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Pennsylvania LLC Name Availability Search
Check your LLC name in Pennsylvania, 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
Pennsylvania 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 the word "company," "limited," or "limited liability company," or an abbreviation of one of those ("co.," "ltd.," "L.L.C.," or "LLC"), or words of like import used in another jurisdiction. Pennsylvania is unusual in accepting "Company" or "Limited" alone as the designator.
Statute:
15 Pa.C.S. § 204
Must be distinguishable upon the records of the Department of State from the name of any other domestic or registered foreign association and from any name reserved or registered under sections 208 through 210. Names required to show entity type are disregarded, and an administratively dissolved association's name, or one whose holder consents and undertakes to change it, does not block a new name.
Statute:
15 Pa.C.S. § 202
The following words are restricted or require regulatory approval in Pennsylvania:
Authority:
Pennsylvania Department of State - Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations
OFFICIAL ENTITY INFORMATION
Pennsylvania Filing Agency & Quick Facts
Essential administrative details from the official filing authority for Pennsylvania business registrations.
Filing Agency
Pennsylvania Department of State - Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations
Agency Website
Official Database
Business Entity Records
Official Search Tool
LLC Formation Fee
$125
Certificate of Organization for a domestic limited liability company $125 (PA DOS fees and payments). Eligible veteran-owned and reservist-owned small businesses may receive a waiver of formation/registration filing fees under Act 135 of 2016 when the filer supplies the required signature and proof of status; the exemption does not cover fees for continuing to operate a business.
Name Reservation
$70
Effective hold period: 120 days (non-renewable).
Hold window: 120 days (non-renewable) for a statutory fee of $70. The $70 Department of State fee (Name Reservation/Transfer of Reservation, Form DSCB:15-208) is the full cost.
Filing link:
Official Reservation Portal
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Pennsylvania LLC Naming Questions
Common legal and procedural questions regarding business name availability in Pennsylvania.
What entity designators are accepted for an LLC in Pennsylvania?
Must contain the word "company," "limited," or "limited liability company," or an abbreviation of one of those ("co.," "ltd.," "L.L.C.," or "LLC"), or words of like import used in another jurisdiction. Pennsylvania is unusual in accepting "Company" or "Limited" alone as the designator.
Codified in 15 Pa.C.S. § 204.
How does Pennsylvania determine if a business name is distinguishable?
Must be distinguishable upon the records of the Department of State from the name of any other domestic or registered foreign association and from any name reserved or registered under sections 208 through 210. Names required to show entity type are disregarded, and an administratively dissolved association's name, or one whose holder consents and undertakes to change it, does not block a new name.
Codified in 15 Pa.C.S. § 202.
Can I hold or reserve an LLC name in Pennsylvania before filing?
Yes. You can reserve a business name for 120 days (non-renewable) by paying the statutory fee of $70. The $70 Department of State fee (Name Reservation/Transfer of Reservation, Form DSCB:15-208) is the full cost.
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.