The first step in forming an LLC or corporation in Illinois is to verify the business name is available to use. Each business entity registered with the Illinois Secretary of State – Corporations Division must use a unique name. See our step-by-step guide to learn how to quickly search available Illinois business entity search by using the state’s Business Entity Database.

If you are interested in searching for information on entities such as a sole proprietorship or general partnership, these entities register their business name by submitting an Assumed Name Certificate with the County Clerk’s office in the county where the business is located.

Also See: Guide to Starting a Business in Illinois

Steps For Searching Illinois LLC and Corporation Names In Illinois

Step 1: Visit the Illinois entity name database

Go to the Illinois Secretary of State website.

Step 2: Search for the business name

Enter the name you would like to use in the “Search” field.  In this example, we will look up the business name “American Lawn Care.”

Step 3: Review the results

Searching the registered names, we get a list of all the businesses with the words “American Lawn Care.”  To be able to register a corporation or LLC name in Illinois, the name must be distinguishable from the other names registered. If you were looking to form an LLC with this name, you wouldn’t be able to since there is already one registered.

To find more information about a registered business name, click on the link with the business name.

Clicking on the link for “American Lawn Care LLC” brings a detailed report.

While the name “American Lawn Care” may not be available, another variant like “American Lawns” is.  Searching for those business names brings a result that says there were no matching entries.  While final approval is still with the Illinois Secretary of State, it is likely available to register. 

These are the basics of searching for a business name in Illinois.  Even when the name of the business you want is available, the Illinois Secretary of State will make a final determination at the time of filing to ensure the name you picked isn’t too similar to other registered names. 

What information can be looked up in the Illinois business name database?

The business name search can find several pieces of information about the business. Some of the highlights include:

• Company Name
• Status – Active means the business is in Good Standing with the Illinois Secretary of State, and all reports and filing fees are up to date
• Type of LLC – Corporation, Limited Liability Company. Etc.
• Registered Agent’s information – A Registered Agent is the singular point of contact for the entity should a legal, or tax notice need to be sent to the business.  This is often one of the owners, and if their home address is used, that address becomes public information.  Many people find this concerning and use a Registered Agent service like Northwest Registered Agent, so their home address isn’t listed.  
• Principal Office – This could be the business entity’s actual address or an address where the business records are stored.

Something to keep in mind is that even though each Corporation and LLC name must be unique, it may not stop someone else from using that name since business names for a sole proprietorship or partnership are not registered by the Illinois Secretary of State and are not required to be unique.  To protect your business name, consider getting a trademark.

Related: Should I trademark my business name?

Illinois Business Name Search FAQs