registered with the Department of Revenue’s Business Licensing Service, and registering them is required by law.
Updated October 2026.
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Best LLC Formation Services in Washington (2026)
Our ranked picks for forming your LLC once your name is clear in Washington 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 | WA Registered Agent.org | Washington 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 |
1. Mainstay Filing
Mainstay Filing is our top pick in Washington. 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. WA Registered Agent.org
WA Registered Agent.org is a Washington 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.
Washington business name search at a glance
| Item | Washington details (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Entity filing office | Washington Secretary of State, Corporations and Charities Division |
| Search tool | CCFS business search (free) |
| LLC Certificate of Formation | $180 filing fee (WAC 434-112-085), plus an online processing fee when filed in CCFS ($200 total online) |
| Name reservation | $30; held for 180 days (RCW 23.95.310) |
| Amendment (name change) | $30 |
| Annual report | $70, due by the end of the anniversary month ($25 late fee); initial report free when filed with formation |
| Trade name (DBA) | Registered with the Department of Revenue Business Licensing Service; processing fee plus a trade name fee |
Secretary of State fees come from WAC 434-112-085 (current version effective October 1, 2023). For a complete budget, including registered agent and annual costs, see Mainstay Filing’s Washington LLC cost breakdown.
How to search Washington business names in CCFS
CCFS is where Washington entities are formed, amended and looked up.
Open CCFS and choose Business Search
From the CCFS home page, select the business search. You don’t need an account to search; you only need one to file.
Enter the core of your name
Type the distinctive words and leave off LLC, Inc. or Corporation. Washington law says those endings don’t make a name different, so they only narrow your results. A search for “Cascade Grain” will surface “Cascade Grain Co.” and “Cascade Grains LLC” alike.
Test variations
Run the singular and plural, spaced and unspaced versions, and any abbreviation. Under RCW 23.95.300, none of these differences make a name distinguishable, so a match on any of them is a conflict.
Check each result’s status
Open close matches to see whether they are active, administratively dissolved or reserved. Active and reserved names block yours. Names of dissolved entities may free up, but the Corporations Division decides that when it reviews your filing.
If the search turns up conflicts, Namechk’s business name generator can suggest fresh options to test.
Washington’s business name requirements
Washington’s uniform naming rules live in RCW 23.95.300 and RCW 23.95.305.
Required words
- LLC: “limited liability company,” “limited liability” with “Co.,” or the abbreviations “L.L.C.” or “LLC.”
- Corporation: “corporation,” “incorporated,” “company” or “limited,” or an abbreviation such as Corp., Inc., Co. or Ltd. Social purpose corporations use “social purpose corporation,” SPC or S.P.C.
Words you can’t use
- An LLC name can’t include “cooperative,” “partnership,” “corporation,” “incorporated,” Corp., Ltd., Inc., or partnership abbreviations such as LP, LLP or LLLP.
- A business corporation name can’t include “bank,” “banking,” “banker,” “trust” or “cooperative,” or certain combinations such as “industrial” with “loan.”
- Any word another state statute prohibits is also barred.
What doesn’t make a name distinguishable
Changing only the entity designator, adding or dropping “the” or “and,” punctuation, capitalization, special characters, abbreviations or plural forms. The name must be distinguishable on the Secretary of State’s records from existing entities, registered foreign entities and reserved or registered names.
Reserving a business name in Washington
Reservations are optional. They make sense when you’ve chosen a name but won’t file your Certificate of Formation right away.
- How: file an application for name reservation through CCFS or on paper with the Corporations and Charities Division.
- Fee: $30, the same rate WAC 434-112-085 sets for a name registration or transfer.
- Length: 180 days of exclusive use under RCW 23.95.310.
- Transfer: the holder can transfer the reservation to another person by filing a notice of transfer.
A reservation only protects the name on the Secretary of State’s records. It doesn’t create trademark rights or stop someone from registering a matching domain.
Check trademarks, domains and social handles
CCFS lists entities, not brands. Search the USPTO trademark database to see if anyone holds federal rights to the name, and keep in mind that many Washington businesses operate under trade names that won’t appear in a CCFS entity search at all.
Your website and social accounts matter as much as the legal name. Namechk checks domains and usernames across major platforms in one search, and the domain name generator offers alternatives if the .com is taken.
We created a tool that makes it easy.
Registering a trade name (DBA) in Washington
Washington doesn’t file DBAs with counties or with the Secretary of State. Under the state’s trade name law (chapter 19.80 RCW), anyone doing business under a trade name must register it with the Department of Revenue, through its Business Licensing Service.
- What counts as a trade name: any name that is not the true and real name of everyone running the business. For an LLC or corporation, its true name is the one on file with the Secretary of State.
- How to file: through the business license application (in My DOR) when you open, or as an update to an existing license.
- Cost: the Department of Revenue’s fee page lists a $50 processing fee to open or reopen a business and $10 for other updates, such as adding a trade name later. A separate trade name fee applies on top; confirm the current amount in the application.
Because trade name registration is mandatory in Washington, add it before you start marketing under any name other than your exact legal name.
After the search: forming your Washington company
With an available name, formation is straightforward. Our Washington LLC guide covers each filing in detail.
- File a Certificate of Formation in CCFS. The filing fee is $180 under WAC 434-112-085; online filings add a processing fee, for $200 in total. The initial report is free when filed with the certificate.
- Appoint a registered agent with a physical Washington address. Mainstay Filing includes registered agent service in its formation package (Washington costs); our Washington registered agent guide explains the requirements.
- Get a business license and UBI through the Department of Revenue, registering any trade name at the same time. Our Washington start-a-business guide covers licenses and taxes.
- Apply for an EIN from the IRS (free), then file the $70 annual report by the end of your anniversary month each year. The Secretary of State sends a reminder 30 to 90 days before your renewal date (RCW 23.95.255).
FAQs
How do I look up a business in Washington State?
Use the Secretary of State’s Corporations and Charities Filing System (CCFS). Its business search is free and shows registered corporations, LLCs, partnerships and nonprofits with their status and UBI number. For trade names and business licenses, Washington’s Department of Revenue keeps separate records through its Business Licensing Service.
How long does a Washington name reservation last?
A Washington name reservation lasts 180 days under RCW 23.95.310. The filing fee is $30 under WAC 434-112-085. During that period, no one else can form or register an entity with the same name. The holder can transfer the reservation to another person by filing a notice of transfer with the Secretary of State.
Is a DBA required in Washington?
Yes, if you do business under any name other than your true legal name. Washington’s trade name law (chapter 19.80 RCW) requires registration with the Department of Revenue. You add the trade name through a business license application or an update to an existing license, which carries a processing fee plus a trade name fee.
What makes a business name distinguishable in Washington?
Under RCW 23.95.300, a name must be distinguishable on the Secretary of State’s records. Changing only the entity designator, adding or removing the or and, punctuation, capitalization, special characters, abbreviations or plurals does not count. Adding or swapping a meaningful word usually does. The Corporations Division makes the final decision at filing.
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Washington?
The Secretary of State’s filing fee for an LLC Certificate of Formation is $180 under WAC 434-112-085, and filing online in CCFS adds a processing fee for $200 in total. Annual reports cost $70. A name reservation ($30) is optional. You’ll also need a business license from the Department of Revenue, which has its own application fee.
Does a CCFS search show trademarks?
No. CCFS shows entities registered with the Washington Secretary of State. It doesn’t show federal trademarks or most trade names, which are filed with the Department of Revenue. Search the USPTO trademark database too, and check that your domain and social media handles are available before you commit to a name.
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