Louisiana Business Name Search: How to Check and Reserve a Name

Before you file your LLC or corporation in Louisiana, you need to confirm that your business name is available and complies with state requirements. This article walks you through the exact steps to search for your name, understand what makes a name acceptable, and lock it in place with a formal reservation.

The process is straightforward: search the Secretary of State's Commercial Division database, verify your name meets Louisiana's naming rules, and optionally reserve it for 120 days while you prepare your formation documents. This protects you from competitors registering a similar name while you're still in the planning stage.

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What You'll Need Before You Start

You do not need special software or professional services to search a Louisiana business name. Here's what you actually need:

Your proposed business name: The exact name (or multiple options) you want to register.
Internet access: To use the Secretary of State's free online search tool.
Basic information about your business structure: Will you form an LLC, corporation, or sole proprietorship? The naming rules differ slightly.
$25 (optional): To reserve your name for 120 days if you want to lock it in before filing formation documents. This is optional but recommended if you need time to prepare other paperwork.

You do NOT need a lawyer, registered agent, or accountant just to search a name. The search itself is free and instant.

Step-by-Step: How to Search Your Louisiana Business Name

Step 1: Visit the CRAW Business Search Database

Go to the Louisiana Secretary of State's Commercial Search tool at https://coraweb.sos.la.gov/CommercialSearch/CommercialSearch.aspx. This is the official CRAW database that stores every registered business entity in Louisiana.

You will see a simple search interface. This is where all active LLCs, corporations, and other registered entities are listed. A name that doesn't appear here is potentially available.

Step 2: Enter Your Proposed Business Name

Type your proposed business name into the search field. For example, if you plan to form "Bayou Brewing Company LLC," enter that exact name or variations of it.

Key point: search multiple versions of your name. Try:

Your exact proposed name (with LLC, Inc., or no suffix)
The name without abbreviations (Bayou Brewing instead of BB)
Common alternate spellings (if applicable)
The name with different punctuation (with or without hyphens or apostrophes)

This is important because Louisiana's Secretary of State checks for confusingly similar names not just exact matches. The database compares names phonetically and by alternate spelling to catch names that sound the same or could be confused.

Step 3: Review the Search Results

The database will show you whether your proposed name is:

Completely available: No results match your name at all.
Already registered: An active business with that name exists. You cannot use it.
Confusingly similar: A name that sounds like yours or is spelled similarly is on file. The Secretary of State may reject your filing if they judge your name too close to an existing one.
Revoked or dissolved: A business with that name existed but is no longer active. Louisiana law makes revoked and dissolved company names unavailable for three years after the revocation or dissolution date.

If you see names that look similar but are clearly different businesses (for example, you are searching "Bayou Brewing" and results show "Bayou Brewing Supply" or "Bayou Brewery"), those are likely acceptable. But if the name is identical or a near-duplicate, you cannot use it.

Step 4: Confirm Your Name Meets Louisiana Requirements

Once your name appears available in the database, confirm it meets Louisiana's naming rules. The state has specific requirements for what you can and cannot include in a business name.

Your name MUST:

Be distinguishable from every other registered business name, trademark, and reserved name on file.
Include a legal entity designator if you are forming an LLC or corporation. For LLCs, this is "Limited Liability Company," "LLC," "L.L.C.," "L.C.," or "LC." For corporations, use "Corporation," "Corp.," "Incorporated," "Inc.," or "Company" (if it's followed by one of the other designators). A sole proprietorship using a trade name has no such requirement.

Your name may NOT:

Contain "doing business as," "d/b/a," or similar language. Use only your legal business name.
Imply that your business is a parish, state, or federal government agency.
Suggest an unlawful purpose or business (for LLCs and corporations, certain restricted industries like banking, insurance underwriting, homesteads, and building and loan associations have separate formation rules).

For example, "Bayou Brewing LLC" is acceptable. "Bayou Brewing d/b/a The Tap House" is not (remove the "d/b/a" part). "State of Louisiana Safety Service" would not be approved (it implies a government agency).

Step 5 (Optional): Reserve Your Business Name for 120 Days

If you want to lock in your business name while you prepare formation documents or financing, Louisiana allows you to reserve a business name for 120 days. This is optional but useful if you need time before filing.

To reserve a name:

Visit the Louisiana Secretary of State's geauxBIZ filing portal at https://geauxbiz.sos.la.gov/.
Create an account or log in if you already have one.
Select "File Business Documents" and then "Name Reservation."
Enter the name you want to reserve, select your business structure type (LLC, Corporation, etc.), and pay the $25 reservation fee.
You will receive a confirmation with your reservation number and expiration date.

Your reservation is effective immediately and lasts for 120 days from the filing date. After that period, the name returns to the available pool if you have not filed your formation documents (Articles of Organization or Articles of Incorporation).

Tip: Once you reserve a name, only you can file formation documents using that name. No one else can file during the 120-day window. This gives you breathing room to complete your other startup tasks.

