Minnesota Business Name Search: How to Check and Reserve a Name

Minnesota Business Name Search: How to Check and Reserve a Name

Minnesota Business Name Search: How to Check and Reserve a Name

Before you file articles of incorporation or articles of organization, you need to lock in your business name. Minnesota requires that every business entity have a distinguishable name on file with the Secretary of State. If you pick a name that's already taken, your filing will be rejected. The good news: the process is straightforward, the search is free, and reserving a name costs only $55.

This guide walks you through searching the Minnesota business entity database and reserving your name so nobody else can claim it while you're getting other pieces in place.

What You'll Need

Before starting your name search, have these items ready:

  • Your intended business name (or a list of 3 to 5 alternatives)
  • Access to the Minnesota Secretary of State business search portal
  • A credit or debit card (if you plan to reserve the name immediately)
  • Email address where you can receive name reservation confirmation
  • Mailing address (only if you file by mail instead of online)

Optional but helpful: A copy of your Minnesota business formation checklist so you can confirm your entity type (LLC, S corporation, C corporation, etc.) before searching.

Step-by-Step Name Search Process

Step 1: Visit the Minnesota Business Search Portal

Go to the Minnesota Secretary of State business search tool at https://mblsportal.sos.mn.gov/Business/Search. This is the official Minnesota Business and Lien System (MBLS), the only authoritative source for registered business entities in the state. Third-party business name search sites may lag by days or weeks, so always use the official portal.

You'll see a simple search box with options to refine your search by entity type (LLC, corporation, partnership, etc.). If you're unsure what your entity type is, consult our guide on choosing between an LLC and corporation.

Step 2: Search Your Preferred Business Name

Type your intended business name into the search field. Start with your exact first choice. The search is not case-sensitive and ignores punctuation, so "ABC Plumbing," "abc plumbing," and "ABC-PLUMBING" will all return the same results.

Click "Search" and review the results. If your exact name appears, it is taken. If variations of your name appear ("ABC Plumbing LLC" vs "ABC Plumbing Inc."), those are different entities and you cannot use the exact same name, even with different punctuation or abbreviations.

Step 3: Understand Minnesota's Name Rules

Before reserving a name, you must follow Minnesota's strict naming requirements. These rules apply differently depending on your entity type.

For Limited Liability Companies (LLCs): Your name MUST contain the words "limited liability company" or the abbreviation "LLC". You may not use "corporation," "incorporated," "corp," or "inc." in an LLC name. The name must be distinguishable from every other LLC, corporation, partnership, and limited partnership already registered in Minnesota. "Distinguishable" means it is not identical or confusingly similar. "Tom's Consulting LLC" and "Tom Consulting LLC" would likely be rejected as too similar.

For Corporations: Your name must not contain "limited liability company" or "LLC". You may use "corporation," "incorporated," "company," "corp," or "inc." (or abbreviations). Corporations follow the same distinguishability rule as LLCs.

For Partnerships and Limited Partnerships: Similar rules apply. Check the Secretary of State's official guidelines at https://www.sos.mn.gov/ for the specific language your entity type requires.

Step 4: Search for Similar or Confusing Names

Do not rely only on an exact-match search. Try these variations to be thorough:

  • Search the root word without LLC (e.g., search "ABC Plumbing" even if your intended name is "ABC Plumbing LLC")
  • Search common abbreviations or misspellings that customers might use
  • Search shortened versions of your name
  • Search similar names in different industries to spot potential trademark conflicts (this is a trademark check, not a Secretary of State requirement, but it matters for your business)

For example, if your intended name is "Mountain Stream Coffee," search "Mountain Stream," "Stream Coffee," "Mountain Coffee," and just "Stream" to see if anything close already exists.

Step 5: Reserve Your Business Name (Optional but Recommended)

If your name search shows your preferred name is available, you have two options: proceed directly to filing your articles (incorporation or organization), or reserve the name now.

Reserving is optional and costs $55. A reservation holds the name for 12 months while you finalize other details like your business plan, financing, or licenses. Reservations are renewable for additional 12-month periods if you are not yet ready to file.

To reserve your name, use the same MBLS portal where you searched. Click "Name Reservation" and follow these steps:

  1. Enter your intended business name exactly as you plan to file it
  2. Select your entity type (LLC, C corporation, S corporation, etc.)
  3. Provide your email address and mailing address
  4. Review the reservation agreement (Minnesota Statutes, Section 5.30)
  5. Pay the $55 fee by credit or debit card online (no check option available for online reservation)

Online and in-person reservations cost $55. Reservations by mail cost $55 but take longer to process. Most people file online for speed.

You will receive email confirmation of your name reservation immediately. Print or save this email. Your reserved name cannot be used by anyone else for the next 12 months.

