How To Do A New Mexico Business Name Search

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

Also See: Guide to Starting a Business in Nex Mexico

Steps For Searching Corporation and LLC Names In New Mexico

Step 1: Visit the New Mexico Entity Name Database

Visit the New Mexico Secretary of State website.

Step 2: Search for a Business Name

Enter the name you would like to use in the “Entity Name / DBA Name” field.  In this example, we will look up “The Pool Guys” and then click “Search.”  It is recommended to search both by “Starts With,” “Exact Match,” and “Contains” to be sure to search your name thoroughly.

Step 3: Review the Results

Searching the registered names, we get a list of all the businesses with the words “The Pool Guys.”  To be able to register a corporation or LLC name in New Mexico, the name must be distinguishable from the other names registered. Words like “The,” “An,” and “And” would not make a name unique, such as “The Pool Guys” and “Pool Guys.”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 any of the registered business names, click on the link in the “Entity Name” column to see a detailed report.  In this example, we will look up “The Pool Guys LLC.”

While the name “The Pool Guys” by itself may not be available, other variants such as “The Pool Guys of New Mexico” or “The Pool Guys of Santa Fe” are.  Searching for those business names brings a result that says, “No data found.”  While final approval is still with the Secretary of State, it is likely available to register. 

These are the basics of searching for a business name in New Mexico.  Even when the name of the business you want is available, the 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. 

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 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?

What information can be found on the New Mexico business entity database?

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

• Business Entity Name
• Status – Active Good Standing means all reports and filing fees are up to date. Other results include “Inactive Voluntary Dissolution, Inactive Revocation,” “Cancelled,” among others. The names of these results may be available to register.
• Entity type – Corporation, Limited Liability Company. Etc.
• Principal Address – This could be the business’s physical address, or it could be an address where business records are stored.
• 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 publically listed.  
• Date the entity was filed with the Secretary of State
• Names of the officers and their title