Maryland Business Name Search (Step-by-Step Guide)

How to search for Maryland business names

Maryland makes searching for existing business names easy.

Determining whether a business name is available in the state is not the only place a new business owner should check. New business owners should also check for trademarks and name usage on the internet and social media, especially if they intend to have an online presence.

How to register a business name in Maryland

Once a prospective business owner decides on a name, it’s time to register it with the state. Navigate to the Maryland Business Express page to create an account.

While the business owner can conduct a Maryland business entity search without an account, he must create an account to register the business name.

Once logged in, follow the instructions on the site to create an account and register the business name.

Maryland trademark/DBA name search

A prospective business owner has two trademark databases to search, depending on whether he wants to take his business national or just register it in the state.

If the prospective business owner registers it in the state, anyone from another state can use the same name. However, if the prospective business owner registers the trademark at the federal level, no one can use it, regardless of which state they are in.

To learn about businesses possibly using the name you choose, search the Maryland trademarks database search tool. If a business owner wishes to determine whether a business name or logo has been trademarked at the federal level, search the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Check if the domain name is available

Before a business registers its company name, the business owner should take additional steps to ensure that the name is available for domain and social media use. A prospective business owner can look for a new name for the business if he wishes the domain name and social media name to be the same. Or, he can use a descriptive name for the online portion of the business and advertising if giving up the business name he wants to register at the state is not an option.

If a prospective business owner plans on having an online presence, she should check to see if the domain name is available. She can use any domain registry, such as GoDaddy, to check. Once you navigate to the preferred site, enter the business entity name. The system will tell you if another person or company is using the name.

Domain names do not follow the same naming rules as the state. A person or entity could use XYZ.com, while another person or entity could use XYZ.net. While you can certainly use XYZ.net if XYZ.com is taken, we do not recommend it – it is too easy for customers to end up on the other business’s website instead of yours.

Check if the social media name is available

A prospective business owner should also check to see if the business name is available on social media. Simply type the business name you want in the search box on sites such as Facebook and Twitter to find out if someone else is already using the name.

Naming considerations for Maryland business entities

Maryland has laws regarding business names, including entity types. You must include the type of entity in the business name for most businesses.

Sole proprietorships and partnerships

Maryland does not require businesses to register sole proprietorships and general partnerships. However, if a prospective business owner chooses to use a ‘doing business as’ name in addition to his own name, he must register the DBA. For example, if Joe Smith’s accounting business is called Joe Smith DBA Smith’s Accounting, Joe must register Smith’s Accounting as a DBA. Maryland refers to DBA names as “Trading as” names.

Limited Liability Companies (LLCs)

Limited liability companies must include one of the following naming conventions in the business name:

Benefit limited liability companies must include one of the following:

Limited liability partnerships

Limited liability partnerships must include ‘limited liability partnership,’ ‘LLP,’ or ‘L.L.P.’ in the business name.

If the partnership is a limited partnership – not a limited liability partnership, the business name must include ‘limited partnership,’ ‘LP,’ or ‘L.P.’

If the partnership is a limited liability limited partnership, it must include ‘limited liability limited partnership,’ ‘LLLP,’ or ‘L.L.L.P.’

Corporations

Corporations must include one of the following in the business name:

Benefit corporations must include ‘benefit corporation,’ benefit company,’ or ‘benefit corp.’

For any corporation or benefit corporation using ‘company,’ the word ‘and’ or the symbol ‘&’ cannot precede the word company.

Professional corporations

A professional corporation must include one of the following words in the business name:

However, if the professional corporation registered the business name pursuant to §1-406 of Title 1 General Provisions, it does not have to include any of the naming conventions mentioned above.