Whether you’re researching the availability of a business name or checking the status of a business entity, find the information you need from the state of Alaska Division of Corporations, Business, and Professional Licensing’s website.

The Division of Corporations, Business, and Professional Licensing Corporate Database search provides information for:

Corporations
LLCs
Limited Partnerships

The database doesn’t include information for sole proprietorships or general partnerships, as those registrations are handled at the local level.

There is no fee for searching the database.

Steps For Searching Corporation and LLC Names In Alaska

Step 1: Visit the Alaska Entity Name Database

Visit the Alaska Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development’s Corporations Database

Step 2: Search for a Business Name

In this example, we will search for “Sew What.”

Here, we see three records. There is an entity name that is an exact match to the one we were searching for. Even so, be sure to look at the status column. If it shows “Expired Name,” this means it was registered at one time but is no longer. The last entry, “Sew What?! Quilting With Attitude, LLC,” has the first part of the business name like the one we were searching for, but the remaining name is different. Approval for a name like this would be on a case-by-case basis but would likely not be approved.

If you want more information about one of the entries, click on the “Entity #.” Let’s look at the last entry for more information, number 122463. Here, you will be able to look at a few important things.

Entity Type – The business in this example is a Limited Liability Company (LLC).
Entity Number – The number that identifies the LLC with the Alaska Division of Corporations, Business, and Professional Licensing.
Status – “Good Standing” means the business entity has paid their filing fees, and all reports are up to date.
AK Formed Date – This is the date when the LLC was formed.
Duration/Expiration – This is what the members chose for how long the LLC would operate. Perpetual is common and means it does not plan to close.
Next Biennial Report Due – In Alaska, LLCs have to file a report every two years.
Registered Agent – The Registered Agent is the single point of contact should the state need to contact someone within the LLC. The Registered Agent can be the owner of the LLC, but note that a physical address has to be used and is often the owner’s home address. This is concerning for some people and is why they use a Registered Agent Service like NorthWest Registered Agent.
Officials – The names and titles of the individuals involved with the LLC. You are also able to look at the Articles of Organization and Biennial Reports to see what was entered.

What we really hope to see in a search is when there are no results. In this example, we will look up “Cowboy Cleaners.” As you can see, there are no businesses registered under that name. This means the name is fully able to be registered for your business.

How to Register a Trade Name (Sole Proprietorships and Partnerships)

To register a sole proprietorship or partnership that is operating their business under a name that is different from the owner’s legal name, a Trade Name will be needed. The Trade Name is also known as “Doing Business As,” DBA, Assumed Name, or Trade Name.

How do I form an LLC in Alaska?

Before starting your business and forming an LLC, be sure to do the business entity search first to make sure the name is available to use. Once you know the LLC name is available, learn how to form an Alaska LLC by reading our step-by-step guide on filing the Articles of Organization.

While not required in Alaska, an Operating Agreement, which are the rules for how the LLC operates, is a document worth considering, especially for multi-member LLCs.

After forming a Limited Liability Company, be sure to register for Alaska business licenses and obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN) so the business is legal to operate.

What are the requirements to name an LLC in Alaska?

In addition to the name being unique, the name of the LLC must include a special designator such as Limited Liability Company, Limited Liability Co, LLC, L.L.C., Ltd., in addition to not using restricted words such as bank or insurance, unless the entity is licensed to operate as such.

There are a few name requirements to be aware of as well. For starters, the legal name of the LLC must be one of the following words or abbreviations:
– Limited Liability Company
– Limited Liability Co.
– LLC
– L.L.C.
– Ltd.

Additionally, the LLC name cannot include the words “city,” “borough,” “village,” or any word that could suggest that the business is part of a municipality or government agency.

Can an Alaska LLC name be reserved?

If you find the business name you want but are not ready to register the LLC, a name may be reserved for up to 120 days by filing a Business or Corporation Name Reservation Application. A $25 fee must be paid to reserve a name.