First, choose a name for your business, as you will need to set up your business using a formal business name. This could be the brand name you want to use publicly, or just the name you use officially for your business entity.
You can choose almost any name you want for your business, as long as it:
- Not being used by another entity registered in Alabama. You can use the state business entity search to see if your name is available in Alabama.
- It does not contain any words or abbreviations that suggest that it is a different type of entity than it actually is. For example, an LLC cannot contain “Corp.” or “Ltd.” in the name.
- It does not refer to banks, trusts, insurance, public service companies, or licensed professions such as architects, doctors, engineers, etc.
A registered business name must include words or abbreviations that indicate the structure of the business, such as:
- Co., Ltd.: Co., Ltd., Corporation, Co., Ltd. or Corporation
- limited liability company: Limited company, LLC, LLC
- joint stock company: Limited partnership company, LP or LP
- limited liability partnership: Limited liability partnership, LLP or LLP
- limited liability partnership: Limited liability partnership, LLLP or LLLP
In addition to these requirements, consider the following when choosing a business name:
- Do you want to include your personal name or be open to growing beyond yourself?
- Do you want it to reflect the products and services you currently offer, or do you want the flexibility to pivot in the future?
- Do you want to use this name as the business name (public brand) for your business, or do you want to create a business entity that can hold any brand or many brands you create?
If you want to create a business entity that can include other brands, you can use a DBA (called a trade name in Alabama) for those other brands. This aligns with how other brands are presented publicly and makes it easier to treat each as its own. Internal assets.
If you know the name you want to use for your business, but aren't ready to register your business yet, you can request to reserve your business name for up to 120 days for a $25 fee.
Once you have chosen your business name, you will need to obtain a name reservation certificate for a $30 fee and submit it with your business formation documents.
