Mississippi LLC Lookup: How to Do a Business Name Search in Mississippi

ByBrian Wilson Updated on

To look up and search for a business name in the state of Mississippi, follow these steps:

  1. Visit the official website of the Mississippi Secretary of State. Their website provides a Business Services section where you can find the necessary tools for searching business names.
  2. On the Secretary of State’s website, navigate to the Business Services section and locate the “Business Search” or “Name Availability” feature. This tool allows you to search for existing business names or check the availability of a desired business name.
  3. Click on the appropriate link to access the business name search tool. This tool typically provides a search field where you can enter the desired business name to check its availability or search for registered businesses with similar names.
  4. Enter the business name you want to search for and click on the “Search” or “Submit” button. The system will generate a list of matching or similar business names along with their registration status.
  5. Review the search results to determine if the business name you want is already registered or if there are similar names that might cause confusion. Pay attention to the registration status, as it will indicate if the name is currently in use or available for registration.
  6. If you find that the desired business name is available and not already registered, you can proceed with registering your business using that name. The Secretary of State’s website should provide information and resources on how to register a business in Mississippi.

Here are some useful links to get started with your business name search in Mississippi:

Note: To learn how to look up a business name in each of the 50 states, visit our page Look Up an LLC for more info.  

Note: It’s always recommended to consult with legal and business professionals to ensure compliance with all regulations and to receive personalized guidance for your specific situation.

Mississippi maintains an official database of all businesses registered in the state. This database includes contact information for anyone looking to form partnerships.

Man with a laptop doing a Mississippi business name lookup.

A Guide to Mississippi’s Business Search

Anyone looking to start a business or find out more about an existing company can use the Mississippi Secretary of State Business Search. Mississippi maintains an official list of registered businesses, including contact information for those looking to form partnerships.

The Secretary of State Office maintains the following along with the Business Services Division:

  • Elections Division
  • Administrative Services Division
  • Section Government Records

The State Business Services Division compiles information about all registered businesses in the state. It works hard to ensure that entries are accurate and up-to-date. Y

ou can use a variety search criteria to search the database. Some criteria are very specific while others are more general. You can even search with obscure information such as the incorporating agent.

A business entity search can be used to verify the availability of a company name that a person is interested in using. To see if the name that you are interested in is available, you can conduct an online search. You can reserve it if it’s available.

If you plan to open a Mississippi company or expand an existing one, you will need to register the business. To legally register your company, you will need to file certain documents. You will need to file one or more of the following depending on your company structure:

  • Certificate of Limited Partnership
  • Certificate of Formation
  • Articles of incorporation

You can use the search function to find detailed information about a company including its filing history.

By filing an LLC form with the state, you can have limited liability for the company’s obligations and debts. An LLC is a combination of partnerships and corporations. Although it is more flexible than a corporation, it provides protection and advantages that are very similar to the one you have.

Visit the Mississippi Secretary of State: Business Services Name Search

Advantages of an LLC

These are the benefits that LLCs offer to their owners:

  • Limited liability: Owners have the same liability protection as a corporation, but an LLC is considered a separate entity that is similar to a corporation. Members will not be held personally responsible for company debts except for a personal guarantee.
  • No minutes: A requirement for corporations is to keep official minutes, hold meetings and record resolutions. Because it does not require keeping minutes or resolutions, an LLC is much easier to manage.
  • Flexible profit distribution: LLCs have the option to choose from a variety of ways to distribute profits. The split in a partnership is 50-50. However, LLCs allow for more flexibility.
  • Flow-through Taxation: A company’s profits, losses, and expenses flow through it to its members. You don’t need to pay two types of taxes: an individual tax and a corporate tax.

How to Register a Mississippi Business Name

You can reserve your business name once you have found out that the desired business name is available. Download a Reservation Form of Name form from the Secretary Of State’s website. The following information is required to complete the reservation of name form:

  • Type of business
  • Name you wish to reserve
  • Your name and address

A corporation officer must sign the form if you are registering a name. To reserve a name, you will need to pay $25. It is valid for 120 days.

