New Delaware Company Name Availability Search
Before you create your company, you'll need to make sure your company name is available in Delaware.
Perform a Free Delaware Company Name Availability Search
Are you ready to create your Delaware LLC, corporation or limited partnership? Before you get started, you'll need to do a Delaware business name availability search. Enter your desired company name below and we'll check your submission against the State of Delaware business name database to make sure the name is available to form a Delaware company.
Harvard Business Services, Inc. has a direct, online connection to the Delaware Division of Corporations, which allows us to quickly and seamlessly determine if your selection is available as a business name.
Delaware Naming Rules & Requirements
When choosing a business name, you'll need to follow specific state guidelines to ensure your name is accepted.
First, your name must be distinguishable from existing entities on record with the Delaware Division of Corporations. Simply changing punctuation, spacing, or adding common words like "the" or "and" usually isn't enough.
Second, your business name must include an appropriate entity designator:
- LLCs: "Limited Liability Company," "LLC," or "L.L.C."
- Corporations: "Corporation," "Company," "Incorporated," "Limited," or abbreviations like "Inc." or "Co."
Third, certain restricted words require additional approval or may be prohibited altogether. These often include terms like "Bank," "Trust," "Insurance," or "University," since they imply regulated activities. Your name cannot mislead the public or imply an unlawful purpose.
If you'd like to learn more about LLC and corporation naming guidelines, be sure to read more on our website.
Reserving a Business Name
If you're not ready to form your business yet, Delaware allows you to reserve a name so no one else can claim it in the meantime. To reserve a name, you must submit a Name Reservation Application to the Delaware Division of Corporations. This can be done online or by mail. For $75, the Delaware Division of Corporations will put a hold on your chosen business name for 120 days.
Alternatively, you can complete this process through us. Harvard Business Services, Inc. will streamline the reservation process with the state and retain a copy of the reservation on your behalf.
Keep in mind, reserving a name does not create your business. To officially claim it long-term, you'll need to file your formation documents before the reservation expires.
Oftentimes, our team will recommend that you just form the company outright. When you form your company through us, our team will check the name in real-time, and if the name is available, we can file the company almost instantly. By filing the company, you can lock down the company name and immediately proceed with business operations at your own pace.
Expand All
Frequently Asked Questions
When you enter your desired company name, Harvard Business Services will check the name against the State of Delaware database and promptly contact you, indicating whether the name is available. If so, we invite you to form your Delaware company. If the name is unavailable, you can simply try another name. Note that this search only shows whether a name is in use for purposes of naming your Delaware entity. It does not show whether the name is in use in other states or whether it is trademarked.
No, you can use our company name search tool completely free of charge. Feel free to do as many free business name searches as necessary to find a name that is both available and resonates with your business.
No, performing the Delaware Company name search will only check the name's availability. It will not reserve an available name. If necessary, we can help by filing a name reservation request with the Delaware Division of Corporations, which lasts up to 120 days. However, oftentimes the simplest way to reserve the name so that no one else can claim it is to just form a Delaware LLC or Corporation using that name.
All companies that offer a Delaware company name search will verify a name's availability against the State of Delaware database. Therefore, you only have to check with us. We perform the name check for free and can help guide you through the next steps of forming your Delaware LLC or Corporation.
When you form an LLC, the letters LLC or L.L.C. or the full words Limited Liability Company must be included in the business name. Likewise, a corporation being formed must include the appropriate suffix to indicate its business type. However, when you perform your Delaware company name search, you only need to include the company name you want without the suffix.
Additional information on required corporate endings and prohibited terms for entities.
Yes, two companies can have the same name in different states because business name registration is handled at the state level, not nationally. This means that a company registered in Delaware can have the same name as one in Texas if neither is registered in the other state. However, there are some exceptions. For example, with a trademark, a company can block others from using the same name nationwide in the same industry.
If your company will operate in multiple states, you'll typically need to register as a foreign entity in each additional state. This means your business name must be available in every state where you plan to operate. If your name is already taken in another state, you may be required to use a "doing business as" (DBA) or alternate name there.
Performing a Delaware company name search is an important first step in forming an LLC or corporation. By ensuring your business name's availability, you can avoid costly mistakes and proceed with confidence during the formation process.
Disclaimer: Harvard Business Services, Inc. is a document filing service that provides general information. We cannot render legal or financial advice and your use of this site is subject to additional terms and conditions. HBS is not affiliated with Harvard University nor the State of Delaware.
© Copyright 1996-2026. All rights reserved.