Louisiana Business Name Search For LLC (Jul. 2026 Guide)

You need to conduct a Louisiana Limited Liability Company (LLC) name search with the Business Filings Search tool to ensure that your desired business name is unique and distinguishable from existing names on state records. This must be done before filing your Articles of Organization with the Louisiana Secretary of State (SOS) to officially form your LLC.

Your desired LLC name must also follow the state’s naming rules and regulations. If it doesn’t, your application may get rejected.

In this guide, I’ll explain how to use the Louisiana business name search tool to determine if your desired LLC name is available. You will also learn about the state naming regulations so you can pick a compliant name.

An Overview Of The Louisiana Business Name Search

Under Louisiana Revised Statutes (RS) §12:1306, your Louisiana LLC name must be unique or clearly distinguishable from existing business names already registered with the Louisiana SOS. If your name isn’t unique or is too similar, your Articles of Organization will be denied.

To check your name, the state provides a handy free aid called the Louisiana Business Filings Search tool. Use it to review your registered business names and compare them with your desired one. Simple.

If you need additional help, speak with the Louisiana SOS using the following contact details.

• By phone: 225.925.4704
• By fax: 225.932.5314
• By mail: P.O. Box 94125, Baton Rouge, LA 70804.

How To Use The Louisiana Business Filings Search

1. Access The Business Filings Search Website

To begin, locate the Louisiana Business Filings Search page. Then, simply follow the steps below.

1. Choose “Search by Entity Name” for the Search Type section.
2. Provide your desired LLC name in the search bar.
3. Press “Search.”

I highly recommend running multiple searches using part of your desired name. Let’s say that its JOHN DOE LLC. Here’s what to do.

1. Search for “JOHN DOE.”
2. Run a second search for “JOHN” or “DOE.”

Doing things like this ensures that you’ll catch all potentially similar names that may cause conflicts. This can happen when filing your crucial formation docs.

2. Check Your Business Name Search Results

Once you’ve clicked “Search,” the system will generate a results table. Check the “Name” column to determine your results.

You should see the active records in bold. This indicates that the business is currently active. Carefully review any names appearing in non-bold text using my guidelines below.

Interpreting Your Name Search Results

1. No Results Found

Your desired LLC name is unique and available to use if your search results show “Total Results: 0.”

I suggest conducting a second search using part of your desired LLC name if you get this result. This should be done to confirm your initial results.

Example: Your desired name is “John Doe LLC.” Search again using the words “John” or “Doe” to confirm your results.

2. Your Exact Desired LLC Name Appears

If you see your exact LLC name in the search results, it means that an existing business is already on the Louisiana public records. Therefore, your desired LLC name is NOT available to use.

If this happens, you must use a suitable variation to make your name unique. Alternatively, you can choose a totally different name. I will explain how to make your name distinguishable in the sections below.

Example: I searched for my desired business name, which is “JOHN DOE.” My results show that the name “JOHN DOE INC” is already on the records. Therefore, I cannot use my desired name to file.

3. Names That Are Not Too Similar Appear

Your desired LLC name is likely available to use if your results show names that are NOT too similar.

Example: My desired business name is “JOHN DOE.” My results returned “JOHN, INC,” “A. JOHN, INC.,” and “JOHN’S PARTNERSHIP.” In this case, my name may be available to use.

4. A Very Similar Name Appears

If your search results show a very similar name, your desired LLC name may NOT be available to use.

Example: Your desired name is “BUILDER.” The search results show “THE BUILDER LLC” which is very similar to your desired name. Then your name may NOT be available to use.

5. Your Name Is Similar To A Partnership Name

Partnership names do NOT conflict, meaning that the state will not consider them when checking name availability.

For example, if your desired LLC name is “JOHN’S LLC“, and you find the result “JOHN’S PARTNERSHIP,” your name may still be available.

6. Your Name Is Similar To An Inactive Business Name

Once revoked, the names of Louisiana Corporations and LLCs can NOT be used for three years following the revocation date. Therefore, you can NOT use the same business name during those three years. After this, it will be released by the state and will be free to use again.

