Kansas Business Name Search (November 2023)

Embarking on a business venture in the Sunflower State? An essential first step is choosing a business name that’s not only unique but also legally permissible.

We’ll guide you through the process of conducting a Kansas business entity name search and verifying name availability. We’ll use tools from the Kansas Secretary of State’s office, while ensuring compliance with state business laws and the US Patent and Trademark Office.

How Do I Look Up an LLC in Kansas? (Summary)

To look up an LLC in Kansas, you can follow these steps:

1. Go to the Kansas Secretary of State’s website https://www.sos.ks.gov/.
2. Click on the “Business Services” tab at the top of the page.
3. Under “Business Services,” click on “Business Entity Search.”
4. Enter the name of the LLC you are searching for in the search bar and click “Search.”
5. The search results will show a list of LLCs that match the name you entered. Click on the LLC name to see more information about the company, such as its status, registered agent, and filing history.

If you don’t know the exact name of the LLC you are looking for, you can also search by the registered agent’s name or the entity ID number. You can also use the advanced search options to narrow down your search by entity type, status, and other criteria.

Kansas LLC names must be unique and meet certain state requirements.

Visit the Kansas Business Entity Search Station (BESS)

Search Business Names in Kansas (Kansas LLC Lookup Guide)

References

Kansas Business Center: Name availability
Kansas Business Center: Name reservation
Kansas LLC Act: 17-7920 Name requirements for limited liability companies

Kansas LLC Name Requirements

There are some requirements that you must know before searching for your Kansas LLC name:

1. The abbreviations “LLC” and “L.L.C.” should be added to the end of your Kansas LLC’s name. The most commonly used abbreviation is “LLC”.

2. A Kansas LLC is not a Corporation. Your desired LLC name can’t the words “Corporation”, or “Incorporated” or their abbreviations (“Corp. or “Inc .”).”).

3. The name of your LLC must be distinctive. It must be distinct from all other Kansas businesses.

Designators are the identifiers at end of business names (LLC, Inc., etc.). There may be differences in the designators. do not create distinguishability.

Different types of grammar do not necessarily create distinction.

• LLC, L.L.C, Inc., Corp.
• Single, plural, and possessive
• A, An, The
• and, or, &
• hyphens, slashes, periods, commas
• Three vs.

Searching the Kansas Name Databases

Kansas offers two options for searching for your desired LLC name.

For a quick answer, you can use the Name Availability Search.

You can also use the Business Entity Search Station to quickly search all businesses to verify your name is unique.

Below are instructions on how to use them both.

Kansas Business Entity Search

1. Check out the Name Availability Search Page

Kansas Business Center – Name Availability Status

2. Find your LLC

You will find a box on the right side of this page with the title “Is your Name Available?”

Your LLC name can be entered exactly as you like, with your preferred capitalization and the designation “LLC” (or “L.L.C”) (the most common abbreviation for “LLC”.

Either use a comma or leave it out in your LLC’s name. Ex: Both “ABC Widgets, LLC”, and “ABC Widgets LLC”, are acceptable.

3. Find out the availability

Click on the “Search” button:

An “is availability” message indicates that your Kansas LLC name is available.

An “is unavailable” message will indicate that your Kansas LLC name is not currently available. It is possible to come up with unique names or creative variations.

Notification: The state will ask you to file a name reservation for $30 if your name is not yet available. Kansas does not require you to do this step in order to form an LLC. If you are not ready to form an LLC in Kansas, you can either reserve your name or follow our instructions and file your documents with the state.

Search Station for Business Entities

1. Visit the Business Entity Search Station.

Start here: Business Entity Search Station.

Click Business Entity Database and then click By business entity name.

2. Find your LLC

In the search box “Name of Business”, enter your desired LLC name.

• You can leave out the “LLC” ending and punctuation.
• Capitalization doesn’t matter.
• To ensure that you are thorough, enter only the first or two words of your LLC name. This will allow you to see all similar entities. Ex: If your Kansas LLC name is Johnny Apple Farm LLC, enter “johnny”
• You can be more specific by entering a portion of the first word. Ex: If your Kansas LLC name is Printing Solutions LLC, enter “print”.

3. Check out the Results

To browse the Kansas business listings, click the “Search” button.

If the “The number or name you searched for wasn’t found in the business entity data” message appears it means that your chosen LLC name is available and unique.

If you see names that are similar to yours (meaning they are distinguishable), your chosen LLC name can be used.

Your desired Kansas LLC name is unavailable if it appears in the search results. It is possible to come up with unique variations or a new name.

Your Kansas LLC name may not be available if the search results display a similar name. It is possible to come up with unique names or creative variations.

Tip If your Kansas LLC name is not distinguishable, you can file paperwork with the state. The state of Kansas will return your file if your name isn’t available and inform you that the name must be changed.

Contact Information for the Kansas Secretary of State

You can reach the Kansas Secretary of State at 785-296-4564.

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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.

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.

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Additional Steps

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. Register Kansas 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 Kansas 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.

4. 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.

5. 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. 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.

6. 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.

7. Open a Business Bank Account in Kansas

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.

Kansas Secretary of State Phone Number

For questions, you can contact the Kansas Secretary of State at 785-296-4564.