Naming an LLC in New Mexico

Your New Mexico business entity needs the perfect name, and we’re here to help. In this section, we’ll guide you through searching the NM Secretary of State business register, tell you about the rules for naming your business, describe assumed business names and get you started with registering your LLC.

New Mexico Secretary of State Business Search

Once you’ve narrowed down your business name options, you need to check whether there’s already another New Mexico LLC registered under your desired name. That means searching the Secretary of State website using their business entity search tool. You can easily look up LLCs and corporations by name and other details.

If the business name is already used, that means it’s not available and you won’t be able to register it. Try searching for a different business name instead.

New Mexico Secretary of State business entity search

Rules for Naming an LLC in New Mexico

Once you’ve decided on a name for your LLC and checked business name availability, you’ll need to meet New Mexico naming rules.

Your LLC Business Name Must Be Unique

The business name you have chosen cannot be used by any other LLC or corporation in the state of New Mexico. This is why you should check business name availability on the NM SOS website.

Your LLC Business Name Must Not Be Confusable with Another Business Name

It’s not enough for your LLC name to be unique. It also cannot be similar to the name of a corporation or LLC in New Mexico. For example, you cannot use the following factors to say your name is different from the name of another business:

• Suffixes, such as Corporation, Company, Incorporated, Incorporation, Limited, Corp., Co., Inc., Ltd., LLC, etc.
• Definite articles like “A,” “And,” “An,” “&,” “The,” etc.
• The singular, plural or possessive forms of a word
• >Abbreviations, punctuation, symbols, fonts, typefaces, etc.

Your LLC Business Name Must Contain Certain Words

All LLCs must have the words “Limited Liability Company,” “L.L.C.” or “LLC” in their name. These words normally come at the end of the name.

Your LLC Business Name May Have Other General Restrictions

Most states will not allow you to form LLCs with names that:

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

“Doing Business As” (DBA) Names in New Mexico

You might choose to do business under a different name from your legal LLC name. In New Mexico, doing business under a different name is known as a “Doing Business As” (DBA) name. You might choose to use a different name from your formal LLC name for a variety of reasons.

For example, your LLC might be called Albuquerque Commercial Real Estate Holding Company LLC, but you have a brand called Immediate ABQ Retail that is the main face by which customers will know you. You should file a DBA form to inform the New Mexico Secretary of State.

Incfile’s Fictitious Business Name service

Business Name Registration in New Mexico

Once you’ve searched for your New Mexico business name, checked availability, followed the naming rules and decided whether you need a fictitious name, you can register your name. There are a couple of ways to do this.

• If you don’t want to form your LLC right now, you can reserve the business name with the New Mexico Secretary of State. You do not need to reserve a name if you are forming your business right away.
  New Mexico SOS LLC name reservation form
• If you’re ready to start your LLC, you can formally file your Articles of Organization with the New Mexico SOS, or let Incfile take care of it for you.

FAQs on Naming Your New Mexico LLC

You might find the following answers useful.

How Do I Search for My New Mexico LLC Business Name?

Just go to the business name search tool and enter your proposed business name. You can search the register of the New Mexico Secretary of State, which will tell you if there are any NM corporations or LLCs with that name.

Are There Any Rules on Naming My New Mexico LLC?

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

Can I Do Business Under a Different Name Than My LLC Name?

Yes. Known as “assumed names,” “fictitious names,” “doing business as names” or “trade names,” you can choose to conduct business under a different name. Details are above.

Can I Reserve a Name for My New Mexico LLC?

Yes. The New Mexico Secretary of State allows you to reserve a name if you don’t want to start your business immediately. Details are above. If you are ready to start your business now, you do not need to reserve a name.

Additional Incfile Resources on LLC Names

You might find these resources helpful.

Trademarks and Service Marks

You must be careful that your New Mexico LLC name does not infringe on the trademark or service mark of another business. The easiest way to make sure your proposed business name does not infringe is to carry out a trademark search through Incfile. If it doesn’t infringe, you can even register it as a trademark yourself.

Incfile Trademark Search and Registration service

How to Choose a Business Name

The perfect business name can be elusive. We have a complete guide to choosing the right business name, but basically, 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

Incfile’s guide to choosing a business name