Example: I performed a search for “JOHN DOE.” I found that “JOHN DOE, INC” has been inactive and revoked for over 3 years. Therefore, this name should be available to use.

Louisiana SOS Contact Information

I advise contacting the Louisiana SOS if you have questions regarding your LLC name availability or need to complete a preliminary check. Their contact information is:

• Phone: 225.925.4704.
• Fax: 225.932.5314.
• By mail: P.O. Box 94125, Baton Rouge, LA 70804.
• Contact page: Louisiana Contact Us.

Louisiana LLC Name Key Requirements

You must follow several rules and requirements when choosing your desired LLC name. These are set under the Louisiana Revised Statutes (RS) §12:1306.

1. Commas

The use of commas does NOT affect your LLC name. The Louisiana SOS treats names the same, regardless of whether you include commas.

For example, you can use the following names if your desired name is “JOHN DOE.”

• “JOHN DOE LLC.”
• “JOHN DOE, LLC.”

2. Required Designators

Your desired LLC name must include a required designator (name ending). This ensures that your business can be clearly identified as an LLC in the state.

Use one of the following terms or abbreviations at the end of your desired LLC name:

• L.L.C.
• L.C.
• Limited Liability Company.

If you’re a low-profit LLC, you must use one of the following designators:

• L3C.
• l3c.
• Low-Profit Limited Liability Company.

3. Prohibited Designators

Your desired LLC name must clearly show that it’s an LLC in order to be accepted by the Louisiana SOS. It must not use words to suggest that it’s a different type of business entity.

The following designators and abbreviations are NOT allowed when filing your LLC formation documents:

• Incorporated.
• Inc.
• Corp.
• Corporation.
• Doing Business As.
• DBA or d/b/a.

4. Prohibited Words

Certain words can NOT be included in your LLC name:

• Words suggesting that you’re a government agency at the local, state, or federal level.
• Any misleading, offensive, or scandalous words.
• Words that falsely suggest that you’re a nonprofit or charitable organization.

5. Restricted Words

Your name should NOT include certain restricted words, unless you get approval from the relevant state agency. These are commonly used by regulated industries:

• Building and loan/ homestead/ credit union.
• Architect/ architectural/ architecture.
• Engineer/ engineering.
• Surveyor/ surveying.
• Trust/ trustee.
• Insurance.
• Bank/ banker/ banking/ safe deposit.

Changes That Don’t Create Distinguishability

1. Changing Designators

You can NOT create distinguishability by changing your business designators (name endings). The state does NOT consider different name endings when deciding if your LLC name can be used.

For example, if your desired name is “JOHN DOE LLC,“ your filing will be rejected if the following names are on record with the Louisiana SOS:

• “JOHN DOE Inc.”
• “JOHN DOE Corp.”

Your desired LLC name will also be rejected if the results show an exact name with a differently phrased “LLC”.

Examples include:

• “JOHN DOE Limited Liability Company.”
• “JOHN DOE L.L.C.”

2. Filler Words

Adding filler words will NOT make your name unique or distinguishable. Examples include “the,” “a,” “an,” “and,” “&,” or “of.”

Examples: If you want to use “BLUE HORIZON VENTURES LLC”, it would still be seen as unavailable if any of the following names are being used:

• THE BLUE HORIZON VENTURES LLC.
• BLUE HORIZON AND VENTURES L.L.C.
• A BLUE HORIZON VENTURES Inc.

3. Plural Or Singular Words And Possessive Words

You can not usually create distinguishability by adding or removing an “s.” While it changes the word into a plural form, it does NOT alter its meaning.

Examples: Your desired name “JOHN DOE LLC” will not be available to use if the search results show these:

• “JOHN’S DOE LLC.”
• “JOHN DOES LLC.”
• “JOHN DOE’S LLC.”

4. Punctuation & Special Characters

You can NOT create distinguishability by using different special characters and punctuation.

Examples: If your desired name is “JOHN DOE LLC”, it would not be available to use if the search results show:

• “JOHN-DOE LLC.”
• “JOHN!DOE! LLC.”
• “JOHN.DOE LLC.”

Frequently Asked Questions