Bizee logo
1 (888) 462-3453

If you’re searching for the right business name for your Alaska C Corporation, we can help. We’ve got all the information you need on how to conduct an Alaska Division of Corporations business search, plus business naming rules, DBA names and trademarks.

 

General Rules for Corporation Names

These rules generally apply to all corporations, wherever they're formed.

1
Your Corporation Name Must Be Unique

The name you choose cannot be in use by any other business in the state. This is why it's so important to perform an Alaska Division of Corporations business entity search before you begin your incorporation paperwork.

2
Your Name Must Not Be Confusable with Another Business Name

It’s not enough for your corporation name to be unique. It also cannot be comparable to the name of another business in the state. In addition, you cannot use any of the following features in an attempt to differentiate your corporation name from that of another business:

  • Suffixes, such as Corporation, Company, Incorporated, Incorporation, Limited, Corp., Co., Inc., etc.
  • Definite articles, such as “A,” “An” or “The”
  • The conjunction "And" or “&"
  • Numbers in place of numerals (or vice versa), e.g., "One World" is the same as "1 World"
  • The singular, plural or possessive forms of words
  • Abbreviations, punctuation, symbols, fonts, typefaces, etc.
3
Your Corporation Name Must Contain Certain Words

All corporations must use one of the following in their names, usually at the end of the name: “Incorporated,” “Corporation,” “Limited” or their abbreviations.

4
Your Corporation Name May Be Subject to Other General Restrictions

Most states will not allow you to incorporate with names that:

  • Are similar to the name of a federal or state agency or organization (e.g., FBI, FDA, Alaska Department of Revenue, Alaska Rangers, Treasury, etc.)
  • Suggest affiliation with a federal or state agency or organization
  • Use the term “Olympic” or any terms that are trademarks of the International Olympic Committee
  • Imply a purpose that would be illegal for your business to carry out

Specific Rules for Alaska Business Names

In addition to the general rules listed above, you'll need to follow Alaska corporation legislation that applies to naming your business.

For example, per the state's Corporations Code Title 10, Chapter 6, Article 2, § 10.06.105:

"A corporate name must contain the word “corporation”, “company”, “incorporated”, or “limited”, or an abbreviation of one of these words."

In addition, some words are restricted by Alaska Corporations Code Title 10, Chapter 6, Article 2, § 10.06.105:

"The corporate name may not contain the word “city”, “borough”, or “village” or otherwise imply that the corporation is a municipality. The name of a city, borough, or village may be used in the corporate name."

Coming Up with the Ideal Business Name

Finding the perfect business name can be tricky. 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

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

Alaska Corporation Name Search

Once you have an idea of the name you want, perform an Alaska business entity search to make sure another company isn't already using that name.

You can use the state's corporation database to perform a name search.

You can also use our simple and convenient Business Name Search tool, which will search the state's business registry for you.

Use Bizee’s free tool to find out whether your preferred name is available for your corporation in Alaska
Check Your Corporation Name

Trademarks and Service Marks

You must be careful that your Alaska corporation name doesn't infringe on the trademark or service mark of another business. The easiest way to ensure you're not infringing is to perform a trademark search through Bizee. If the trademark isn't already in use, you can even register it yourself.

Make sure your corporation 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
 

Register a DBA in Alaska

You may do business under a name different from your corporation's legal name. While many states refer to this as a trade name, fictitious name or an assumed name, it's a "doing business as" (DBA) in Alaska. You may decide to use a DBA for a variety of reasons.

For example, your primary business may be called North Star Hospitality, Inc., and you have a chain called North Star Tours. You could register a DBA just for that brand. You'd do that by filing a New Business Name Registration form, or you can have Bizee do it on your behalf with our DBA service.

Important: Current Alaska Statutes do not restrict issuing multiple business licenses with the exact same name. The Division of Corporations is required to issue a business license, even if exclusive rights to a name have been secured. In order to keep your business names unique, you can also use the Alaska Corporations Database and perform an Alaska DBA search to find out whether any other companies are already using the DBA you want. We can also help you with this via our DBA name service.

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

Register and manage a DBA or fictitious name through our easy-to-use service
Get a DBA or Fictitious Name
 

Register Your Business Name with the Alaska Division of Corporations

You’ve performed an Alaska Division of Corporations business entity search, checked availability, followed the naming rules and determined whether you need a DBA. Now you can register your corporation name in one of two ways.

1

If you don’t want to form your corporation right away, you can reserve the business name. You'll do this by completing a Business Name Reservation form and filing it with the Alaska Division of Corporations. The name will be reserved for 120 days. If you're starting your business right away, you don't need to reserve a name.

2

If you’re ready to start your corporation, you can indicate your chosen business name when you file your Articles of Incorporation with the Alaska Division of Corporations. Or you can have Bizee do this for you.

Bizee can handle all your Alaska corporation formation paperwork for you — and we’ll do it for free!

Create a Corporation in Alaska for $0 + State Fee ($250)

Incorporate Now

FAQs About Naming Your Corporation in Alaska

How Do I Find an Available Corporation Name?

Use our free Business Name Search tool and enter your preferred business name. You can also perform a search of the state's database, which will tell you whether any other corporations or LLCs in the state are already using that name.

Are There Any Rules for Naming My Corporation in Alaska?

Yes. Most corporations will be bound by general rules (applicable to all corporations) and specific rules (applicable in the state of Alaska). We’ve detailed these rules above.

Can I Do Business Under a Name Different from My Corporation in Alaska?

Yes. You can conduct business under a DBA (doing business as). Details are above.

Can I Reserve a Name for My Corporation in Alaska?

Yes. The Alaska Division of Corporations allows you to reserve a name if you're not ready to start your business immediately. Details are above. If you do want to start your business right away, you don't need to reserve a name.

Launch
Your Business with Bizee

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

Start Now