Different business models need specific filing documents. These documents are:

  • Corporation: Articles Of Incorporation
  • LLC: Certificate Of Formation
  • Certificate of limited partnership

You don’t need to register a company if you are a sole proprietor. However, you might want to file a “doing business as” (DBA), registration. This permits you to operate under a fictional name. This will protect and register your DBA.

A business search can provide valuable information to interested parties about a company. It’s also possible to find out if the name you want for your business is already available. It is as easy as visiting the Secretary-of-State and entering your search criteria.

Additional Steps

1. Trademark Search

When searching for a business name, it’s important to note that availability doesn’t necessarily mean the name is free to use if it’s already a registered trademark.

To avoid potential complications down the line, it’s wise to conduct a thorough trademark search using the Trademark Electronic Search System before finalizing a business name.

2. Choose a Registered Agent

After you have chosen an LLC name that is distinctive and unique, you can now choose your LLC’s Registered Agent.

3. Check if the Domain Name is Available

To check if a domain name is available, you can follow these steps:

  1. Go to a domain registrar website, such as GoDaddy.com or Namecheap.com.
  2. In the search bar on the homepage, type in the domain name you want to check.
  3. Click on the search button to see if the domain name is available or not.
  4. If the domain name is available, you will be prompted to purchase it. If it’s not available, the registrar will suggest some alternative options or you can try a different domain name.

It’s a good idea to check the availability of multiple domain name options as your first choice may already be taken.

Additionally, if you are considering registering a domain name for your business, make sure to also check for any existing trademarks that may conflict with your chosen domain name.

4. Check if Social Media Name is Available

To check if a social media name is available for a new business, you can follow these steps:

  1. Start by choosing a social media platform where you would like to create an account for your business. Some of the popular options include Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and TikTok.
  2. Once you have selected the platform, go to the sign-up page and try to create an account using your desired social media name.
  3. If the name is already taken, the platform will display an error message indicating that the name is not available. In this case, you may need to consider alternative names for your social media account.
  4. If the name is available, the platform will allow you to create an account using that name.
  5. It’s important to note that just because a social media name is available, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s free to use. You should still do your due diligence to ensure that the name is not already a registered trademark or being used by another business in your industry.

5. Register Mississippi Business Entity

When you complete the required documents for filing a new business entity, you then register your business and business name with the state. The state of Mississippi will either approve your business name or reject it.

If you hire a good LLC service like Northwest Registered Agent, ZenBusiness or Incfile, these LLC services have business name tools available for you to do a quick search. I recommend using any of these 3 services to assist you with forming a new business. They can save you time and provide you with guidance through the formation process.

6. Register an Employer ID Number (EIN) With the IRS

An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is a unique nine-digit number assigned by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to identify businesses and other entities for tax purposes.

Here’s how you can get an EIN:

  1. Determine if you need an EIN: You’ll need an EIN if you have employees, operate your business as a corporation or partnership, file employment tax returns, have a Keogh plan, or are required to file any of the following tax returns: Employment, Excise, or Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.
  2. Apply for an EIN: You can apply for an EIN online, by fax, by mail, or by phone. The quickest and easiest way is to apply online through the IRS website.
  3. Provide the necessary information: When applying for an EIN, you’ll need to provide your legal name, trade name (if applicable), business address, and the type of legal structure of your business (e.g., sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, LLC).
  4. Wait for your EIN: If you apply online, you can receive your EIN immediately after completing the application. If you apply by fax or mail, it can take up to four weeks to receive your EIN.

Note that there is no fee to apply for an EIN. Once you receive your EIN, be sure to keep it safe and use it on all tax documents and forms.

