How to Check If a Business Name Is Taken

You've found a business name you love. It feels right, it's memorable, and you can already see it on your website. But before you print business cards or register an LLC, you need to answer one critical question: is the name actually available? Checking a business name isn't just about domain availability — it's a multi-step process that covers trademarks, state registrations, social media, and more. Skip any of these steps and you risk legal disputes, forced rebranding, or customer confusion. Here's the complete checklist.

Step 1: Check Domain Name Availability

Your domain name is your digital storefront, and it's often the first thing to check because it's the hardest to compromise on. Unlike business registrations (which are state-specific) or social handles (which can be slightly modified), a domain is globally unique — if someone else has it, you either negotiate to buy it or choose a different name.

How to Check

• WHOIS lookup: Use ICANN's WHOIS tool (lookup.icann.org) or a registrar like Namecheap or GoDaddy to check if a domain is registered. WHOIS will also show you when the domain was registered and when it expires.
• Multiple TLDs: Don't just check .com. Also check .io, .co, .ai, .net, and any industry-specific TLDs. Even if you plan to use .com, knowing whether your name is available on other extensions gives you options and helps you assess how crowded the namespace is.
• Domain generators: Tools like Nametastic can check availability across dozens of TLDs simultaneously, saving significant time compared to checking one by one.

What to Do If the Domain Is Taken

If your ideal .com is taken, you have several options:

• Check if it's for sale: Many registered domains are held by investors and listed on marketplaces like Sedo, Afternic, or Dan.com. Be prepared for prices ranging from $500 to $50,000+ for desirable names.
• Contact the owner directly: WHOIS privacy services often provide a forwarding email. A polite inquiry can sometimes yield a domain at a reasonable price, especially if the owner isn't actively using it.
• Use an alternative TLD: If yourname.com is taken but yourname.io or yourname.co is available, that may be a viable path, especially for tech companies. Many successful startups have launched on alternative TLDs.
• Modify the name slightly: Adding "get," "try," "use," or "hello" as a prefix (getyourname.com, tryyourname.com) is a common workaround, though it makes the domain longer and harder to communicate.

For a deep dive into the domain acquisition process, see our guide on how to buy a domain name.

Step 2: Search the USPTO Trademark Database

This is the step most people skip — and the one most likely to cause expensive legal problems. A trademark search is non-negotiable before committing to any business name.

How to Search

1. Go to the USPTO's Trademark Electronic Search System (TESS) at tess2.uspto.gov.
2. Select "Basic Word Mark Search (New User)."
3. Enter your business name in the search field.
4. Review the results carefully. Pay attention to:
   • Live vs. Dead marks: Only "live" trademarks are enforceable. Dead marks may still carry some common law rights, but they're generally safer to use.
   • International Class: Trademarks are registered within specific classes of goods and services. A "Spark" trademark in Class 25 (clothing) doesn't prevent you from using "Spark" in Class 9 (software). But if there's a mark in your class, that's a serious red flag.
   • Similar marks: Trademark infringement isn't limited to exact matches. "Spark" and "Sparke" could be considered confusingly similar. Search for phonetic equivalents and close spellings too.

Understanding Trademark Classes

The Nice Classification system divides all goods and services into 45 classes. Some of the most relevant for startups include:

• Class 9: Computer software, mobile apps, downloadable content
• Class 35: Advertising, business management, retail services
• Class 36: Financial and insurance services
• Class 38: Telecommunications services
• Class 41: Education, entertainment, sporting and cultural activities
• Class 42: Scientific and technological services, SaaS, cloud computing

Step 3: Check State Business Registries

Every state maintains a registry of business entities (LLCs, corporations, partnerships) formed within its borders. Even if a name isn't federally trademarked, it might be registered as a business entity in your state — which could prevent you from registering the same name.

How to Search

• Your home state: Search your state's Secretary of State website. Most states have a free online business name search tool. In Delaware (where many startups incorporate), it's at icis.corp.delaware.gov. In California, it's bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov.
• States where you'll operate: If you plan to do business in multiple states, check each one. Business name availability is state-specific — a name can be available in California but taken in New York.
• Similar names: Most states won't let you register a name that's "deceptively similar" to an existing entity. "Acme Software LLC" and "Acme Softwares Inc." would likely conflict.

