Delaware Secretary of State Business Search: What Is It?

A Delaware Secretary of State Business Search should be your first step if you would like to register an LLC in the state of Delaware. Use the Delaware Secretary of State Business Search website to check the availability of the name in the state. It is important that you conduct the search before you register a business in Delaware. Further, you will be able to use the same service to check the status of your LLC registration with the Delaware Secretary of State after reserving your operating name.

Searching the Delaware LLC Company Name Database

You can search the database in two ways. The first method is using the “Name Availability Search” to find out if your selected LLC name is registered. This is the right approach if you want to get instant yes or no answers. Follow the below steps to conduct a name availability search.

  1. Visit the name availability search page.
  2. Agree to the terms by ticking the disclaimer box.
  3. In the drop-down menu of “entity kind,” choose LLC.
  4. Select your desired entity ending from the next drop-down menu.
  5. Enter the LLC name you would like to reserve.
  6. Click “search.”

If the page shows that there are no results, you can go ahead and reserve your business name. Alternatively, click "no" if you would like to continue searching. The reservation fee is $75.

You can also use the "General Information Name Search” if you want to find out more about existing businesses.

  1. Go to the General Information search page.
  2. Enter the desired LLC name or specific entity number.
  3. Click “search.”
  4. If there is a business entity with a similar name, you will need to click on the entry and check the details.
  5. You can now review the status of the entity and request further information for $10 or $20, depending on whether you would like to see the franchise tax assessment.

If you have found the business name you have been looking for, and it is in use, you can find out more about the entity on the Delaware Secretary of State page.

How to Conduct a Name Availability Search in Delaware

Once you have conducted the simple LLC name availability check and no records have been found, you will need to check that your name is clearly distinguishable from other entities' entries. If it is, you can apply to become the registered agent of the new entity and reserve your name. It is important that your business name be clearly distinguishable from other entities registered in Delaware.

If the difference between your selected business name and one that has already been registered is only a comma, hyphen, or slash, your LLC name is not considered to be unique. Further, differences in the use of singular and plural tense or possessive names are not enough for your business name to be distinguishable.

Requirements for Delaware Domestic Corporation Names

If you are wishing to form a Domestic Professional Corporation,  you will need to include one of the following words in your name:

  • Association
  • Company
  • Corporation
  • Club
  • Society
  • Union
  • Foundation
  • Syndicate
  • Union
  • Limited
  • Fund
  • Incorporated
  • Institute

Never use punctuations in business names, but you can abbreviate the above-required terms.

When registering a Domestic Professional Corporation, you need to refer to the professional service offered in your name.  It will also need to include the names of the professional persons, such as stakeholders, associated partners, and those registered within previous organizations related to the new entity.

To form a Domestic Professional Corporation in Delaware, you will need to pay an initial formation fee of $89. Every extra page of the incorporation document will cost you $9, and you might need to pay the expedite fee of $50-1000, depending on how urgent the matter is.

Delaware Domestic Nonprofit Corporation Name Requirements

Domestic Nonprofit Corporations that are formed in Delaware need to include in their names one or more of the following terms:

  • Association
  • Company
  • Corporation
  • Club
  • Limited
  • Syndicate
  • Union
  • Fund

You can use abbreviations.

To form a nonprofit domestic corporation in Delaware, you will need to pay the same fees as you would for regular domestic corporations.

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