Texas Business Name Checker
Check if your business name is available in Texas. Validate Texas naming rules instantly, then search state records free through the Comptroller — without paying SOSDirect's $1-per-search fee.
Validate the name format, then search the official Texas Comptroller — Franchise Tax Account Status (free public search) records.
1.Search the state registry (Texas Comptroller — Franchise Tax Account Status (free public search)) for existing LLCs, corporations, and reserved names
2.Check federal trademarks at USPTO.gov — state approval does not protect you from trademark claims
3.Verify the .com domain is available for your name
4.Grab matching social media handles (Instagram, X, LinkedIn, Facebook)
5.Lock the name in by filing your formation documents — or reserve it first (details below)
Fee
$40
Holds the name for
120 days
How to file
Form 501 via SOSDirect, SOSUpload, or mail
The reservation can be renewed for successive 120-day periods by filing a new Form 501 during the 30 days before it expires.
How Business Name Availability Works in Texas
Texas is one of the few states where the official entity database sits behind a paywall: the Secretary of State's SOSDirect system charges $1.00 per search. The practical free alternative is the Texas Comptroller's Taxable Entity Search, which covers every entity registered to do business in Texas and shows its status, taxpayer number, and right to transact business. You can also email corpinfo@sos.texas.gov or call the Secretary of State for a free preliminary name-availability determination.
Since 2021, Texas applies a "distinguishable in the records" standard under Business Organizations Code § 5.053 — your name only needs to differ from existing names in some recognizable way, not avoid all similarity. Adding a different key word works; changing punctuation, spacing, or swapping "LLC" for "Inc." does not. A preliminary clearance from the Secretary of State is not a guarantee: the name is only secured when your Certificate of Formation (Form 205 for LLCs, $300) is accepted.
Keep in mind that name approval in Texas confers no trademark rights. The Secretary of State explicitly warns filers that a name's acceptance does not authorize use in violation of another person's trademark — so pair your registry search with a USPTO clearance check before printing signage.
Texas Business Name Requirements
✓ Name Requirements
- • LLCs must include "LLC", "L.L.C.", "LC", "L.C.", "Limited Liability Company", "Limited Company" or "Ltd. Co."
- • Corporations must include "Inc.", "Corp.", "Co." or "Incorporated"
- • Must be distinguishable in the records from every existing Texas entity and reserved name (BOC § 5.053)
- • Cannot suggest a government affiliation
- • Cannot be misleading about business purpose
- • Governed by Texas Business Organizations Code § 5.056 (LLCs) and § 5.054 (corporations)
✗ Restricted Words
- • "Bank" — requires approval from the Texas Department of Banking
- • "Trust" — implies trust-company powers — Texas Department of Banking approval needed
- • "Insurance" — must be accompanied by wording showing the company is not an insurer, per the Texas Department of Insurance
- • "University" — requires a no-objection letter from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
- • "College" — requires a no-objection letter from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
- • "Veteran" — words implying veteran-organization ties need approval from a congressionally recognized veterans group
- • "Lottery" — prohibited in Texas entity names
- • "Olympic" — federally protected under the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act
How to Check Name Availability in Texas
Use the tool above to open the Texas Comptroller — Franchise Tax Account Status (free public search) search and look up existing LLCs, corporations, and reserved names. Texas has no free Secretary of State lookup — SOSDirect charges $1.00 per search, so most founders start with the Comptroller's free Taxable Entity Search.
Search the USPTO database at uspto.gov — clearing the Texas registry does not protect you from a federal trademark claim.
Check that the matching .com domain is available before you commit — renaming an LLC later means an amendment filing and new bank paperwork.
Confirm your name is free on Instagram, X, Facebook, and LinkedIn so your branding stays consistent everywhere.
Texas lets you reserve a name for 120 days for $40 — Form 501 via SOSDirect, SOSUpload, or mail.
What Registering a Name Costs in Texas
| Filing | State Fee | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| LLC formation filing | $300 | One-time |
| Annual report / recurring fee | $0 | — |
| Name reservation | $40 | Holds the name 120 days |
| Assumed Name Certificate (DBA) | Registered entities file Form 503 with the Secretary of State ($25, valid up to 10 years). Sole proprietors and partnerships file with the county clerk instead. | |
State filing fees as of 2026. See the Texas LLC tax and fee calculator for the full annual cost picture.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I check if a business name is taken in Texas for free?
