Texas LLC Name Search: Check Availability

Last Updated April 30, 2026 by the LLCForge Editorial Team. Verified against current state filing data and official Secretary of State sources.

Texas is consistently among the top three states for new LLC formations, and the Secretary of State applies a strict distinguishability check on every Certificate of Formation filing. The search tool below queries Texas’s live business records (via the Comptroller’s franchise tax registry, which covers nearly every active Texas LLC) in real time, so you can confirm availability before paying the $300 Texas Secretary of State filing fee. Texas online processing typically completes within several business days. The state lets you reserve a name for 120 days for $40.

Check Texas LLC Name Availability

Search the Texas Comptroller’s franchise tax registry records directly below. We query the official entity database in real time, no need to leave this page.

Tips for Better Texas LLC Name Search Results

The search tool above queries Texas Comptroller franchise tax registry 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. Texas 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.” Texas, 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 A name belonging to an admin-dissolved or recently withdrawn entity often remains protected for a window of months or years before returning to the available pool.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 Texas’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

Texas 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 Texas Secretary of State to hold the name during the reservation window detailed in the data card above.

Texas LLC Naming Rules

Required designator

Every Texas LLC name must end with one of these: “Limited Liability Company,” “Limited Company,” “LLC,” “L.L.C.,” “LC,” or “L.C.” You can’t drop the designator or substitute “Inc.,” “Corp.,” “Ltd.,” or any other entity-type word.

Distinguishability

Your name has to be distinguishable on the records of the Secretary of State from every active or reserved name. Texas Business Organizations Code section 5.053 governs this. Differences that don’t count:

• The word “the” at the start
• Plural versus singular (“Roofers” vs “Roofer”)
• Punctuation, spacing, or capitalization
• The entity-type designator itself (LLC vs Inc)
• Articles like “a” or “an”

Differences that do count: distinct words, different proper nouns, different geographic modifiers, or genuinely different spellings (not just alternate punctuation).

Prohibited words

Texas blocks names that suggest a purpose your LLC isn’t authorized for or that imply false government affiliation. You can’t include “FBI,” “Treasury,” “State Department,” or terms suggesting you’re a government agency. You also can’t use words that imply your LLC is a corporation when it isn’t.

Restricted words requiring approval

Some words require additional documentation or pre-approval from a regulatory agency before the SOS will accept the filing:

• Bank, banking, trust: Requires Texas Department of Banking approval
• Insurance, assurance: Coordination with the Texas Department of Insurance
• Engineer, engineering: Texas Board of Professional Engineers sign-off
• University, college: Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board review
• Veteran, veterans: Documentation may be required depending on use
• Olympic, Olympiad: Federally protected, won’t be approved without USOC consent

What If Your Texas LLC Name Is Already Taken?

You have four paths forward.

Modify the name

Add a geographic modifier (“Houston Stride Fitness LLC”), a descriptive word (“Stride Strength Fitness LLC”), or change the core noun. Just remember Texas won’t accept changes that are only cosmetic. “Stride Fitness LLC” and “Strides Fitness LLC” are not distinguishable.

Reserve the name you want for 120 days

If you’ve found a name that’s available but you’re not ready to file the Certificate of Formation, submit Form 501 to the Secretary of State with the $40 fee. The reservation holds the name for 120 days and can be renewed. This is the right move if your formation is waiting on partner agreements, financing, or a future launch date.

File a DBA (assumed name)

You can form your LLC under one legal name and operate publicly under another by filing a DBA. In Texas, LLCs file an Assumed Name Certificate (Form 503) with the Secretary of State. The state filing fee is $25. This lets “Smith Holdings LLC” do business as “Lone Star Lawn Care” without forming a second entity.

Consider trademark protection

If your brand name matters more than the legal entity name, file a Texas state trademark with the Secretary of State or a federal mark with the USPTO. State trademark in Texas costs $50. A registered mark gives you legal grounds to push back when someone uses a confusingly similar name, even if their LLC name technically passed distinguishability.

After You Confirm Your Texas LLC Name

Once your name is clear, the next step is filing the Certificate of Formation (Form 205) with the Texas Secretary of State. The state fee is $300, which is one of the higher LLC formation fees in the country. You’ll also need a registered agent with a Texas street address and a signed consent on file.

Walk through the full filing process in our Texas LLC formation guide, see the broader requirements in the Texas LLC overview, get help choosing a registered agent on the Texas registered agent page, and lock in internal governance with a Texas LLC operating agreement. After formation, you’ll need an EIN from the IRS and, for most LLCs, a Texas franchise tax account with the Comptroller.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a Texas LLC name reservation last?

120 days from the date the Secretary of State accepts your Form 501. You can renew it by filing another reservation before the 120 days expire. The renewal fee matches the original $40.

What makes two Texas LLC names “distinguishable”?

Real word differences. Different proper nouns, different descriptors, different geographic terms. What doesn’t count: punctuation, capitalization, “the” at the start, singular/plural variations, or swapping LLC for L.L.C. The Secretary of State examiner applies these rules strictly during the 13 to 15 business day review.

Can I use a name that’s already used in another state?

Yes, as long as no Texas entity is using it. Texas only checks its own registry. So “Blue Mountain Consulting LLC” being registered in Colorado has no bearing on whether you can register it in Texas. Federal trademarks are a separate concern, though, and a registered mark in another state can still create legal exposure for your Texas LLC.

Do I need to match my LLC name to my domain name?

No legal requirement, but it helps customers find you. Many founders pick a legal name like “Smith Ventures LLC” and operate publicly under a brand name through a DBA, with the domain matching the brand. That’s a fine approach if the exact .com for your legal name is taken or expensive.

What’s the difference between an LLC name and a Texas DBA?

The LLC name is the legal entity name on file with the Secretary of State. The DBA, called an Assumed Name Certificate in Texas, is a public-facing trade name your LLC uses for marketing, contracts, and signage. One LLC can hold several DBAs, which is useful if you run multiple brand lines under a single legal entity.

Can I check Texas LLC name availability for free?

Yes. The Texas Comptroller’s Taxable Entity Search is free and pulls from the same registry. Use it for initial screening. For the official, examiner-grade check, SOSDirect runs $1 per search but returns the phonetic and similar-name matches that determine whether your filing actually clears.

What happens if my Texas LLC name gets rejected after I file?

The Secretary of State returns the Certificate of Formation with a rejection notice. You’ll need to submit a new filing with a different name and pay the $300 state fee again, since the original fee isn’t refunded for name conflicts. This is why running both the Comptroller and SOSDirect searches before filing is worth the time.

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.