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

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

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

How to Search for an Oregon LLC Name

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

Step 1: Follow the Oregon LLC Naming Guidelines

Oregon requires organized and meaningful names when it comes to LLCs. In order to successfully register your business, take extra care to ensure your chosen name adheres to the state’s guidelines.

This includes avoiding names that are too similar or even identical to another existing business, as well as avoiding titles that may cause confusion with official government agencies. Consider using descriptive words, phrases, and symbolism to create an inviting and recognizable title for your company.

By taking the time to brainstorm and come up with a creative and meaningful name, you’ll help your LLC stand out from the rest, ensuring future success for your business.

When naming your LLC in Oregon, it’s important to keep the following guidelines in mind:

• Your LLC name must contain “Limited Liability Company” or an abbreviation such as “LLC,” “L.L.C.,” “Ltd. Liability Co.,” or “Limited Co.”
• The legal name of the LLC cannot include words that imply it is acting in a professional capacity (such as a doctor, lawyer, or accountant) unless it has received the appropriate professional licensing.
• The LLC name cannot contain any language that implies it is part of a government agency.
• The name of the LLC must be distinguishable from other businesses registered with the Oregon Secretary of State.
• Your LLC name cannot include any profane language
• All business entity names in Oregon must also include a designator such as “LLC” or “Limited Liability Company” at the end of the name.

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 Oregon LLC Name Search Availability

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

LLC Name Search

1. Oregon Secretary of State Website: This website allows you to search businesses in Oregon by name and access additional resources like filing fees and rules related to forming a business name.
2. Oregon Corporations Division: The Oregon Corporations Division provides an online database for searching business records and statistics in Oregon, as well as other helpful resources.
3. Oregon Business Registry: The Oregon Business Registry is Oregon’s primary hub for registering new businesses. It is a subsection of the Secretary of State’s website.

Domain Name Search

If your business name is still available, you must register a domain name next if you want to represent your brand or organization with a website. 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 Oregon LLC Name

Registering an LLC in Oregon consists of submitting your Articles of Organization to the Corporation Division of the Oregon Secretary of State. There is an associated filing fee of $100. Alternatively, you can reserve a name for your LLC for 120 days for $100.

To submit a name reservation, you must fill out the Business Name Reservation form and submit it with the filing fee. The form can be obtained from the Corporation Division’s website or the Secretary of State facility in Salem. The form must include the desired name of the LLC, a legal address, and the date the reservation is desired to become effective. The form does not require notarization, and your $100 filing fee must be included with it.

In addition to the above steps, you should also consider registering your LLC with the Oregon Department of Revenue. This is also a good idea if you plan to open a business with employees, as you will need to pay taxes and fees associated with payroll.

Using an Oregon DBA for Your LLC

In Oregon, a DBA (“doing business as”) name is known as an assumed name. An Oregon assumed name allows you to use a name other than your business’s legal name when operating.

If you want to keep your legal business name but conduct another business activity under a different name, you can usually create a DBA name and legally operate under a new name. The fee for getting an Oregon Assumed Name Registration is $50, which is good for two years.

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 an Oregon LLC Trade or Service Mark

To further check if a name for your LLC is already taken, you can search for it on the federal trademark database.

Once you have verified that the name is available and secured it, you can apply for a trade or service mark to improve your LLC’s claim on the name.

Registering your LLC business mark (trade or service mark) with the Oregon Secretary of State serves to distinguish your goods or services. It also gives notice that others generally cannot use your marks in brand names, slogans, and logos.

Thus, registering a mark with the Oregon Secretary of State is an important step for all LLC owners to consider.

You can only file for an Oregon mark by filling out the Trade and Service Marks – Registration form. The form is submitted to the Secretary of State – Corporation Division. There is a $50 filing fee for registering a mark.

Oregon Secretary of State Contact Information

Mailing Address

Oregon Secretary of State
Corporations Division
Public Service Building
255 Capitol St. NE, Suite 151
Salem, OR 97310

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

Phone: (503) 986-2200

Email: corporationdivision.sos@sos.oregon.gov or submit a question online