Last Updated April 30, 2026 by the LLCForge Editorial Team. Verified against current state filing data and official Secretary of State sources.
Alaska’s Division of Corporations holds every active and recently dissolved entity name in a single statewide database, and your LLC name has to be distinguishable from all of them before the state will accept your Articles of Organization. The search tool below queries that database in real time, so you don’t have to load the state’s captcha-gated portal yourself. Alaska’s review timing on online filings runs about 10-15 business days, which means the names you check today are still very much in play when your filing actually lands on a reviewer’s desk.
Check Alaska LLC Name Availability
Search Alaska’s Division of Corporations records directly below. We query the official database in real time so you don’t have to visit the state portal yourself.
Check LLC name availability
Search the state's official business records.
Name reservation fee: $25
Name reservation period: 120 days (non-renewable)
LLC designator required: “Limited Liability Company,” “L.L.C.,” or “LLC” (Limited may be shortened to Ltd., Company to Co.)
Distinguishability rule: Your name must be distinguishable on the record from every active Alaska entity and reserved name
Formation filing fee: $250 (Articles of Organization)
Tips for Better Alaska LLC Name Search Results
The search tool above queries Alaska Division of Corporations entity records directly, but a few habits will help you avoid surprise rejections after you file:
Search the core name without the designator first
Leave off “LLC,” “L.L.C.,” or “Limited Liability Company” on your first pass. Alaska ignores entity designators when judging distinguishability, so “Riverbend Coffee LLC” and “Riverbend Coffee, Inc.” count as the same name for conflict purposes. Searching the core word gives you the broadest view of potential conflicts.
Test variations and singular/plural forms
Run a second and third search swapping in plurals, possessives, abbreviations, and common descriptive words like “Group,” “Services,” or “Holdings.” Alaska, like most states, treats minor differences (punctuation, articles like “the,” spacing) as not distinguishable. A name that returns no exact match might still conflict with a near-match the state considers identical.
Check active and recently dissolved entities
The results show active and recently dissolved entities. A name belonging to an admin-dissolved or recently withdrawn entity often remains protected for a window of months or years before returning to the available pool. Treat any close match as a potential block until you confirm otherwise.
Confirm against the naming rules below, not just the search
The search tool tells you what’s in the database. It doesn’t tell you whether your name violates Alaska’s restricted-words list (banks, insurance, professional services, etc.) or conflicts with a federal trademark. Read the naming rules section below before committing to a name, and run a quick USPTO trademark check too.
Lock in fast or reserve it
Alaska doesn’t hold a name for you just because you searched it. If you’re filing your Articles of Organization within the next few days, skip the reservation. If you need time to line up a registered agent or finalize an operating agreement, file a name reservation through the Alaska Secretary of State to hold the name during the reservation window detailed in the data card above.
Alaska LLC Naming Rules
Required LLC Designator
Your name must end with one of these: “Limited Liability Company,” “L.L.C.,” or “LLC.” You can abbreviate “Limited” as “Ltd.” and “Company” as “Co.” So “Kenai Fishing Co. LLC” works. “Kenai Fishing” by itself doesn’t.
Distinguishability on the Record
Your name must be distinguishable from every active Alaska LLC, corporation, limited partnership, and reserved name. Differences that don’t count:
- Adding or dropping “The,” “A,” or “An”
- Changing punctuation, spacing, or capitalization
- Switching the designator (LLC vs. Inc. vs. Corp.)
- Changing singular to plural
- Spelling a number versus using digits (“Three” vs. “3”)
You need a real word change, not cosmetic edits.
Prohibited Words
Alaska law forbids LLC names that include “city,” “borough,” or “village” or any word that implies the LLC is a municipality. “Anchorage Borough Plumbing LLC” gets rejected. “Anchorage Plumbing LLC” is fine.
Names suggesting an unlawful purpose are also rejected, as are names implying the LLC is a government agency (FBI, Treasury, State Department).
Restricted Words Needing Approval
Some words trigger a second review or require licensing documentation:
- Bank, banking, trust, credit union: Need approval from the Alaska Division of Banking and Securities
- Insurance, insurer, assurance: Need Division of Insurance clearance
- Engineer, engineering, architect, surveyor: Owner must be licensed in that field
- Cooperative, co-op: Restricted to actual cooperative entities
- University, college, academy: May require Department of Education review
What If Your Alaska LLC Name Is Already Taken?
