A Wyoming Secretary of State business search runs through WyoBiz, the state’s free online filing search. Type the distinctive words of your proposed name, choose the Contains option, and review every active match. If nothing on record uses the same core words once designators like “LLC” and punctuation are stripped out, the name is likely available.
Wyoming is strict about what counts as different: plurals, spacing, “The,” “&” and entity endings are all ignored. A search does not hold a name. To lock one in before you file, the Secretary of State offers a 120-day reservation for $60, and trade names are registered separately for $100.
Updated October 2026.
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Best LLC Formation Services in Wyoming (2026)
Here are our top picks for forming your LLC once your name is clear in Wyoming, ranked. Mainstay Filing comes first for its flat yearly price; the two Wyoming 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 | WY Reg Agent.com | Wyoming 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 | Wyoming Registered Agent.ai | Wyoming 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 Wyoming. 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. WY Reg Agent.com
WY Reg Agent.com is a Wyoming 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. Wyoming Registered Agent.ai
Wyoming Registered Agent.ai is a Wyoming 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.
Wyoming business name search at a glance
| Item | Wyoming details (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Filing office | Wyoming Secretary of State, Business Division (Cheyenne) |
| Search tool | WyoBiz filing search (free; search by filing name or filing ID) |
| LLC Articles of Organization | $100, can be filed online |
| Name reservation | $60 by mail; holds an LLC name for 120 days |
| Trade name (DBA) | $100 registration with the Secretary of State; 10-year term; $50 renewal |
| Annual report | License tax of $60 or two-tenths of one mill on in-state assets, whichever is greater (fee schedule); due on the first day of the anniversary month |
| Name change (amendment) | $60 |
Figures come from the Secretary of State’s filing fee schedule effective July 1, 2026, and the current forms. For a full formation budget, see Mainstay Filing’s Wyoming LLC cost breakdown.
How to do a Wyoming Secretary of State business search
The Business Division publishes a short guide, How to Choose a Company Name, that explains exactly how its examiners compare names. Following it saves you from a rejected filing.
1. Open the WyoBiz filing search
Go to the WyoBiz search page. You may have to pass a quick human-verification check first. The form has two main fields: Filing Name and Filing ID (for example, 2000-000123456).
2. Strip the name down to its distinguishing words
Drop anything Wyoming treats as noise: entity endings (LLC, Inc., Corp, Ltd, Company, Co), articles and conjunctions (The, A, And, &), punctuation, special characters and spaces. “The Elk Ridge Outfitters, LLC” becomes “Elk Ridge Outfitter” for search purposes.
3. Select “Contains,” not “Starts With”
The state’s own guide tells filers to pick Contains. That option returns every record that includes your words anywhere in the name, which is how an examiner will see it.
4. Search singular and plural forms
Wyoming does not treat a plural as a new name. Search “Holding” and “Holdings,” and remember irregular plurals such as cactus/cacti or child/children.
5. Read the status of each match
An Active match blocks your name. A name held by a company marked “Inactive – Administratively Dissolved” becomes available two years after the inactive date, while one marked “Inactive – Dissolved” is available right after dissolution, according to the state’s guide.
Searching is the filer’s responsibility. The Business Division reviews new registrations the next business day, and if a name turns out not to be distinguishable, you may face extra paperwork and fees. Need more ideas first? Try Namechk’s business name generator.
Wyoming business name rules
Every Wyoming entity name must be distinguishable from names already on the Secretary of State’s records. Here is how that plays out:
- LLC endings: under W.S. 17-29-108, an LLC name must include “Limited Liability Company,” “Limited Company,” “Ltd. Liability Company,” “Ltd. Liability Co.,” “Limited Liability Co.” or the abbreviations LLC, L.L.C., LC or L.C.
- No mixed signals: conflicting indicators, such as “XYZCorp LLC,” are not allowed.
- What doesn’t count as a difference: designators, “Company/Co,” articles, “&,” spacing (Wildwood vs. Wild Wood), capitalization, punctuation and special characters.
- What does: at least one distinguishing character, such as a numeral, a different letter or an extra word (“XYZ Ranch LLC”). Numerals, Roman numerals and number words are treated as distinct from one another.
- Words needing approval: education terms (Academy, College, School, University, Institute) need Department of Education approval, and banking terms (Bank, Banc, Trust and similar) need Division of Banking approval. Names with these words, names starting with “A” followed by a space, and names with special characters must be filed on paper.
