Search for available business names in Alabama using the Alabama Secretary of State's Business Entity Search at sos.alabama.gov. The search is free. Your LLC name must be unique — no other active LLC, corporation, or reserved name can be identical or deceptively similar to yours.
How to search for an available business name in Alabama
Go to the Alabama SOS Business Entity Search
Visit sos.alabama.gov and navigate to the Business Entities section. Select "Search" to access the business entity search tool.
Search your desired name
Enter your desired business name — or a partial name — to see all matching results. Try variations and partial searches to catch similar names that could conflict with yours.
Check the results carefully
Review any matching entities. Look for names that are identical or deceptively similar — the state can reject your filing if your name is too close to an existing registered business.
Reserve the name (optional)
If you're not ready to file your Articles of Organization, you can reserve your chosen name for 120 days by filing a Name Reservation with the Secretary of State ($28 fee).
Alabama LLC naming requirements
Your LLC name must comply with these Alabama requirements:
- Must include "Limited Liability Company," "LLC," or "L.L.C."
- Must be distinguishable from all other Alabama registered business names
- Cannot include words that imply a government connection (FBI, Treasury, State Department, etc.) without authorization
- Cannot include restricted words like "bank," "insurance," or "university" without special approval
- Cannot be the same as or deceptively similar to an existing business name
Tip: Even if a name passes the state search, check for an available domain name and social media handles before committing. Your online presence matters as much as your legal name registration.