Try Variations That Add Real Distinguishability
Add a geographic identifier: “Fairbanks Roastery LLC” instead of “Roastery LLC.” Add a descriptor: “Tongass Coastal Construction LLC” instead of “Coastal Construction LLC.” Add an industry term that changes the meaning, not just the look. Don’t try to win on punctuation. The reviewer will reject “Coastal Construction, LLC” if “Coastal Construction LLC” already exists.
Reserve the Name While You Prepare
If your name is available but you’re not ready to file Articles of Organization, file an Application for Reservation of Name with CBPL. The fee is $25 and it holds the name for 120 days. The reservation is non-renewable, so don’t reserve too early. If you need more than 120 days, you’d have to let it lapse and hope no one else grabs it before you re-reserve.
Register a Business Name (Alaska’s DBA)
If you want your LLC to operate under a different name than what’s on the Articles of Organization, file a Business Name registration. The fee is $25 and the registration lasts five years. Example: your LLC is “Northern Aurora Holdings LLC” but you operate a coffee shop as “Polar Brew.” Register “Polar Brew” as a business name under your LLC.
Watch for Trademark Conflicts
State name approval isn’t a trademark. If “Polar Brew” is a registered trademark held by a Seattle company that ships into Alaska, you can lose the name in court even though CBPL approved it. A quick USPTO search before you commit is worth ten minutes.
After You Confirm Your Alaska LLC Name
Once your name clears the database and you’re confident it’s clean on the trademark side, file your Articles of Organization with the $250 state fee. Online filings process within a few business days. After formation, you’ll need a registered agent with an Alaska physical address, an EIN from the IRS, an Alaska business license ($50 per year), and an operating agreement.
Here’s where to go next: the full Alaska LLC state guide, the step-by-step Alaska formation walkthrough, the Alaska registered agent guide, and a template for your Alaska LLC operating agreement.
The DIY Route
- You file the formation paperwork yourself
- You serve as your own registered agent (your name and address become public record)
- You file the EIN with the IRS
- You write your own operating agreement
- You handle ongoing state compliance, including annual reports and registered agent renewals
Workable if you have time, attention to detail, and don’t mind your home address being public.
With Northwest Registered Agent
- They file your formation paperwork
- They serve as your registered agent (their address public, not yours)
- They can assist with EIN filing as an optional add-on
- Same-day provider submission (state approval time varies)
- Your privacy protected throughout
The simpler path. Focus on building your business while they handle the paperwork.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does Alaska hold a reserved LLC name?
120 days from the date CBPL approves the reservation. The reservation isn’t renewable, so file your Articles of Organization within that window or risk losing the name to another filer.
Is the Alaska name search the same as a trademark search?
No. The Alaska Corporations Database only checks names registered with the state. It doesn’t search federal trademarks, common law trademarks, or business names registered in other states. Run a USPTO search separately at tmsearch.uspto.gov.
Can I use a name that an Alaska LLC used in the past but later dissolved?
Sometimes. Alaska generally releases dissolved entity names back into the pool, but there can be a holding period. Search for the dissolved entity, check the dissolution date, and confirm the status reads “Dissolved” with no pending reinstatement. When in doubt, call CBPL at (907) 465-2550 before filing.
Does my LLC name have to match my domain name?
Legally, no. Practically, you’ll want them to match or at least be close. Check domain availability at the same time you check name availability. If your perfect name is taken on .com but available with the state, you have a marketing problem before you even open.
What makes two Alaska LLC names “distinguishable”?
A real word difference. Adding “The,” changing punctuation, swapping LLC for Inc., or pluralizing a noun won’t cut it. You need different words, a different geographic term, or a different descriptor that changes the meaning of the name.
Can I file my Articles of Organization without reserving the name first?
Yes, and most filers do. Name reservation only makes sense if you need time to gather other paperwork (operating agreement, capital, licensing) and you’re worried someone else might grab the name. If you’re ready to file now, skip the $25 reservation and put that toward your $250 formation fee.
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or tax advice. Always consult a qualified professional for guidance specific to your situation.