One of the first and most important steps of any new business is finding the perfect name for your Kansas LLC.

Checking the LLC name availability in Kansas is an important step in the business formation process. It ensures your business name is distinguishable from the names of other Kansas businesses so that you do not violate anyone’s intellectual property rights.

Our Kansas LLC Name Search guide will show you how you can find available business names in Kansas, and how to reserve and register your business name.

How to Search for a Kansas LLC Name

Below are the four steps that you need to follow in order to conduct an LLC name search in Kansas.

Step 1: Follow the Kansas LLC Naming Guidelines

The first step is to be sure that your new LLC’s name will be set in accordance with the laws of the state. Here are some to keep in mind:

• You name must have “LLC,” “Limited Liability Company,” “Limited Company,” “L.L.C.,” “L.C.,” or “LC” listed somewhere as a part of the name. 
• You can include the name of your manager or member of the LLC in the LLC’s name.
• You can’t include words that might make it easy to confuse your LLC with a governmental agency.
• You are allowed to include words such as: “Association,” “Company,” “Foundation,” “Club,” “Institute,” “Society,” “Union,” “Syndicate,” “Fund,” “Trust,” and “Limited.”
• You may use restricted words like “Bank”, “Attorney” or “University” if a licensed individual is part of your LLC. 
• Your business name needs to be different enough to be distinguishable from others registered in the state already.

We have more information to help you search for business names and find one that is distinguishable for your business below.

Selecting a name is just one of the several requirements when forming an LLC. To avoid improper or incomplete LLC formation documents, we recommend using the assistance of an LLC formation service.

Step 2: Look Up Kansas LLC Name Search Availability

The next step is to conduct a Kansas LLC name search. Below are a few ways to do a business name search in Kansas.

• LLC Name Search: Search the Kansas Business Entity Search Station (BESS) to check if your chosen business name is available. There is no fee for using this service. You may also try typing your business or trademark on any search engine to check businesses with similar names. This will also ensure your trademark is unique, meets the state’s requirements, and frees you from any legal hassles in the future.
• Domain Name Search: If your business name is still available, you must register for a domain name. Having a URL that matches your business name is important since this is how your potential and existing clients can find your business.

To determine the availability of your chosen URL, use a domain registrar, such as GoDaddy.

Step 3: Reserve Your Kansas LLC Name

To get a name for your LLC, you need to reserve it.

You can reserve a business name for 120 days with a Kansas KanAccess account. Use this account to handle searches for a business name as well as registration. Interestingly, Kansas doesn’t have name registration, so you’ll only pay the $30 for reserving the name. Other businesses can’t use your name during that 120-day period for as long as you renew the reservation.

Keep your reservation current, so you can use the name reservation when you complete your business formation filing. While name reservation isn’t required in Kansas, it is a good idea to prevent it from being used before you can form your company.

Using a Kansas DBA for Your LLC

Kansas does not register DBA (doing business as) names.

If you want to keep your legal business name but want to reserve a second one, you will need to register that new name through the Kansas Business Filing Center. Like before, it will be available for 120 days.

LLC owners sometimes choose to brand their businesses with a DBA. Most sole proprietors and general partnerships use a DBA to create a brand other than their surnames.

Step 4: Register a Kansas LLC Trade or Service Mark

If you want to protect your business’s trademark or service mark, you should check the federal trademark database to see if another business has already “marked” it as their own. If they have, you won’t be able to use it. If not, you can take steps to preserve it for yourself.

Verify that your LLC name is available, and then go to the federal database to apply for your trademarks and service marks.

For trademark issues you have in Kansas, check the Trademark Electronic Search System (TESS). This is offered by the US Patent Office. You can also register your trademark or service mark with the Secretary of State. Why? It helps make sure other businesses can’t use your trademark or service mark, preserving your branding.

Register your mark with the Kansas Secretary of State. The filing fee for a Kansas Trademark or Service Mark Application is $40.

Kansas Secretary of State Contact Information 

Mailing Address

Kansas Secretary of State
Memorial Hall, First Floor
120 S.W. 10th Ave.
Topeka, KS 66612-1594

Physical Address

Kansas Secretary of State
Memorial Hall, First Floor
120 S.W. 10th Ave.
Topeka, KS 66612-1594

Hours: 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

Email: kssos@ks.gov 

Phone: (785) 296-4564