Published on January 27th, 2022 | by Sunit Nandi

How to Select and Register the Name of Your Virginia LLC?

If you are opening a Virginia LLC, you must select a name for your new business. The process is likely different from what you are used to if you have an existing business or are familiar with other states’ LLC registration processes.

If you are planning to open an LLC, you have reached the right place.

Here is a brief overview of how the names work in the Virginia LLC search.

Rules to Select the Name of Your Virginia LLC

When it comes to selecting the name of your new company, you need to keep in mind the following things:

The name cannot imply an affiliation with a government agency. The name cannot match another Virginia business or trademark (including names and marks held by other people or companies).
The name cannot include the words “bank,” “trust,” “trustee,” or any derivative of any of these terms.
The name must be acceptable to the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) (so the name cannot be trademarked by another party for similar goods or services).

If you are looking to make an asset purchase instead of incorporating, the name must be the name on the deed for any real estate you are purchasing.

You should also conduct a trade name search before finalizing your company’s name.

Drafting Your LLC Name

A thorough Virginia LLC search will help you finalize a name for your company. Once you are through with that, you need to register it with the state. You can do the step by filing a Certificate of Assumed Name with the Virginia Department of State.

The filing fee is $10 and will need to be filed by mail or in person at your local Virginia registrar’s office. Your form should include:

Your assumed name (the name you are registering)
Your legal name
Your address
Your phone number

A list of the counties where you will do business under the particular assumed name must be mentioned. You must ensure that this form must be signed in front of a Notary Public if filed by mail or outside your local registrar’s office.

If you are opening an online LLC, it is recommended that you include a local address on this form. You will need a physical address to obtain a sales tax ID from the Virginia Department of Taxation.

Once registration is done, it will be filed in the name of your LLC and recorded by the clerk for each county where you conduct business. It may take ten business days before these recordings are posted.

After Your LLC is Registered

Once you have filed your Certificate of Assumed Name and registered your legal name with the Virginia Corporation Commission, you will receive a letter in the mail confirming that the state has filed your LLC application.

Companies should keep this for your records; it proves that you indeed formed your LLC in Virginia.

Final Thoughts

Selecting and registering your Virginia LLC name is not rocket science. It should be easy if you’ve already followed the steps above. You have to key in all the necessary information on the Virginia Secretary of State’s website.

Companies also need to ensure that the LLC name is not already trademarked by another business entity in your state of choice. It is compulsory to do your homework and be sure that you have selected the correct name. If you’re not, it’s better to cancel your order. You can then move on to another choice.

The good idea is to do a Google search of the name you want to use or like for your Virginia LLC if someone is already using it.

Tags: how to, register, Virginia LLC

About the Author

Sunit Nandi I'm the leader of Techno FAQ. Also an engineering college student with immense interest in science and technology. Other interests include literature, coin collecting, gardening and photography. Always wish to live life like there's no tomorrow.