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

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

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

How to Search for a New Mexico LLC Name

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

Step 1: Follow the New Mexico LLC Naming Guidelines

To comply with New Mexico’s LLC naming guidelines, ensure that your chosen name meets the requirements listed below:

• Your chosen name has to contain “limited liability company,” “LLC,” or “L.L.C”
• Your chosen name cannot contain anything which might be confused with a government agency (e.g., FBI, CIA, State Department, etc.).
• Your chosen name can only contain restricted words (e.g., “attorney,” “university,” or “bank”) if the business qualifies or employs the requisite professional(s).

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 New Mexico LLC Name Search Availability

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

• LLC Name Search: Search the New Mexico Business Search tool to check if your chosen business name is available. There is no fee for searching. 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 New Mexico LLC Name

You can reserve a business name before filing the LLC-forming Articles of Organization. The application to reserve a business name has a $20 filing fee.

To reserve the name, submit the Application for a Reservation of a Domestic Limited Liability Company Name. The registration is good for 120 days. There isn’t a way to submit the form online.

Should you take more than 120 days to file formation documents, you can renew the LLC name reservation. Do so by filing the same form again. Each extension has a $20 fee, and lasts for another 120 days.

Using a New Mexico DBA for Your LLC 

New Mexico is one of three states that do not allow DBAs. A DBA (“doing business as”) lets businesses use a name other than their official one when conducting business. New Mexico doesn’t do this.

Your New Mexico business will have to operate under its official LLC name. (Kansas and South Carolina are the other states that don’t allow DBAs).

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 New Mexico LLC Trade or Service Mark

You can further research your chosen name by conducting a federal trademark database search. This will let you know if the name is already “marked” by someone else or another business.

After verifying your name’s availability, you can optionally apply for a trade or service mark with New Mexico. While optional, obtaining a New Mexico trade/service mark will notify other businesses in the state that the name shouldn’t be used for marketing purposes.

To register a trade or service mark in New Mexico, complete and submit the Application for Registration of Trademark/Service Mark. The form can’t be submitted online.

The filing fee for a trademark is $50 for the first class code, and $25 for each class code thereafter. Class refers to a category of goods and services. A full list of the state’s classes is available from the New Mexico Secretary of State.

New Mexico Secretary of State Contact Information

Mailing Address

New Mexico Secretary of State Business Services Division
New Mexico Capitol Annex North
325 Don Gaspar, Suite 300
Santa Fe, NM 87501

Physical Address

New Mexico Secretary of State
New Mexico Capitol Annex North
325 Don Gaspar, Suite 300
Santa Fe, NM 87501

Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

Email: Business.Services@sos.nm.gov

Phone: (502) 827-3600/(800) 477-3632