Whether you’re searching for the right business name or registering your LLC with the OK Secretary of State, we can help you. We’ve got all the information you need on how to conduct an Oklahoma business search, plus LLC naming rules, trade names, and registering your business.
General Rules for LLC Names
Usually these rules apply to all LLCs, no matter the state they’re formed in.
Your LLC Name Must Be Unique
The business name you use can’t be used by any other LLC or corporation in the State of Oklahoma. This is why it's imperative to perform an Oklahoma Secretary of State entity search before you begin the filing process.
Your LLC 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 an existing corporation or LLC in Oklahoma. In addition, 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, such as “A,” “An,” or “The”
- The conjunction "And" or “&"
- The singular, plural, or possessive forms of words
- Abbreviations, punctuation, symbols, fonts, typefaces, etc.
Your LLC Name Must Contain Certain Words
All LLCs must have the words “Limited Liability Company,” “L.L.C.,” or “LLC” in their names, usually at the end.
Your LLC Name May Be Subject to 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 state agency or organization (e.g., FBI, FDA, Oklahoma Tax Commission, Oklahoma 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 International Olympic Committee
- Imply a purpose that would be illegal for your business to carry out
Specific Rules for Oklahoma Business Names
In addition to the general rules listed above, Oklahoma has some specific business naming statutes. You’ll need to follow these rules to name your business appropriately. Here is an excerpt:
§18-2008. Name of company - Restrictions.
The name of each limited liability company as set forth in its articles of organization:
1. Shall contain either the words "limited liability company" or "limited company" or the abbreviations “LLC”, “LC”, "L.L.C.", or "L.C." The word "limited" may be abbreviated as "LTD." and the word "Company" may be abbreviated as "CO."; and
2. a. May not be the same as or indistinguishable from:(1) names upon the records in the Office of the Secretary of State of limited liability companies, whether organized pursuant to the laws of this state or licensed or registered as foreign limited liability companies, then in good standing or Oklahoma Statutes - Title 18. Corporations Page 513 registered or which were in good standing or registered at any time during the preceding three (3) years …
How to Come Up with a Business Name
Finding the perfect business name can be tricky. We have a complete guide to choosing the right business name, but basically, you'll want to choose a name that will:
- Best represent your product or services
- Be memorable enough to stand out
- Appeal to your customers
- Not be used by any other business in Oklahoma
Need help coming up with business name ideas? Try our free tool to take some of the guesswork out of it.
Oklahoma Business Search
Once you have an idea of the business name you want to move forward with, you’ll need to perform an Oklahoma entity search to make sure another business in the state isn’t already using that name.
Bizee offers a simple, fast, and convenient tool to look up your proposed business name. The OK Secretary of State also provides a tool that lets you search the Oklahoma registry of LLCs and corporations to see whether someone already has your desired business name.
Find Out Whether Your Preferred Business Name Is Available in Oklahoma With Bizee’s Free Tool
Check Your LLC Name
Trademarks and Service Marks
You must ensure your Oklahoma LLC name doesn’t infringe on the trademark or service mark of another business. The fastest way to make sure your proposed business name doesn’t violate another company's intellectual property is to complete a trademark search through Bizee. If no one else is using it, you can even register it as a trademark yourself.
Make Sure Your Business 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
Oklahoma DBA or Trade Name
You may do business under a different name from that of your LLC. In some states, this is called a DBA (doing business as), fictitious name, or assumed name. In Oklahoma, it’s known as a trade name. You may elect to use an Oklahoma trade name for a variety of reasons.
For example, your LLC might be called Oklahoma Renewable Energy Holding Company LLC, and under that company, you own Sooner Solar Energy. You could file for a trade name just for that brand. In Oklahoma, you can do that by filing a Trade Name Report form, or you can have Bizee do it on your behalf through our Trade 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 Trade Name Through Our Easy-To-Use Service
Get a DBA or Trade Name
Register Your Business Name With the OK Secretary of State
Once you’ve completed an Oklahoma Secretary of State business search, checked availability, followed the naming rules, and decided whether you need a trade name, you can register your LLC 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 name you want for your business. You’ll need to complete an Application for Reservation of Name and file it with the OK Secretary of State. Once you do so, the name will be reserved for 60 days. You don’t need to reserve a name if you’re forming your business right away.
- If you’re ready to start your LLC, you can file your Oklahoma Articles of Organization or have Bizee do it for you.
Bizee Can Handle All Your Formation Paperwork With the State of Oklahoma for You — And We’ll Do It for Free!
Start your business in Oklahoma for $0 + State Fee ($100)
Start Your LLC Now
FAQs About Oklahoma Business Names
How Do I Search for My Oklahoma Business Name?
Use our free Business Name Search tool and enter your proposed business name. You can also search the Oklahoma business registry, which will tell you whether any corporations or LLCs in the state are using that name.
Are There Any Rules for Naming My Business in Oklahoma?
Yes. Most LLCs are bound by general rules (applicable to all LLCs) and specific rules (applicable in the State of Oklahoma). We’ve detailed these rules above.
Can I Do Business Under a Different Name Than My LLC Name in Oklahoma?
Yes. You can conduct business under a trade name. Details are above.
Can I Reserve a Name for My Oklahoma LLC?
Yes. The OK Secretary of State allows you to reserve a name if you don’t want to start your business immediately. Details are above. If you’re ready to start your business now, you don’t need to reserve a name.
incorporate now
Launch your business with bizee
No Contracts. No Surprises. Only $0 + State Fee to Launch Your Business.