How to Name Your LLC 
in North Carolina

Whether you’re searching for the right business name or registering your LLC with the North Carolina Secretary of State (SOS), we can help. We’ve got all the information you need on how to perform an NC SOS business search, plus LLC naming rules, assumed names and registering your business.

General Rules for LLC Names

These rules typically apply to all LLCs, no matter what state they are formed in.

Specific North Carolina Business Name Rules

In addition to the general rules listed above, North Carolina imposes some specific business naming rules, which include but are not limited to:

How to Come Up with a Unique Business Name

The perfect business name can be difficult to find. We have a complete guide to help you choose the right name for your business, but basically, you'll want to choose a name that will:

Need help coming up with business name ideas? Try our free name generator.

North Carolina Business Search

Once you have an idea of the business name you’d like to use, you’ll need to perform a North Carolina business name search to make sure another business doesn’t already have that name.

Bizee offers a simple, convenient tool you can use to look up your desired business name. The North Carolina Secretary of State also has a tool that lets you search the North Carolina business registry to see whether someone already has your desired business name.

Trademarks and Service Marks

You must be careful that your North Carolina LLC name doesn't infringe on the trademark or service mark of another business. The easiest way to make sure you're in the clear is to carry out a trademark search through Bizee. If it's not already in use, you can even register it as a trademark yourself.

North Carolina DBA or Assumed Name

You can conduct business under a different name from your legal LLC name. In some states, this is called a DBA (doing business as), fictitious name or trade name. In North Carolina, it's called an assumed name. You may decide to use a North Carolina assumed name for a variety of reasons.

For example, your business might be called North Carolina Travel Company LLC, and under that company, you have a hiking business called Appalachian Trail Adventures. You'll want to secure an assumed name specific to that arm of your business. You'll do that by filing an Assumed Business Name Certificate, 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 Your Business Name with the North Carolina Secretary of State

Once you’ve completed a North Carolina entity search, checked availability, followed the naming rules and decided whether you need an assumed name, you can register your LLC name in one of two ways: