What are good LLC names?

Choosing the right name for your limited liability company (LLC) is an important decision that requires some thought and planning. The name you pick will represent your brand and identity to customers. It’s worthwhile to put effort into selecting a name that resonates with your target audience and conveys what your business is all about.

What are the requirements for an LLC name?

While you have a lot of flexibility in choosing your LLC name, there are some legal requirements you need to follow:

• The name must include the words “Limited Liability Company,” “L.L.C.,” or “LLC.” This indicates to customers that you are an LLC.
• The name cannot contain words restricted by your state. This includes words like “bank,” “trust,” “insurance,” etc. that imply your LLC is in regulated industries.
• The name must be distinguishable from other business names filed in your state. It cannot be identical or too similar to existing names.

You’ll need to check your state’s specific rules on LLC naming requirements as well. Some states have additional restrictions or permits for certain types of LLC names.

Should I use my own name in the LLC name?

Using your personal name in your LLC name, such as “John Smith LLC” or “Smith Holdings LLC” makes it easy for customers to understand who the business owner is. It establishes a clear connection between you and your company.

However, there are some downsides to using your name:

• It makes your LLC seem like a small, local business rather than a scalable company.
• It creates a reliance on your personal reputation rather than establishing a distinct brand.
• It prevents your LLC from continuing on should you decide to leave the business.

Ultimately, using your personal name is better for service-oriented businesses where your reputation matters. It’s less ideal for product companies that aim to grow.

How can I make my LLC name unique?

With millions of businesses operating in the United States, finding a truly one-of-a-kind name can be challenging. Here are some tips to make your LLC name unique:

• Add your location – Include your city, state, or region in the name to differentiate your local business.
• Use distinctive words – Incorporate distinctive adjectives and verbs to stand out.
• Create a new word – Combine two words or abbreviate a phrase to coin a new term.
• Change the spelling – Substitute letters, use alliteration and rhymes to give a common word a new look.
• Check domains – Search domain registries to find available URLs that could turn into great names.

Running extensive searches and brainstorming multiple name options increases your chance of discovering a unique, memorable moniker. Keep in mind your LLC name only needs to be distinguishable, not completely one-of-a-kind.

Should I use abbreviations or initials?

Using abbreviations like LLC, Corp., or Inc. or initials like DMT in your LLC name conveys your business structure quickly. It also opens up more naming possibilities instead of needing the full legal designation.

Abbreviations and initials can make your LLC name unique, catchy, and even give it an air of authority. However, they may not effectively communicate what your company does. It’s generally better to spell a name out unless the abbreviation is widely recognizable.

How can I make my LLC name memorable?

Some tips for creating an LLC name that sticks in people’s minds include:

• Use rhyming – Rhymes, alliteration, and other poetic devices make names more memorable.
• Go short – A succinct, one-word name is easier to remember than a long name.
• Be consistent – Repetition of letters or sounds makes a pattern people recall.
• Use imagery – Evocative, visual words are easy to picture and remember.
• Use themes – Names with a consistent style or theme have a cohesive impact.

You can test how memorable name candidates are by asking others which ones they remember days after hearing them. Run a small focus group to determine which name sticks in people’s minds most firmly.

Should I consider keyword optimization?

Optimizing your LLC name for keywords can improve your search engine results and help customers find you online. The most effective optimization includes:

• Primary keywords – Incorporate your most important 1-2 keywords in the name.
• Natural use – Keywords should flow naturally in the name, not sound forced.
• Meaning – Names optimized for unrelated keywords may not convey meaning.
• Easy spelling – Misspellings from complex names can lose search traffic.

Keyword optimization is most valuable for companies heavily dependent on search like online stores. It may be less important for local businesses drawing customers from their area.

Should I consider branding?

Your LLC name establishes the brand and identity of your business. It’s the first touchpoint customers have with your company. A name aligned with your brand purpose can shape perceptions positively right from the start. Some tips for brand building LLC names include:

• Mission – Names that reinforce your business mission, vision and values.
• Personality – Names that convey the tone, attitude and personality of your brand.
• Story – Names that hint at the origins, journey or founding mythos of your company.
• Feeling – Emotion-evoking names that relate to what customers feel using your product/service.

Keep your target audience, brand identity and desired emotions you want to elicit at the forefront when brainstorming LLC names for branding impact.

Should I just use a name generator?

LLC name generators can be helpful for producing lots of naming ideas quickly. However, names created by a generator won’t have a meaningful connection to your specific business. The best names arise from your purpose, brand, and target market.

Try using a generator for initial inspiration but make sure to evaluate if the names align with your goals. Focus on options that support your messaging and identity rather than arbitrary names.

Should I get an expert opinion?