What Happens If Your Name Is Not Available

If the CRAW database shows your exact name is already registered, you have three options:

Choose a different name. This is the most straightforward option. Go back to Step 2 and search for a variation. Small changes can make a name acceptable: "Bayou Brewing Company" instead of "Bayou Brewing," or "Bayou Craft Brewing" instead of "Bayou Brewing."
Request consent from the existing owner. In rare cases, you can contact the registered business and ask them to allow you to use a confusingly similar name. They almost never agree, but it is technically an option. You would need written consent and would file it with your formation documents.
Wait for a revoked name to become available. If a business was revoked or dissolved, its name becomes available again three years after the revocation or dissolution. You can note that date and try again later, but this is rarely practical.

Option 1 (choose a different name) is by far the most realistic. Plan on having 2 to 3 backup names ready before you search.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake 1: Assuming a similar name is "different enough." Louisiana's Secretary of State uses phonetic matching. Even if your name is spelled differently, if it sounds the same or is confusingly similar, it may be rejected. "Bayou Brewing" and "Bayou Brewery" sound similar enough that the state might deny one of them. Search thoroughly and look for phonetic similarities, not just exact matches.

Mistake 2: Forgetting to include the LLC or Corp designation. If you are forming an LLC, your name MUST include "LLC," "L.L.C.," "Limited Liability Company," or similar. The state will reject a filing for "Bayou Brewing" if you forget the "LLC" part. Sole proprietors using a trade name do not have this requirement, but LLCs and corporations do.

Mistake 3: Including "doing business as" in your legal name. Your filed business name cannot contain "d/b/a" or "doing business as." That phrase is used only for trade names (optional fictitious names you operate under), not for your legal entity name. If you want to operate under a different name, file a trade name registration separately after you form your business.

Mistake 4: Not searching before reserving. A name reservation does not guarantee approval of your later formation filing. If the Secretary of State decides your name is too similar to an existing one, they can still reject your Articles of Organization or Articles of Incorporation even if you have a valid 120-day reservation. Always search first, confirm availability, and only then reserve.

Mistake 5: Confusing the CRAW search with a trademark search. The Secretary of State's CRAW database shows you only business entities registered in Louisiana, not federal or state trademarks. If you plan to use your name as a brand or trademark, conduct a separate search at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to avoid trademark conflicts. The CRAW search alone does not protect your brand nationally.

Expected Results and Timeline

Here is what to expect from each step of the process:

Name search (Step 1-4): Instant. Results appear as soon as you search the CRAW database. No wait time.
Name reservation (Step 5): If you choose to reserve, the reservation is effective immediately after you pay the $25 fee. You will receive a confirmation number and expiration date right away. The reservation lasts 120 days.
From reservation to formation filing: You have up to 120 days to file your Articles of Organization (for an LLC) or Articles of Incorporation (for a corporation). If you file within that window, your reservation is applied to your formation. If you wait beyond 120 days, the reservation expires and the name returns to the available pool.

The name search itself is free and takes less than a minute. The reservation, if you choose it, costs $25 and is processed immediately.

Should You Reserve Your Name?

A name reservation is optional. You only need to reserve if:

You need time to prepare other formation documents or financing before you file.
You want to protect your chosen name from competitors for 120 days.
You are operating in a competitive market where others might try to register a similar name.

If you are ready to file your formation documents immediately and confident in your name choice, you do not need to reserve. You can search and then file your Articles of Organization or Articles of Incorporation in the same session. The filing fee for formation documents ($100 for an LLC, $75 for a corporation) covers the entity registration without a separate reservation.

After Your Name Is Registered

Once your business entity is formed (your Articles of Organization or Articles of Incorporation are filed and accepted by the Secretary of State), your business name is protected in Louisiana. No one else can register the exact same name or a confusingly similar one for the same type of entity.

However, this protection is Louisiana-only. If you plan to operate in other states or use your business name as a trademark nationally, you should:

Conduct a federal trademark search via the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) at https://www.uspto.gov.
File a trade name registration with the Secretary of State if you want to operate under a different name than your legal entity name (optional).
Register your business in other states where you plan to operate or sell products.

Key Takeaway

Searching and reserving a Louisiana business name is simple and inexpensive. Use the free CRAW database at https://coraweb.sos.la.gov/CommercialSearch/CommercialSearch.aspx, verify your name meets state requirements, and reserve it if you need time before filing formation documents. The entire process can be completed in under an hour and costs only $25 if you choose to reserve.

Disclaimer

This article is informational and does not constitute legal or business advice. Louisiana business naming rules are complex, and certain restrictions apply to specific industries. For questions about your particular business structure, industry, or compliance requirements, consult a qualified Louisiana attorney or a professional business formation service. The Louisiana Secretary of State's website at https://www.sos.la.gov/business-services is the official source for all filing and naming requirements.