How to reserve a business name in Wyoming
A reservation is optional. If you file Articles of Organization right away, you don’t need one. It is useful when you’ve settled on a name but aren’t ready to form the company yet.
- Complete the LLC Application for Reservation of Name with the proposed name (including its LLC ending), the applicant’s name and address, and a signature.
- Mail it with the $60 filing fee, payable to the Wyoming Secretary of State. The form cannot be emailed.
- Allow up to 15 business days for processing, per the form’s checklist.
- Once accepted, the name is held for 120 days under W.S. 17-29-109.
Wyoming also sells a separate trade name reservation for $30. That covers a trade name you intend to register, not an LLC or corporate name.
Check trademarks, domains and social handles
WyoBiz only covers entities and filings with the Wyoming Secretary of State. A business elsewhere may already hold federal trademark rights in the same words, so run a USPTO trademark search as well. The Secretary of State’s office also maintains Wyoming trademark registrations ($100 to register, $50 to renew).
A name is only practical if you can use it online. Namechk checks domain availability and usernames on dozens of social networks in one pass, and the domain name generator suggests alternatives when the .com is gone.
We created a tool that makes it easy.
How to register a trade name (DBA) in Wyoming
Wyoming calls a DBA a trade name, and it is registered with the Secretary of State rather than a county office. Key points from the current application:
- Form: Application for Registration of Trade Name, filed by mail under W.S. 40-2-101 through 40-2-109.
- Fee: $100. Renewal is $50.
- Notarized: the application must be signed and notarized.
- Use first: the name must already be in use in Wyoming, and you give the date of first use.
- Entities: an LLC or corporation must be registered and in good standing before it applies.
- Term: 10 years, renewable no earlier than six months before expiration. Processing takes up to 15 business days.
An LLC operating under its exact registered name does not need a trade name. Banks and licensing offices often ask for proof of any other name you trade under.
After the search: forming your Wyoming company
With a clear name, you can move straight to formation. Our Wyoming LLC guide walks through every step.
- File Articles of Organization online or by mail. The state fee is $100 (fee schedule).
- Appoint a registered agent with a physical Wyoming address. An individual can serve if they are at least 18, live in Wyoming and keep their office at the registered office address; the LLC itself can’t be its own agent, so many owners use a service. Mainstay Filing includes a registered agent in its formation package (Wyoming cost details). See our Wyoming registered agent guide for the rules.
- Get an EIN from the IRS at no cost.
- Plan for the annual report. Wyoming’s annual report license tax starts at $60 and is due on the first day of the LLC’s anniversary month. The Wyoming start-a-business guide covers licenses and tax registration.
FAQs
Is the Wyoming business entity search free?
Yes. Searching WyoBiz costs nothing and needs no account, although the site may show a human-verification check first. You can search by filing name, using the Starts With or Contains option, or by filing ID. Fees apply only when you file something, such as Articles of Organization ($100) or a name reservation ($60), or order a $20 certificate of good standing on paper.
How do I check if a business name is available in Wyoming?
Search WyoBiz with the Contains option, using only the distinguishing words of your name. Leave off LLC, Inc., The, & and punctuation, and search both singular and plural forms. If no active entity shares those core words, the name is probably available. The Secretary of State makes the final decision when it reviews your filing the next business day.
How long does a Wyoming name reservation last?
A Wyoming LLC name reservation lasts 120 days under W.S. 17-29-109. The application costs $60, must be mailed with a check or money order, and can take up to 15 business days to process. You don’t need a reservation if you file your Articles of Organization at the same time you would have reserved the name.
When does a dissolved company’s name become available in Wyoming?
It depends on the status. According to the Secretary of State’s naming guide, a name held by a company shown as Inactive – Administratively Dissolved becomes available two years after the inactive date. A name held by a company shown as Inactive – Dissolved becomes available immediately after dissolution. Active companies keep their names.
How much does a DBA cost in Wyoming?
Wyoming registers DBAs as trade names with the Secretary of State. Registration costs $100, the application must be notarized, and the name must already be in use in Wyoming. Registration lasts 10 years and renews for $50. An LLC or corporation must be in good standing before it applies for a trade name.
Does a Wyoming business search check trademarks?
No. WyoBiz lists entities and filings with the Wyoming Secretary of State. It won’t show federal trademarks or businesses formed in other states. Search the USPTO trademark database and Wyoming’s state trademark records before you commit, and confirm the matching domain and social handles are free.
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