How to Name Your LLC in Texas
Learn how to name your Texas LLC: required designators, state-specific word restrictions, how to search the Texas Secretary of State database, name reservation, and how to register a DBA.
Bizee Editorial Staff
Editorial Team
Texas LLC naming requirements at a glance
Filing fee: $300 (online); $300 (by mail)
Processing time: Typically 3–5 business days online; longer by mail
State agency: Texas Secretary of State
Annual report due: No annual report required; franchise tax due May 15 each year
State tax rate: No state income tax; franchise tax applies to most entities
How to name your LLC in Texas
Naming your Texas LLC involves 3 layers: general rules that apply to every LLC in the country, Texas-specific restrictions set by the Secretary of State, and a name availability check against the state's business registry. Get all 3 right before you file, and the process moves fast.
General LLC naming rules
Every LLC in the United States must follow a baseline set of naming rules, regardless of the state where it's formed. Texas is no exception.
Your LLC name must include the words "Limited Liability Company" or an accepted abbreviation — "LLC" or "L.L.C." are both fine. The name also needs to be distinguishable from every other business entity already registered with the Texas Secretary of State. That means it can't be identical to an existing name, and it can't be so similar that it would confuse the public.
Your name also can't imply a connection to a government agency or suggest your business is authorized to do something it isn't. Names that sound like federal or state agencies — things like "Texas Department of Revenue" or "Federal Trade Bureau" — won't be approved.
Texas-specific naming rules
Texas adds several restrictions on top of the general rules. These are the ones that catch people off guard, so it's worth reviewing them before you settle on a name.
Banking and trust terms: words like "bank," "bank and trust," "trust," or "trust company" require a no-objection letter from the Texas Banking Commissioner under §31.005 and §181.004 of the Texas Finance Code.
Education terms: words like "College," "University," "School of Medicine," "Medical School," "Health Science Center," "School of Law," "Law Center," or "Law School" require a no-objection letter from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board under §61.313 of the Texas Education Code.
Veterans organization terms: words like "Veteran," "Legion," "Foreign," "Spanish," "Disabled," "War," or "World War" — when the name implies the business benefits war veterans or their families — require written approval from a veterans organization under §5.062 of the Texas Business Organizations Code.
Insurance and surety terms: the words "insurance" or "surety" must be paired with other words that make clear the business is not an insurer.
If your name includes any of these restricted terms without the required approval, the Texas Secretary of State will reject your filing. Get the approval letter before you file, not after.
How to search for LLC name availability in Texas
Before you file your Certificate of Formation (Form 205), check whether your chosen name is available in the Texas Secretary of State's business entity database. The state's SOSDirect system lets you search registered entity names at no cost.
Search for your exact proposed name and close variations. The Texas SOS evaluates names for confusing similarity, not just exact matches — so a name that differs by only a word or punctuation may still be rejected. Running a few variations during your search saves you from a rejected filing later.
A clear result in the state database doesn't mean the name is free to use everywhere. Check the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office database for federal trademark conflicts, and do a basic web search to see whether another business is already using the name in your industry.
How to reserve a Texas LLC name
If you've found an available name but aren't ready to file your LLC yet, the Texas Secretary of State lets you reserve it. A name reservation holds the name for 120 days while you get ready to file.
File a Name Reservation Application (Form 501) with the Texas SOS. The filing fee is $40. Once approved, no other business can register that name during the reservation period. The reservation doesn't automatically convert to an LLC — you still need to file your Certificate of Formation separately.
Texas DBA (assumed name) registration
Your LLC can do business under a name that's different from its legal name. In Texas, this is called an assumed name — also known as a DBA (doing business as) or fictitious name. It doesn't create a new legal entity; it's a name your existing LLC uses publicly.
To register an assumed name in Texas, file an Assumed Name Certificate with the county clerk in every county where your LLC conducts business. If your business operates statewide, you also need to file with the Texas Secretary of State. County filing fees vary, but most are under $25 per county.
One thing worth knowing: registering a DBA in Texas does not protect the name from being used by someone else. If protecting the name matters to your business, a federal trademark registration is the more reliable path.
How to register your LLC name with the Texas SOS
Your LLC name is officially registered when you file your Certificate of Formation (Form 205) with the Texas Secretary of State. There's no separate name registration step — the name becomes part of the formation filing itself.
Before you file, confirm your name is available in the SOS database, that it includes the required LLC designator, and that it doesn't use any restricted terms without the necessary approvals. The state filing fee for a Texas LLC is $300. Online filings through SOSDirect typically process in 3–5 business days.
If you need to change your LLC's name after formation, file a Certificate of Amendment (Form 424) with the Texas SOS. The amendment fee is $150.
FAQ
Use the Texas Secretary of State's SOSDirect database to search registered business entity names. Enter your proposed name and close variations — the SOS evaluates names for confusing similarity, not just exact matches. A clear result in the state database means the name is available to file, but it doesn't guarantee the name is free of federal trademark conflicts.
Yes, Texas LLC names must follow both general and state-specific rules. Every LLC name must include "Limited Liability Company," "LLC," or "L.L.C." and must be distinguishable from all other registered entities in the state. Texas also restricts certain words — like "bank," "university," and "insurance" — unless the LLC meets specific statutory requirements or gets written approval from the relevant state authority.
Your LLC name is registered when you file your Certificate of Formation (Form 205) through the Texas Secretary of State's SOSDirect system. There's no separate name registration — the name becomes official as part of the formation filing. The state filing fee is $300, and online filings typically process in 3–5 business days.
Yes. Your LLC can operate under an assumed name — also called a DBA or fictitious name — that's different from its legal name. File an Assumed Name Certificate with the county clerk in each county where your LLC does business. If you operate statewide, also file with the Texas Secretary of State. County fees are typically under $25. Registering a DBA does not protect the name from use by others.
Yes. File a Name Reservation Application (Form 501) with the Texas Secretary of State. The filing fee is $40, and the reservation holds your name for 120 days. No other business can register that name during the reservation period. The reservation doesn't file your LLC — you still need to submit your Certificate of Formation separately when you're ready.
File a Certificate of Amendment (Form 424) with the Texas Secretary of State. The filing fee is $150. Before filing, check that the new name is available in the SOS database and meets all naming requirements. The amendment updates your LLC's legal name on the state record — you'll also need to update your EIN records with the IRS and notify your bank and any relevant licenses.
Forming your LLC in Texas gives you exclusive rights to that name within the state's business registry — no other entity can register the same or a confusingly similar name. For broader protection, a federal trademark registration through the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office covers your name nationally. Registering a DBA alone does not protect the name from use by others.
