Skip to content

How to Name Your LLC in Maryland

Learn how to conduct a Maryland business search with the Department of Assessments and Taxation (Maryland DAT) and register your LLC name.

Start your LLC today for $0 + MD state fee.

Starting an LLC in Maryland? Let Bizee do all the paperwork for you for free.

Woman carpenter working in a workshop

On this page

Naming Your Business

    Whether you’re searching for the right business name or registering your LLC with the Maryland DAT, we can help. We’ve got all the information you need on how to conduct a Maryland corporation search, plus LLC naming rules, trade names and registering your business.

    General Rules for LLC Names

    These rules typically apply to all LLCs, regardless of which state they're formed in.

    Specific Rules for Maryland Business Names

    The general rules listed above are also rules enforced by the state of Maryland and are detailed in the state's code on Corporations and Associations, Title 1, Subtitle 5, Section § 1-502.

    How to Come Up with a Business Name

    The perfect business name can be elusive. We have a complete guide to choosing the right business name, but essentially, you'll want to choose a name that will:

    • Appeal to your customers
    • Be memorable enough to stand out
    • Best represent your product or services
    • Not be used by another business
    Read Our Guide to Choosing a Business Name

    Need help coming up with business name ideas? Try our free Business Name Generator.

    Maryland Business Entity Search

    Once you have an idea of the business name you’d like to use, you’ll need to complete a Maryland business entity search to make sure the name isn't already taken by another business.


    Bizee offers a fast, simple and convenient tool to look up your proposed business name. The Maryland DAT also has a tool through which you can perform a Maryland entity search to see if someone already has your desired business name.

    Find Out Whether Your Preferred Business Name is Available in Maryland With Bizee’s Free Tool

    Check Your LLC Name
    Business Name Search Tool
    Trademarks and Service Marks

    You must be careful that your Maryland LLC name doesn't infringe on the trademark or service mark of another business. The easiest way to make sure your proposed business name doesn't infringe is to carry out a trademark search through Bizee. If no one else is using it, you can even register it as a trademark yourself.

    Make Sure Your Business is Starting Off on the Right Foot When It Comes to Intellectual Property.

    Let Bizee run a trademark search for you.

    Bizee’s Trademark and Registration Service
    Trademark
    Maryland DBA or Assumed Name

    You may do business under a name other than your legal LLC name. In some states, this is called a DBA (doing business as), fictitious, or assumed name. In Maryland, it’s called a trade name. You might choose to use a trade name for a variety of reasons.


    For example, your business might be called Maryland Commercial Real Estate Holding Company, LLC and you have a chain called Baltimore Property Rentals. You should file a trade name to let the Maryland DAT know. In Maryland, you do that with the Trade Name Application, or you can have Bizee do it on your behalf through our DBA service.


    Note: A trade name is not the same as a trademark. Learn more about trademark vs. DBA.

    Register and Manage a Trade Name or DBA Through Our Easy-To-Use Service

    Bizee’s DBA Service
    Assumed business name document
    Register Your Business Name with the Maryland DAT

    Once you’ve completed a Maryland business name search, checked availability, followed the naming rules and decided whether you need a trade name, you can register your LLC name. There are a couple of ways to do this.

    1. If you don’t want to form your LLC right now, you can reserve the business name with the Maryland DAT. You'll need to complete a Corporate Name Reservation Application. Once you do so, your name will be reserved for 30 days. You don't need to reserve a name if you're forming your business right away.
    2. If you’re ready to start your LLC, you can file your Articles of Organization with the Maryland DAT or have Bizee do it for you.

    Bizee Can Handle All Your Formation Paperwork With the State of Maryland for You — and We’ll Do It for Free!

    Form an LLC in Maryland for $0 + State Fee ($100)

    Start Your LLC Now
    Business Formation
    FAQs About Maryland Business Names

    incorporate now

    Launch your business with bizee

    No Contracts. No Surprises. Only $0 + State Fee to Launch Your Business.