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

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

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

How to Search for a Vermont LLC Name

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

Step 1: Follow the Vermont LLC Naming Guidelines

When setting out to register your Vermont LLC, you’ll want to first ensure that your chosen name is in line with the requirements set out for the naming of LLCs in Vermont. These include:

• Your LLC must contain one of the following designators at the end of the name you choose: “LLC (most popular),” “L.L.C.,” “LC,” “L.C.,” “Ltd. Liability Co.,” “Ltd. Liability Company,” “Limited Liability Co.,” or “Limited Liability Company.”
• In Vermont, your LLC name cannot include any words that create the impression that it is a Corporation, Limited Partnership, or any other type of business entity besides an LLC. You therefore, cannot use any of the following designators in your Vermont LLC name: “Corporation,” “Corp.,” “Inc.,” “Incorporated,” “Cooperative,” “Limited Partnership,” “LP,” “L.P.,” “Ltd.,” “Limited Liability Partnership,” “LLP,” or “L.L.P.”
• In Vermont, LLCs may have a comma in their name or no comma in their name. It’s completely up to you. 
• There are restricted words that cannot be used when forming your Vermont LLC name. Using these words in your business name would require approval from certain institutions. Examples of these types of institutions would be banks, insurance, education, and professional organizations. Examples of restricted words that may create this impression include: “Bank,” “Banking,” “Banker,” “Credit Union,” “Trust,” “Insurance,” “Mortgage,” “College,” “University,” “Redevelopment,” and “Olympic.” If you do use these words in your name, you need to ensure that you have the accompanying licensing or approvals in place. 
• There are also words that are completely prohibited from use in Vermont LLC names. These include words and terms like “Federal,” “Government,” “FBI,” “United States of America,” “United States,” “City,” “Borough,” Township,” and “County.” You also cannot use any vulgar words. Any words or terms that imply illegal activity are also prohibited.

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 Vermont LLC Name Search Availability

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

• LLC Name Search: Search the Vermont Business Name Search to check if your chosen business name is available. 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 Vermont LLC Name

In Vermont, new business owners are allowed to reserve a business name until they are ready to finalize the business formation process. The application can be completed either online or on paper. If you prefer to use a paper form, you can download the form from the Secretary of State’s website. The easiest way is to use Vermont’s Online Business Service Center to file your Name Reservation. There is a $20 filing fee for the reservation.

Using a Vermont DBA for Your LLC

If you’re starting an LLC in Vermont and you want to operate under a different name than the one you used to form your business in the first place, you may need to register a new name. In Vermont, this is commonly referred to as an “assumed name.” The process of doing so is also often called “filing for a DBA (doing business as).” You can file for an assumed name online. The filing fee is $50.

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 Vermont LLC Trade or Service Mark

A trademark is any phrase, word, symbol, or design, or combination thereof, that identifies and distinguishes the goods of one business from those of others. Although the term trademark is often used to refer to both trademarks and service marks, the two marks serve different purposes. A trademark is used to identify goods made or sold, while a service mark is used to identify services rendered.

Vermont law does not allow for the registration of service marks, and only the registration of trademarks is possible in the state. The filing fee is $20.

Before filing you can search to see if anyone else has registered a similar trademark in Vermont by using the trademark search portal on the Vermont Secretary of State’s website. When you are ready to file, this can be done online, also on the Secretary of State’s website in the trademark registration section.

Vermont Secretary of State Contact Information

Mailing Address

Corporations Section
Vermont Secretary of State
128 State Street
Montpelier, VT 05633

Physical Address

Vermont Secretary of State
128 State Street
Montpelier, VT 05633

Hours: Monday-Friday, 7:45 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Email: SOS.CorporationsSupport@vermont.gov 

Phone: (802) 828-2386