How to Register a Business Name in Texas

When y'all start a new business in Texas, 1 of the first things yous need to practise is annals your business'south name. It is of import to complete this procedure properly to avert future issues. Below is an overview of this procedure to help y'all understand and complete all of the necessary steps.

i. Come With Your Texas Business Proper noun

Earlier you can register your concern name in Texas, you lot must decide what the name of the business will be. When trying to develop your company'south name, think about the brand bulletin y'all want to communicate to clients. Your business name will assist to class the initial impression potential customers will have of your business.

What Makes a Good Business Proper noun?

Every business is dissimilar. However, in general, your business proper noun should be:

  • Like shooting fish in a barrel to search for
  • Easy to retrieve
  • Unique and in line with your make identity

Brainstorming Tips

Every bit you call back nearly different business names, follow these tips.

  • Every bit yous look for ideas, focus on choosing a name that communicates a articulate message.
  • Think about the visual elements associated with your business.
  • Consider an acronym, specially if y'all tin't come upward with a simple name.
  • Play with discussion associations related to your business.
  • Experiment with different synonyms.
  • Retrieve about alliterations or rhymes that go with your business.

2. Decide the Legal Structure of your Texas Business concern

Before you choose your business name, you should likewise select your business structure. Each structure available will come with its ain requirements, challenges and advantages. Considering all of these characteristics volition aid you detect the most appropriate structure for your needs.

Why is your concern structure important?

You may wonder why yous need to choose your business structure earlier you finalize the name. Kickoff, your business organisation structure will affect the names available for your company. In addition, the registration process will differ based on the structure y'all choose.

Business Structure Choices

4 chief structure options are available to Texas businesses:

  • Sole proprietorship
    A sole proprietorship is i of the about basic structures available. If you are an individual who begins engaging in concern activities, you will automatically be designated as a sole proprietor unless you pursue a different structure.
    • Learn More: What is a Sole Proprietorship
  • Partnership
    A partnership structure is platonic for a company with two or more than owners. When you lot structure your business as a partnership, you volition file an information render instead of paying taxes as a company. Losses and profits will be passed on to owners.
    • Learn More than: What is a Partnership
  • LLC
    LLC stands for "Limited Liability Visitor" is a more than flexible business structure that tin can include several people as owners. This structure combines limited liability protection with pass-through tax.
    • Learn More: What is an LLC
  • Corporation
    A corporation is a construction that separates the owners from the visitor. In this example, owners volition exist called "shareholders" and will not exist personally liable for debts or business lawsuits. Shareholders receive their profits through stocks and dividends.
    • Acquire More than: What is a Corporation

three. Cheque Business Name Availability

In some cases, the name yous want to use for your concern may already be taken. Before registering the company, look for any other business in Texas operating under the same proper noun. To conduct a thorough business concern proper name availability search, you want to consummate iii types of searches:

  • Trademark Search
  • Texas Business Name Search
  • Website Domain Search

Trademark Search

The get-go step in verifying if a Texas business organisation name is available is to comport a federal trademark search. Since trademarks are registered at the federal level, they supersede land-level registrations. Thus, y'all'll desire to ensure that your preferred business organisation proper noun is not trademarked. If it is trademarked, you'll need to come upwardly with a new business organisation proper noun.

To conduct a federal trademark search, yous desire to visit the U.S. Patent and Trademark Role (USPTO) website and utilize the TESS Search.

Texas Business Proper name Search

In one case you've verified that your name is not trademark, its fourth dimension to verify its availability to use in Texas. To search the registered business concern names in Texas, use the Texas Taxable Entity Search.

In your search yous'll want to not only verify that your verbal business organisation proper noun is bachelor merely also that there are no other businesses using significantly similar business names.

Website Domain Search

Once yous have verified that your business name is not trademarked and available for utilise in Texas you'll likewise want to do a search to ensure that the .com version of your business name is bachelor. While non every business will need or plan to build a website, nosotros withal recommend trying to annals the .com version of your business proper noun.

Past registering the .com version of your business organisation proper noun you lot ensure that no one else can begin to apply that website name. Since y'all tin annals a website domain name for less than $10 with namecheap, its an affordable fashion to protect your business concern name from existence used by someone else.

4. File Your Texas Business Name Registration

As soon as yous have chosen a business name, vetted information technology and verified it is the right name for y'all, it is fourth dimension to register it. The process yous demand to use to register your new concern proper noun will depend on your chosen business organization structure. By this step, you lot should already have the legal structure of your business determined. The process to register your business name in Texas will vary slightly depending upon the legal structure you choose.

How to Annals an LLC Proper name in Texas

To register the name of your Texas LLC, y'all must file Articles of Organization with the Texas Secretary of Land. When you annals an LLC, you volition need to file certain requirements. For an LLC your business proper name will need to include a designator that clearly identifies the concern as an LLC such as:

  • "LLC"
  • "50.L.C."
  • "Limited Liability Company"
  • "Ltd.

How to Register a Corporation Name in Texas

To class a Texas Corporation you lot will demand to file Articles of Incorporation with the Texas Secretary of State. The process of establishing a corporation is known as "incorporation." Like to registering an LLC, a Corporation in Texas must include a designator that clearly denotes that the business is structured as a Corporation, such every bit:

  • "Corporation"
  • "Incorporated"
  • "Inc."
  • "Corp."

How to Register a Texas Sole Proprietorship Business organization Proper noun

Sole proprietorships lack whatever legal distinction between the individual and the business organisation. As a result, a Texas sole proprietor must conduct business nether their personal name or a business proper name that includes their personal name such as "John Doe's Lawncare". If you plan to operate your sole proprietorship under a more brandable concern name, you'll need to get a Texas DBA by filing an Causeless Proper name Certificate.

How to Register a Texas Partnership Concern Proper noun

Like to sole proprietors, general partnerships in Texas must operate under a concern name that includes the last names of the business organisation' partners, such as "Williams, Smith and Partners". If you programme to operate nether a different business concern proper name, yous'll exist required to file for a Assumed Proper name in Texas.

5. File a Texas DBA Assumed Proper noun

If your business concern is going to be operating under a proper noun that is not the same as the business's legal proper noun, you must file for a Texas DBA, officially known every bit an Causeless Name Certificate. Using an Causeless Name tin help make your business, products, workforce divisions, and services more effectively.

6. File a Trademark

To ensure your business proper name is protected, it is best to file a trademark. Fortunately, the process of filing a trademark is fairly easy and straightforward. Most people are able to complete this process without help.

You can discover the application you demand on the U.S. Patent and Trademark Part's website.