How to Do a Texas LLC Name Search (2026 Guide)

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

Before you file your Texas Certificate of Formation, your LLC name has to clear the Texas Secretary of State’s distinguishability check. The free preliminary search lives at SOSDirect and the Comptroller’s Taxable Entity Search. Get this wrong and your $300 filing gets rejected, costing you days. Texas processing runs 13 to 15 business days for online filings, longer if you mail. A name reservation buys you 120 days at $40 to lock the name while you prepare paperwork.

How to Search Texas LLC Names: Step-by-Step

1. Start with the free Comptroller search

Go to the Texas Comptroller Taxable Entity Search. This is the free public lookup that pulls from the same registry the Secretary of State uses. Type your proposed name without the LLC designator. Search “Austin Coffee Roasters,” not “Austin Coffee Roasters LLC.”

Review every result. The system shows active and inactive entities, plus forfeited and terminated ones. An inactive name from a forfeited entity might still be unavailable depending on how recently it was terminated, so don’t assume an inactive hit means you’re clear.

2. Run a SOSDirect search for the official answer

The Comptroller search is good for screening. The legally definitive search lives at SOSDirect. You’ll need an account and a credit card on file. Each name search costs $1.

Log in, choose “Find Entity,” and search by name. SOSDirect returns matches plus phonetically similar entities, which is what the SOS examiner will check when they review your filing.

3. Test variations and near-misses

Texas examiners flag names that sound the same or look the same with cosmetic tweaks. If “Lone Star Logistics LLC” exists, you can’t file as “Lonestar Logistics LLC” or “Lone-Star Logistics LLC.” Search obvious variants: spaced versus joined, with and without “The,” singular versus plural.

4. Check for trademark conflicts

State availability doesn’t protect you from federal trademark claims. Run your proposed name through the USPTO trademark database. A registered mark in your industry can force you to rebrand even if Texas approves the LLC.

5. Confirm domain and social handles

Before you commit, check that the .com is available or affordable, and that your business name works on Instagram, LinkedIn, and whatever platforms matter for your industry. A perfect Texas name with no usable domain creates marketing problems on day one.

6. Lock the name (optional but smart)

If you’re not filing your Certificate of Formation immediately, file Form 501 to reserve the name for 120 days. The fee is $40. This is cheaper than discovering someone else filed your name the day before you submit Form 205.

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.