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California LLC Name Availability Search
Check your LLC name in California, then review your formation options.
Check a business name.
Checking your name.
Checking name availability in your selected state.
Your result
Final name approval is made by the state.
About this check
STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS
California LLC Naming Rules and Legal Standards
State examiners evaluate proposed entity names against codified statutes. Review the rules on entity designators, distinguishability, and name reservations before filing.
Must contain "limited liability company," or the abbreviation "L.L.C." or "LLC" ("limited" may be abbreviated as "Ltd." and "company" as "Co.").
Statute:
Cal. Corp. Code § 17701.08(a)
Must be distinguishable in the records of the California Secretary of State from the name of every registered LLC, foreign LLC authorized to transact intrastate business, and reserved name, and must not be likely to mislead the public.
Statute:
Cal. Corp. Code § 17701.08(b)
The following words are restricted or require regulatory approval in California:
Authority:
California Secretary of State Business Programs Division
OFFICIAL ENTITY INFORMATION
California Filing Agency & Quick Facts
Essential administrative details from the official filing authority for California business registrations.
Filing Agency
California Secretary of State Business Programs Division
Agency Website
Official Database
Business Entity Records
Official Search Tool
LLC Formation Fee
$70
Articles of Organization $70. The Secretary of State's domestic LLC list offers this filing online only, through bizfile Online, and shows no paper form beside it.
Name Reservation
$10
Effective hold period: 60 days.
Hold window: 60 days for a statutory fee of $10. The $10 fee is the whole cost online or by mail. A separate $10 special handling fee applies only to requests dropped off in person.
Filing link:
Official Reservation Portal
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
California LLC Naming Questions
Common legal and procedural questions regarding business name availability in California.
What entity designators are accepted for an LLC in California?
Must contain "limited liability company," or the abbreviation "L.L.C." or "LLC" ("limited" may be abbreviated as "Ltd." and "company" as "Co.").
Codified in Cal. Corp. Code § 17701.08(a).
How does California determine if a business name is distinguishable?
Must be distinguishable in the records of the California Secretary of State from the name of every registered LLC, foreign LLC authorized to transact intrastate business, and reserved name, and must not be likely to mislead the public.
Codified in Cal. Corp. Code § 17701.08(b).
Can I hold or reserve an LLC name in California before filing?
Yes. You can reserve a business name for 60 days by paying the statutory fee of $10. The $10 fee is the whole cost online or by mail. A separate $10 special handling fee applies only to requests dropped off in person.
A name reservation is optional and protects your candidate name while you prepare formation documents.
Does a clear search result guarantee state approval?
No. This is a preliminary record search, not state approval. Official clearance is determined solely by state filing examiners when your formation documents are received and reviewed.