Q: Why won’t Washington accept my LLC name when I try to register it?
Thank you to a customer from Seattle for that great question! Washington, like many states, has requirements and restrictions for what a business can be named. For one thing, certain types of businesses are legally required to have names with specific indicators matching the type of business (like Inc. or LLC). A related problem arises if the name you chose is already in use in the state. Either of these issues can prevent your business registration from being accepted, so keep reading for more on how to avoid these issues!
What should my WA business name include?
Per the Revised Code of Washington, certain types of business entities are required to include certain words or abbreviations in their names to indicate their type of business. Such as:
- For-Profit Corporations: “Corporation,” “Incorporated,” “Company,” “Limited,” or the abbreviations “Corp.,” “Inc.,” “Co.,” or “Ltd.”
- Limited Liability Companies: “Limited Liability Company,” “Limited Liability Co.,” or the abbreviations “L.L.C.” or “LLC”
- Nonprofit Corporations: “Club,” “League,” “Association,” “Services,” “Committee,” “Fund,” “Society,” “Foundation,” “Guild,” “a Nonprofit Corporation,” or “a Nonprofit Mutual Corporation”
- Professional Service Corporations: “Professional Service” or “Professional Corporation” or the abbreviation “P.S.” or “P.C.” The name may also contain either the words “Corporation,” “Incorporated,” “Company,” or “Limited,” or the abbreviation “Corp.,” “Inc.,” “Co.,” or “Ltd.”
- Limited Partnerships: “limited partnership” or the abbreviation “LP” or “L.P.”
- Limited Liability Partnerships: “limited liability partnership” or the abbreviation “LLP” or “L.L.P.”
- Professional Limited Liability Company: “Professional Limited Liability Company,” “Professional Limited Liability Co.,” or the abbreviations “P.L.L.C.” or “PLLC”
- Limited Cooperative Association: “limited cooperative association” or “Limited Cooperative” or the abbreviation “L.C.A.” or “LCA,” and the individual words may be abbreviated as “Ltd.,” “Co-op.” (or “Coop.”), “Assoc.” or “Assn.”
- Social purpose corporations: “Social Purpose Corporation” or the abbreviations “SPC” or “S.P.C.”
One notable specification applies to professional service corporations and professional limited liability companies providing dental services—the name must include the full names or surnames of all members or shareholders, and can include the word “Chartered.”
Are certain words restricted for my business type?
Some types of business entities also have restrictions on certain words in their names to prevent misleading the public:
- Profit Corporations (including social purpose corporations): “Bank,” “Banking,” “Banker,” “Trust,” “Cooperative,” any combination of “Industrial” and “Loan,” or any combination of two or more of the words “Building,” “Savings,” “Loan,” “Home,” “Association,” and “Society”
- Limited Liability Companies: “Cooperative,” “Partnership,” “Corporation,” “Incorporated,” or the abbreviations “Corp.,” “Ltd.,” “Inc.,” “LP,” “L.P.,” “LLP,” “L.L.P.,” “LLLP,” or “L.L.L.P.”
- Nonprofit Corporations: “Incorporated,” “Company,” “Corporation,” “Partnership,” “Limited Partnership,” or “Ltd.,” unless formed before 1969; or “Public Benefit” if not incorporated as a public benefit nonprofit corporation
Those restrictions are not finite: your name will be rejected if it suggests or claims the company is organized for a purpose other than what is indicated by its history.
What does it mean for a name to be “distinguishable”?
Your business needs a name that won’t be confused with that of an existing Washington business. This is referred to as being “distinguishable.” The Secretary of State’s office compares names on registration applications with the business names already on file, and a matching or closely similar name will be rejected.
How can I find out if my business name is taken?
Washington business names can be checked against the Secretary of State’s records by using the Corporation Search tool on the Washington Corporations and Charities Filing System website. Don’t let the name worry you, the tool also provides the names of LLCs, nonprofits and other businesses. You can enter your intended business name there and see if anything matches it, or comes close.
What should I do if my Washington business name is in use?
You can attempt to get permission to use an existing Washington business name from the business itself. If that entity consents to use of its name in an official record (and proceeds to change its name to one distinguishable from that name), then you’re free to use the original name. But this rarely happens. In general, it’s best to decide on a new name that isn’t already taken.
Can I reserve my business name?
Yes, Washington allows you to reserve an available business name for 180 days. This can be a great solution if you have a name in mind and want to nail it down before someone else can grab it. Reserving a name for most types of businesses (such as corporations and LLCs) is $30, and for nonprofits it’s $20. Service can be expedited for an additional $50.
Though online filing is not currently offered, the Secretary of State offers downloadable Reservation Forms.
Mail completed forms and a check or money order payable to “Secretary of State” to:
Secretary of State
Corporation Division
801 Capitol Way S
PO Box 40234
Olympia WA 98504-0234