How to Do a Business Name Search in South Carolina

South Carolina businessfilings.sc site maintains a database of corporations that are registered in the state of South Carolina. The database maintains a list of active and expired businesses that is free for the public to search.

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

1. Visit the South Carolina Secretary of State’s website. The Secretary of State is responsible for business entity filings in the state.
2. Navigate to the Business Entities section of the website. Look for a tab or menu option related to business entity search or name search.
3. Access the online search tool provided by the Secretary of State. This tool allows you to search for registered business names and entities within the state.
4. Enter the desired business name into the search field. You can search for an exact business name or use keywords to broaden your search.
5. Review the search results. The tool will display a list of matching or similar business names along with additional details such as entity type, status, and registered agent information.
6. Click on a specific business name from the search results to view more detailed information about the entity, including its registration date, address, and filing history.

It’s always a good idea to double-check the official South Carolina Secretary of State’s website for the most up-to-date and accurate information regarding business name searches in the state.

South Carolina Business Name Search

The South Carolina Secretary of State Business Search will help you choose a name that is unique for your business. Customers will know you best by the name you choose. It’s more than just a name that you use to file tax returns. You need to think about it.

The Secretary of State in South Carolina is responsible for registering business names. Business owners must choose unique names that are not already listed in the state. The South Carolina Secretary-of-State’s Business Corporate Division is responsible to ensure that each South Carolina corporation or business is unique.

It is now easier to search for the registry online, thanks to the Secretary of State. To find details about a business, anyone can search for its registration ID or business name.

The registry contains up-to-date information on all commercial activity in South Carolina. The database includes all types of businesses.

• Corporations
• Limited liability companies (LLCs).
• Limited partnerships

The average processing time for registration is two business days from the date that it was received. However, in some cases, the secretary of state’s office might be overwhelmed with applications, and processing times may take longer.

Search for your business name

By navigating to the South Carolina Secretary Of State’s website, click on “Search Business Files,” and you will be able to verify that your business name is available. You must select a name that is not identical to any other registered business name in the state.

Register Your Business Name

Sometimes, it may not be possible to launch your business. You can instead reserve your preferred business name by completing the application. If you want to create a limited liability company name, fill out the Application To Reserve a Business Name.

To reserve a name for a limited partnership, please complete the Application to Reserve a Name for Licensed Partnership. These types of name reservations are valid until the expiration of 120 days, after which they become invalid.

You don’t have to reserve a business address before you can organize your business. You can simply incorporate the business or apply for an LLC.

Register your business name

You must complete the necessary documents to register your business name. The correct form must be used for your limited liability entity. If you’re starting an LLC, fill out the LLC application. The South Carolina Secretary of State website can obtain these forms online.

These are legal documents that will establish your business. You may want to hire a lawyer to review the forms. Include the filing fee and self-addressed stamped envelope.

South Carolina Business Entity Search

Entrepreneurs looking for business names should consult the Secretary of State database to view the names of registered businesses. The database can also be used to search for information about businesses that do not exist.

Name availability search

These steps will assist you in your South Carolina business search.

• Navigate to the website of the Secretary of State www.sos.sc.gov
• Click “Search” and enter the business name.
• Click on any business name you want to view in the results.
• Check out the business information.

South Carolina LLC Name Requirements

When searching for the perfect South Carolina LLC name, you should be aware of certain things. First, all South Carolina LLCs must contain “LLC” at least in part. It is acceptable to use the abbreviation L.L.C. An LLC cannot include corporate words in its name, such as “incorporated” and the abbreviations of “inc.” and “corp.”

Your LLC name must be unique and different from any other LLC in the database. It does not count as distinctiveness if you add “a”, “an,” or periods, slashes, numbers, or hyphens to your LLC name.

To search for business names in your LLC’s database, select the “begins with” option and type the name. To ensure you have all the bases covered, perform multiple searches.

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 South Carolina 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 South Carolina 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 South Carolina

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.

South Carolina Secretary of State Phone Number

The South Carolina Secretary of State’s office can be reached through the following contact details:

Phone: (803) 734-2170
Fax: (803) 734-2551
Website: https://www.sos.sc.gov/

South Carolina LLC Name Search FAQ

How can I verify that an LLC name has been taken in South Carolina

You can use the South Carolina Search Tool to check if your business name appears.

Do I have to name my LLC after me?

Although there is no prohibition against naming your LLC after yourself (most experts recommend against it).

An advantage of an LLC is that you can choose a different business name, which can make your business sound more professional.

You can explore other options for naming by using your free AI-powered LLC name generator.

What words are prohibited in a South Carolina LLC’s name?

It is not possible to include words in business names that suggest that the company is a bank or financial institution, or that it is affiliated with a local or state government agency.

Learn more about LLC naming requirements at the South Carolina Naming Guidelines section.

Do I need an LLC name generator?

An LLC name generator is a great tool to help you choose a name for your LLC.

What is a brand?

A brand name is a name that a company gives to a product line or product. It can be the exact same as the company name, or something else.

Do I need to include LLC in the name?

Yes. Yes. South Carolina’s LLCs must use the abbreviation “Limited Liability Company” (e.g. LLC or L.L.C. in their legal name.

Learn more about LLC naming requirements in the South Carolina Naming Guidelines section.

What do I need to do to renew my South Carolina business name?

South Carolina does not require LLCs to renew their name.

Is it possible for my business name to be different from the South Carolina LLC name?

Some companies prefer to operate under a different name than their legal name. You can call this a “doing business as” (DBA), name. South Carolina doesn’t offer DBA filings.

Brian Wilson

Brian Wilson is the content manager and founder of LLC Radar.
Brian grew up in North Texas, just outside of Dallas, and has a bachelor’s degree in business journalism from Southern Methodist University. Since graduating from SMU, Brian has gained over 10 years of experience in business writing for several online publications.
Brian resides in Plano, Texas and he can be reached by email:   info@llcradar.com
Phone: 972-776-4050