Use the Texas Comptroller's Taxable Entity Search — it is free and lists every LLC and corporation registered in Texas. The Secretary of State's SOSDirect database is the authoritative record but charges $1.00 per search. For a free preliminary availability determination, email corpinfo@sos.texas.gov or call the Secretary of State's corporations section.
How much does it cost to reserve a business name in Texas?
A Texas name reservation costs $40 and holds the name for 120 days. File Form 501 (Application for Reservation of an Entity Name) online through SOSDirect, via SOSUpload, or by mail. You can renew for another 120 days by filing a new Form 501 during the 30 days before the current reservation expires.
What suffix does a Texas LLC name need?
Under Texas Business Organizations Code § 5.056, an LLC name must contain "limited liability company," "limited company," or an abbreviation such as LLC, L.L.C., LC, L.C., or Ltd. Co. It cannot contain "Inc.," "Corp.," or other words implying it is a corporation.
Does Texas require an annual report for LLCs?
Texas has no annual report fee for LLCs — the $300 Certificate of Formation fee is the main state cost. However, every Texas LLC must file an annual franchise tax report (a No Tax Due or Public Information Report for most small businesses) with the Comptroller by May 15, even if no tax is owed.
What is an Assumed Name Certificate in Texas?
It is Texas's version of a DBA. LLCs and corporations file Form 503 with the Secretary of State for $25; the certificate is valid up to 10 years. Sole proprietors file with their county clerk instead. Assumed names are not checked for uniqueness, so a DBA gives you no exclusive rights to the name.
Can I change my Texas LLC name after formation?
Yes. File a Certificate of Amendment (Form 424) with the Texas Secretary of State for $150. The new name must pass the same distinguishable-in-the-records test, so run availability checks first. After the amendment you will need to update your EIN records, bank accounts, and franchise-tax account.
Related Tools
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Checking a Name in Another State?
Searching Texas Business Names: SOSDirect vs. the Comptroller
Texas splits its public records between two systems. The Secretary of State's SOSDirect is the authoritative source — it includes reserved and registered names, assumed names, and pending filings — but every search costs $1.00, billed to an account or credit card. The Comptroller's Taxable Entity Search is free and covers all entities with a Texas franchise-tax account, which in practice means every active LLC and corporation in the state.
The free Comptroller search has one blind spot: it does not show name reservations or very recent filings that have not yet been assigned a franchise-tax account. If your name looks clear in the Comptroller records, confirm availability by emailing corpinfo@sos.texas.gov — the Secretary of State's staff will run a preliminary determination at no charge, typically within a business day.
When you are ready to commit, filing the Certificate of Formation (Form 205, $300) through SOSDirect or SOSUpload is what actually secures the name. Online filings are typically processed in 10-12 business days; expedited processing is available for $25 per document.
Texas LLC and Corporation Naming Rules
Texas Business Organizations Code § 5.056 requires an LLC name to contain "limited liability company," "limited company," or an abbreviation: LLC, L.L.C., LC, L.C., Ltd. Co. Corporations must include "corporation," "company," "incorporated," or "limited" (or Inc., Corp., Co., Ltd.) under § 5.054. Professional entities carry their own designators — a PLLC must say "professional limited liability company" or "PLLC."
Restricted words carry real consequences in Texas. "Bank" and "Trust" require Texas Department of Banking review, "University" and "College" need a no-objection letter from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, and words implying a veterans organization connection require written approval from the organization. Names implying a governmental affiliation or an unlawful purpose are rejected outright.
Texas also enforces the distinguishable-in-the-records test against reserved names, registered names of foreign entities, and assumed names on file — not just active domestic entities. That is why a name that looks unused in a casual web search can still be rejected.
Assumed Names (DBAs) in Texas
If your Texas LLC or corporation will operate under a brand different from its legal name, file an Assumed Name Certificate (Form 503) with the Secretary of State. The state fee is $25 and the certificate lasts up to 10 years, renewable within six months of expiration. Since a 2019 law change, registered entities no longer need duplicate county-level filings.
Sole proprietors and general partnerships skip the state filing entirely — they file their assumed name certificate with the county clerk in each county where they maintain a business premise. County fees typically run $15-$25.
An assumed name gives you no exclusivity: Texas does not check DBA filings for conflicts, and multiple businesses can file identical assumed names. For real protection, form an entity under the name or register a trademark.
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