Last Updated April 30, 2026 by the LLCForge Editorial Team. Verified against current state filing data and official Secretary of State sources.
Washington’s Corporations and Charities Filing System (CCFS) is the single online portal for all business entity filings, and the Secretary of State applies a strict distinguishability check on every Certificate of Formation filing. The search tool below queries CCFS in real time, so you can confirm availability before paying the $200 online filing fee. Washington’s online processing typically completes within a few business days. Washington doesn’t have a state income tax but charges B&O tax on gross receipts — confirm your name carefully before starting business operations.
Check Washington LLC Name Availability
Search Washington’s Corporations and Charities Filing System 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: $30 standard; add $100 for expedited or $150 for same-day service
Reservation period: 180 days, non-renewable
LLC designator: Must include “Limited Liability Company,” “LLC,” or “L.L.C.”
Distinguishability rule: Your name must be distinguishable on the record from any active Washington business entity
Tips for Better Washington LLC Name Search Results
The search tool above queries Washington Corporations and Charities Filing System (CCFS) 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. Washington 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.” Washington, 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 Washington’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
Washington 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 Washington Secretary of State to hold the name during the reservation window detailed in the data card above.
Washington LLC Naming Rules
Required Designator
Every Washington LLC name must end with one of these: “Limited Liability Company,” “Limited Liability Co.,” “LLC,” or “L.L.C.” The state will reject your Certificate of Formation if you leave the designator off. Capitalization and spacing don’t matter, but the designator itself does.
Distinguishability on the Record
RCW 23.95.305 requires your name to be distinguishable from every active business entity registered in Washington. That includes corporations, LPs, LLPs, nonprofits, and reserved names. The Secretary of State doesn’t consider these differences enough:
- Adding or removing “the,” “a,” or “an”
- Changing punctuation, spacing, or capitalization
- Switching between singular and plural
- Swapping entity types (LLC vs. Inc. vs. Corp.)
- Adding the word “company,” “co.,” “corporation,” or “incorporated”
Prohibited Words
You can’t use words that suggest your LLC is a government agency. “FBI,” “Treasury,” “State Department,” and similar terms are blocked. Words implying you’re a different entity type, like “Corporation,” “Incorporated,” or “Inc.,” are also off limits for an LLC.
Restricted Words Requiring Approval
Some words trigger extra review or require licensing before the state will accept your filing:
- Bank, banking, trust, credit union: Need approval from the Washington Department of Financial Institutions
- Insurance, insurer, assurance: Need clearance from the Office of the Insurance Commissioner
- Engineer, engineering, architect: Require a licensed professional involved in the entity
- Attorney, lawyer, law office: Restricted to entities owned by licensed Washington attorneys
- University, college, academy: May require Higher Education Coordinating Board sign-off
What If Your Washington LLC Name Is Already Taken?
Try Variations First
Add a geographic identifier (“Seattle,” “Puget Sound,” “Cascade”), a descriptive word that fits your business (“Build,” “Group,” “Studio”), or restructure the name entirely. The goal is a name that’s genuinely different on the record, not a workaround that the SOS will reject.
Reserve the Name
If you’ve found an available name but aren’t ready to file the Certificate of Formation, reserve it. File a Name Reservation through the CCFS portal. The fee is $30 standard, or pay an extra $100 for expedited or $150 for same-day handling. Reservations last 180 days and can’t be renewed. If you don’t form the LLC in that window, the name goes back into circulation.
Use a DBA (Trade Name)
Washington calls assumed names “trade names.” Your LLC’s legal name on file might be “Olympic Holdings LLC,” but you can register the trade name “Olympic Coffee Roasters” through the Department of Revenue’s Business Licensing Service for $5 per name. This lets you operate under a customer-facing brand without changing the LLC’s official name.
Trademark Considerations
Even an available state name can be infringing. If a federally registered trademark covers your name in your industry, the trademark holder can force you to stop using it, regardless of what Washington says. Run a USPTO search and consider filing your own trademark once you’re sure the name is clear.
After You Confirm Your Washington LLC Name
Once your name clears, file the Certificate of Formation with the Washington Secretary of State. The standard filing fee is $200 online or $180 by mail. After that, you’ll need an EIN from the IRS, a registered agent in Washington, and an operating agreement to keep your liability shield intact.
Full walkthroughs: Washington LLC formation guide, step-by-step Washington LLC filing, Washington registered agent requirements, and Washington operating agreement template.
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 it take Washington to confirm name availability?
The CCFS search is instant. But “available right now” doesn’t mean “yours.” Another filer can submit a Certificate of Formation with the same name minutes after you check. The name only locks when you file or reserve it.
How long does a Washington LLC name reservation last?
180 days, and you can’t renew it. If you reserve a name and don’t form the LLC within six months, the name returns to the public pool. Plan to file before that deadline.
Can my Washington LLC name be different from my DBA?
Yes. The legal name on your Certificate of Formation can be a holding-style name, and you can register one or more trade names through the Business Licensing Service for the brands you actually use with customers. Each trade name costs $5.
Does my LLC name have to match my domain?
No, and many businesses use a shorter domain than their full legal name. But if a competitor owns the .com, your marketing gets harder. Check domain availability before you commit.
What makes a name “distinguishable” in Washington?
The name has to differ from existing entities by more than entity type, punctuation, articles, or singular/plural form. “Rainier Construction LLC” and “Rainier Constructions Inc.” are not distinguishable. Add a real word, change the core noun, or restructure the name.
Can I use a name that belonged to a dissolved Washington LLC?
Sometimes. Dissolved names aren’t automatically released. Some stay protected for years after dissolution, and reinstatement rights can keep names locked. Call the Secretary of State at (360) 725-0377 to check the status before filing.
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.