Wyoming Secretary of State Business Search and Naming Your LLC
Your Wyoming business entity needs the perfect name, and we’re here to help. In this section we’ll guide you through searching the WY Secretary of State business register, tell you about the rules for naming your business, describe “Trade Names” and get you started with registering your LLC.
Wyoming LLC Search on the SOS Website
You should start naming your business by completing a “Wyoming business entity search” with the secretary of state. They have a helpful tool on their website that lets you search the register of WY LLCs and corporations to see if someone already has your desired business name.
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.
Wyoming Secretary of State business name search tool
Wyoming Secretary of State Rules for LLC Names
Once you’ve decided on a name for your LLC and checked business name availability, you’ll need to meet Wyoming Secretary of State naming rules. These do vary from state to state — we’ve got general naming rules below, as well as naming rules specific to LLC businesses formed in WY.
Standard LLC Naming Rules
These rules typically apply to all LLCs, no matter what state they are formed in. You will need to pay attention to these rules, as they will influence the name you choose for your Wyoming LLC.
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 Wyoming. This is why you should check business name availability on the WY SOS website.
Your LLC Business Name Must Not Be Confusable with Another Business Name
It’s not enough for your WY LLC name to be unique. It also cannot be similar to the name of a corporation or LLC in Wyoming. 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 should 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 WY agency or organization (e.g., FBI, FDA, Wyoming Department of Revenue, Wyoming 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
Specific Rules for Naming Your Wyoming LLC
In addition to the general rules listed above, the Wyoming Secretary of State has some specific business naming rules for your LLC. You will need to follow these rules if you want to name your WY business appropriately. This information is contained in the image below, from the WY SOS website.
Wyoming LLC Trade Names
You might choose to do business under a different name from your legal LLC name. In Wyoming, doing business under a different name is known as a “Trade Name.” You might choose to use a different name from your WY formal LLC name for a variety of reasons.
For example, your LLC might be called Wyoming Renewable Energies Holding Company LLC, but you want to be known as “Wyoming Wind Power.” You should file a Trade Name to let the Wyoming Secretary of State know. In Wyoming, you do that through a “Registration of Trade Name” form, or you can have Incfile do it on your behalf through our Assumed Business Name service.
Incfile’s Assumed Business Name serviceBusiness Name Registration for Your Wyoming LLC
Once you’ve searched for your Wyoming business name, checked availability, followed the naming rules and decided whether you need a fictitious name, you can register your WY LLC name. There are a couple of ways to do this:
- 1
If you don’t want to form your Wyoming LLC right now, you can reserve the business name with the Wyoming Secretary of State.
- 2
If you’re ready to start your Wyoming LLC, you can formally file your Articles of Organization with the Wyoming SOS, or let Incfile take care of it for you.
FAQs on Naming Your Wyoming 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 Wyoming Secretary of State, which will tell you if there are any WY 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 Wyoming). We’ve detailed these rules above.
Yes. Known as a “Trade Name,” you can choose to conduct business under a different name. Details are above.
Yes. The Wyoming 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.
Trademarks and Service Marks
You must be careful that your Wyoming 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 Wyoming 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
