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 SearchRules 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.
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.
It’s not enough for your NM LLC name to be unique; it also cannot be similar to the name of another 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.
All LLCs must have the words “Limited Liability Company,” “L.L.C.” or “LLC” in their name. These words should normally come at the end of the name.
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 it 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 Assumed Business Name ServiceBusiness 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.
- 1
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.
- 2
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.
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 New Mexico corporations or LLCs with that name.
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.
Yes. Known as “assumed names,” “fictitious names,” “doing business as names” or “trade names,” you can choose to conduct business under a different name. See our section on New Mexico LLC Trade Names” above.
Yes. The New Mexico Secretary of State allows you to reserve a name if you don’t want to start your business immediately. If you are ready to start your business now, you do not need to reserve a name
Additional Resources for Naming Your New Mexico LLC
You might find these other 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 ServiceFind the Perfect Name for Your New Mexico LLC
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