7. Create a Brand Logo

Creating a business logo involves several steps. Here’s a general overview of the process:

  1. Define your brand: Before you start creating a logo, you need to define your brand’s personality, values, and mission. This will help you create a logo that accurately represents your brand.
  2. Determine the design style: Decide on the design style you want for your logo. Do you want it to be modern or classic, minimalistic or intricate, colorful or monochromatic? Consider your brand personality and target audience when making this decision.
  3. Choose the colors: Pick a color palette that reflects your brand personality and complements your design style. Colors have psychological meanings and can affect how people perceive your brand.
  4. Brainstorm ideas: Brainstorm several logo design concepts based on your brand personality, values, and mission. You can use online resources for inspiration or hire a professional logo designer to create a custom logo for you.
  5. Sketch your ideas: Once you have some logo design concepts, sketch them out on paper to visualize how they might look. This can help you narrow down your options and refine your ideas.
  6. Design the logo: Use a graphic design software program like Adobe Illustrator or Canva to create your logo design. Search on Fiverr for logo designs. Make sure it is scalable and can be used across different mediums.
  7. Get feedback: Share your logo design with colleagues, friends, or family to get feedback. This can help you refine your design further.
  8. Finalize the logo: Once you have incorporated feedback, finalize your logo design. Be sure to use high-quality images and files for your logo.
  9. Protect your logo: If you want to protect your logo, consider trademarking it with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. This will prevent others from using a similar logo and protect your brand’s identity.

8. Write a Business Plan

Writing a business plan involves a comprehensive process that covers various aspects of your business, including the industry, market research, marketing and sales strategies, financial projections, and more. Here are some steps to guide you in writing a business plan and links to resources that can help you:

  1. Executive summary: This section provides a summary of your business plan, highlighting key information about your business, target market, products or services, and financial projections. It should be brief but comprehensive.
  2. Company description: This section describes your company’s mission, vision, values, and legal structure. It also includes information about the management team, business location, and history.
  3. Market analysis: This section provides a detailed analysis of your industry, target market, competition, and customer demographics. It also includes information about market trends and growth projections.
  4. Marketing and sales strategies: This section outlines your marketing and sales strategies, including branding, advertising, pricing, and distribution channels.
  5. Products and services: This section describes your products or services, their features and benefits, and how they will meet the needs of your target market.
  6. Financial projections: This section provides a detailed financial forecast for your business, including projected revenue, expenses, profits, and cash flow. It also includes a break-even analysis and funding requirements.

Here are some links to resources that can help you in writing a business plan:

  1. Small Business Administration (SBA): The SBA offers a step-by-step guide to writing a business plan, including templates and sample plans.
  2. SCORE: SCORE provides free business plan templates and guides, as well as mentoring and counseling services.
  3. Bplans: Bplans offers a wide variety of business plan templates, tools, and resources, including sample plans for different industries.
  4. LivePlan: LivePlan is a cloud-based software that provides business planning tools and templates, financial forecasting, and collaboration features.
  5. Canva: Canva offers a range of customizable business plan templates and design tools to help you create a professional-looking plan.

9. Open a Business Bank Account in Mississippi

A bank account is generally required for a new Limited Liability Company (LLC) or corporation to separate personal finances from business finances and to establish a clear record of business transactions.

Having a separate bank account for your LLC will help you keep track of your business’s income and expenses, which will be useful for tax purposes, accounting, and financial management. It will also make it easier to accept payments from customers and pay bills, suppliers, and employees.

To open a bank account for your LLC, you will typically need to provide the following documents:

  1. Certificate of Formation: This is a legal document that shows that your LLC has been registered with the state.
  2. Operating Agreement: This document outlines the rules and procedures for running your LLC and is required by some banks.
  3. EIN (Employer Identification Number) Confirmation Letter: This is a letter from the IRS confirming your LLC’s tax identification number.
  4. Identification documents: You will need to provide personal identification documents, such as a driver’s license, passport, or state ID, and proof of address, such as a utility bill.

Note that the specific requirements for opening a bank account for an LLC may vary depending on the bank and state where you are located. It’s best to contact the bank you plan to use to inquire about their specific requirements.

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