Naming and branding professionals can provide expert guidance on selecting the right LLC name. Their outside perspective can help focus your vision and discover options you may have overlooked. Some key benefits of working with experts include:

• Brand strategy – Experts start by understanding your brand purpose and ideals.
• Market research – They conduct surveys and testing to identify customer respond best to.
• Standing out – Their expertise focuses on making your name distinctive in a crowded market.
• Legal compliance – They ensure suggested names meet requirements.
• Unbiased view – Unlike business owners, they provide a neutral, objective perspective.

Professional advice gives you confidence you’re making the best possible naming decision for your goals and audience.

Should I get feedback from others?

Before settling on an LLC name, it’s wise to get feedback from people outside of your company as well. Sources of valuable input include:

• Target market – Run names by actual prospective customers in your target demographic.
• Industry peers – Fellow entrepreneurs may spot issues or provide pros and cons.
• Business partners – Partners who know your business can evaluate names from an insider view.
• Employees – Team members may have different perspectives from company leadership.
• Advisors – Mentors and professional advisors often have experience choosing business names.

Getting reactions and thoughts from others reveals strengths or weaknesses you may have overlooked. It also builds buy-in for the name across stakeholders who will promote your brand.

What words should I avoid in LLC names?

There are certain words that either don’t make sense legally or could make a poor business impression that are best avoided in LLC names, such as:

• “Corporation” or “Corp.” – LLCs are not actually corporations, so this term is incorrect and misleading.
• “Foundation” or “Fund” – Nonprofits and funds use these terms, not for-profit LLCs.
• Industry-specific terms – Like “pharmacy” or “law” that imply your LLC engages in regulated professional services.
• Superlatives – Words like “best”, “greatest” or “perfect” that can’t be objectively proven and sound boastful.
• Geographic terms – Using your city, state or country in your LLC name unless selling locally.

Being aware of vocabulary to generally avoid removes some landmines when searching for your LLC name. Review your state’s specific prohibited words list too.

What are some good formulaic models for LLC names?

Some standard naming formulas you can follow to create effective LLC names include:

Following established naming conventions like these make your LLC name easy to understand for customers. You can get creative within the formula to keep your name unique too.

What are some examples of unique, memorable LLC names?

Some examples of real-life LLCs that used distinctive, catchy names include:

• Purple Lion LLC – Vivid imagery that sticks in the mind.
• Epic Awesome LLC – Descriptive, enthusiastic adjectives that convey passion.
• Blue Strawberry Studios LLC – Unexpected color and food word combinations feel whimsical.
• Imagine Innovations LLC – Aspirational language inspires possibilities.
• Forefront LLC – Short, distinctive word suggestive of leadership.

Clever word combinations, vivid imagery, evocative language, and elements of surprise are great techniques for LLC names that wow.

What are some tips for evaluating possible LLC names?

It’s a good idea to have a checklist of criteria to evaluate LLC name candidates against. Some of the key considerations include:

• Distinctiveness – How unique and distinctive is it compared to competitors?
• Memorability – Does the name stick in your head easily after hearing it?
• Meaning – Does the name communicate what the company does?
• Audience appeal – Will the target market find the name appealing?
• Growth potential – Does the name allow room for company expansion?
• Credibility – Does the name sound professional and authoritative?
• Simplicity – Is the name easy to understand at a glance?
• Visual identity – Are there potential logos or images that could accompany the name?

Having objective scoring criteria for each factor can help compare the overall strength of different possible names.

How can I check if my desired LLC name is available?

Before filing formation documents, you’ll want to verify that your chosen LLC name is available by:

1. Checking your state corporation commission or business registrar database.
2. Searching the USPTO trademark registry for conflicting trademarks.
3. Looking up .com, .net etc. domain availability to match the name.
4. Searching existing businesses registered in your state using the exact name.

Fully verifying no other businesses have rights to the same name reduces the risk of future disputes. Some states also allow you to reserve a name for a short time during the registration process.

Should my LLC name match my domain name?

It’s highly recommended your LLC name matches your primary domain name (i.e. website URL). This creates consistency across the two primary touchpoints of your business identity customers interact with.

Having matching names also improves search performance. Customers can easily find your website when searching your business name and vice versa.

If your preferred LLC name is taken, you may need to modify it or create a second choice domain name. But matching provides the best customer experience if possible.

Can I change my LLC name later if needed?

One advantage of LLCs is you can change the official company name later if desired. Reasons you may want to change it include:

• Your business offerings expanded beyond the original name.
• You identified a name that better represents your brand identity.
• You are acquiring another company and want a new name.
• Your original name was causing confusion among customers.

However, name changes require filing amended articles of organization and updating legal documents. So it’s best to take the time upfront to choose a name with long-term staying power.

Conclusion

Selecting the right LLC name requires balancing creativity, branding, legal compliance and customer appeal. But the effort pays dividends with a name aligned to your business purpose that attracts your ideal audience. Consider both logic and intuition during your process, and don’t be afraid to get outside opinions to make the best choice.