Step 6: Know When Your Reservation Expires

Your 12-month reservation runs from the date the Secretary of State approves it, not from the date you apply. In practice, online reservations are approved the same day. Mark your calendar for the expiration date.

If you do not file your articles by the expiration date, the reservation lapses and the name becomes available again. You can renew a reservation if you need more time, but renewal requires another $55 fee and a new application.

Tips and Common Mistakes to Avoid

Tip 1: Don't confuse Secretary of State registration with trademark protection. A name can be available in the Minnesota business registry but still infringe a trademark elsewhere. If you plan to operate beyond Minnesota or online, hire an attorney or conduct a federal trademark search at www.uspto.gov before committing to a name.

Tip 2: Always use MBLS, never a third-party site. Services that charge you to search business names on their own platform are not authoritative. The free official search at https://mblsportal.sos.mn.gov/Business/Search is the only one the Secretary of State recognizes.

Tip 3: Reserve your name before you pay for domain names or marketing materials. Once your name is reserved, you know it is not going to be rejected at filing time. A failed filing after you have spent $1,000 on a website and business cards is painful.

Tip 4: Use the exact legal name for your reservation. If your legal entity will be "River Rock Outdoor Adventures LLC," search and reserve exactly "River Rock Outdoor Adventures LLC." Do not search "River Rock" and assume that covers "River Rock Outdoor Adventures."

Tip 5: Renew your reservation if you are close to the 12-month expiration and not yet filed. Do not let the reservation lapse unexpectedly. You can renew at any time before expiration.

Common Mistake 1: Searching for an LLC name without "LLC" in it. An LLC name MUST include either "limited liability company" or "LLC" to be valid in Minnesota. If you search "Morning Brew Coffee" and assume it is available, and then try to file as "Morning Brew Coffee LLC," you may be rejected if "Morning Brew Coffee Inc." (a corporation) already exists, because they are considered too similar. Search with the full legal entity type.

Common Mistake 2: Assuming a reserved name is your trademark. Your Minnesota name reservation does NOT register a trademark. Hundreds of businesses could use "ABC Solutions" as a legal business name in other states or as a trademark in different industries. Register a federal trademark if your name is a key asset.

Common Mistake 3: Filing articles with a slightly different name than you reserved. If you reserve "Peak Performance Fitness LLC" but then file articles as "Peak Performances Fitness LLC," your filing will be rejected. Use the exact name from your reservation in your articles.

What to Expect: Timeline and Results

Search Results: The search is instant. You will know immediately whether your name is available.

Reservation Processing: Online reservations are approved the same business day, usually within minutes. You will receive email confirmation. Mail reservations take longer, typically 5 to 10 business days.

Reservation Status: Your name reservation is held exclusively in your name for 12 months. During this time, the Secretary of State will not register any other business entity with your reserved name or a name so similar that it is likely to be confused with yours.

If Your Name Is Already Taken: The search will show you the registered entity name, the entity type, and sometimes the date it was registered. You will need to choose a different name or add a distinguishing word to make your name clearly different (for example, "River Rock Coffee Roasters" instead of "River Rock Coffee").

Filing After Reservation: Once you are ready to file your articles of organization or articles of incorporation, use the exact name from your reservation. Do not change it. Filing takes 3 to 5 business days after submission if you file online, longer if you mail.

Reserving a Name vs. Filing Immediately

You do not have to reserve a name separately. If you are ready to form your LLC or corporation right now, you can skip the reservation and proceed directly to filing your articles. Your name will be protected the moment your articles are approved and the entity is officially registered.

Reserve a name only if you want to hold it while you handle other startup tasks like securing funding, obtaining licenses, or working with an accountant.

Assumed Names (DBAs) Are Different

If you plan to do business under a name different from your legal entity name, you will file a separate document called a "Certificate of Assumed Name," commonly known as a DBA ("doing business as"). For example, if your LLC is "Smith Holdings LLC" but you operate a coffee shop called "Morning Brew," you file a DBA for "Morning Brew."

DBAs are filed with the Minnesota Secretary of State and also must be published in a legal newspaper. The filing fee is $50 online or in person, $30 by mail. DBAs must be renewed annually at no charge.

Legal Disclaimer

This content is informational only and is not legal or tax advice. Business naming, entity formation, and trademark protection involve complex legal considerations that vary by situation. Consult a qualified Minnesota business attorney or CPA before finalizing your business name, especially if you are forming a corporation, operating across multiple states, or building a brand you plan to protect nationally. The information here reflects Minnesota Secretary of State requirements as of September 2026 and may change. Always confirm current fees and procedures at https://www.sos.mn.gov/.