Keep in mind that state business registration and federal trademark registration are separate systems. Being the first to register an LLC name in your state doesn't give you national trademark rights, and having a trademark doesn't automatically reserve the business entity name in every state.

Step 4: Search Social Media Platforms

In 2025, your social media presence is nearly as important as your domain name. Inconsistent handles across platforms create confusion and make your brand harder to find.

Platforms to Check

• Essential: X (Twitter), Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, TikTok
• Industry-specific: GitHub (tech), Dribbble (design), Product Hunt (startups), YouTube (video content)
• Emerging: Threads, Bluesky, Mastodon

Tools for Bulk Checking

Rather than checking each platform manually, use a tool that checks multiple platforms at once:

• Namechk.com: Checks username availability across dozens of social networks and domains simultaneously.
• KnowEm.com: Similar bulk checking across 500+ social networks.
• Namecheckr.com: Quick checks across the most popular platforms.

What If Your Handle Is Taken?

If the exact handle isn't available on one or two platforms, you have options: add a prefix like "get" or "use" (e.g., @getslack was Slack's original Twitter handle), or use your full business name if your preferred abbreviation is taken. Just ensure consistency across the platforms where your handle IS available. Inconsistency is more damaging than a slightly longer handle.

Step 5: Search App Stores

If your business will have a mobile app — and most businesses eventually do — check both major app stores for name conflicts.

• Apple App Store: Search at apps.apple.com or directly in the App Store app. Apple requires unique app names, but the namespace is shared across all categories.
• Google Play Store: Search at play.google.com. Google is slightly more flexible with name duplicates across different categories, but identical names in the same category will conflict.

An app name conflict doesn't necessarily prevent you from using a business name, but it creates confusion and makes your app harder to find. If a well-established app already uses your intended name, users searching for your app will find the other one first.

Step 6: Run a Comprehensive Google Search

A Google search catches things that formal databases miss. Search for your proposed name in several ways:

• Exact match: Search "Your Name" (in quotes) to find exact matches across the web.
• With industry terms: Search "Your Name" + software, "Your Name" + app, "Your Name" + company to find businesses in similar spaces.
• Image search: Search for the name in Google Images to see if any existing logos or branding appear.
• News search: Check Google News for any businesses with this name that have media coverage.

What you're looking for is any established business using the same name, especially in your industry or a related one. A "Vertex" plumbing company in rural Montana probably won't conflict with a "Vertex" SaaS startup in San Francisco, but a "Vertex" software company anywhere in the U.S. is a concern.

Common Law Trademarks

This is where Google searches become legally important. In the United States, trademark rights are established through use in commerce, not registration. A company that has been using a name in business for years has "common law" trademark rights, even if they never registered with the USPTO. These rights are geographically limited but very real.

If your Google search reveals an existing business using your intended name in a similar industry, you could face a common law trademark claim — even if the USPTO database showed no results. This is why the Google search step is not optional.

Step 7: Check International Trademarks

If you have any plans to operate internationally — or even if you just want to protect yourself from overseas companies entering your market — check international trademark databases.

Key Databases

• WIPO Global Brand Database: The World Intellectual Property Organization maintains a searchable database at branddb.wipo.int covering trademarks from 70+ countries. This is the single most comprehensive international trademark search tool.
• EUIPO eSearch: For European trademarks, search at euipo.europa.eu. A single EU trademark registration covers all 27 member states.
• UK IPO: Post-Brexit, the UK has its own trademark system. Search at trademarks.ipo.gov.uk.
• Canadian CIPO: For Canadian trademarks, search at ised-isde.canada.ca/cipo.

International trademark checking is especially important if your name is a common word in another language or if you're in a global industry like technology, fashion, or consumer goods.

The Risks of Skipping Checks

It's tempting to skip some of these steps, especially when you're excited about a name and eager to start building. But the consequences of using a taken name can be severe:

• Cease and desist letters: The most common outcome. An existing trademark holder's attorney sends you a letter demanding you stop using the name. Legal fees to respond typically start at $2,000 to $5,000.
• Forced rebranding: If you lose a trademark dispute, you'll need to rebrand entirely — new domain, new marketing materials, new social handles, new signage. Depending on how long you've been operating, this can cost $10,000 to $100,000+ and cause significant customer confusion.
• Trademark infringement lawsuit: In serious cases, you could face a federal lawsuit. Even if you eventually win, defending a trademark suit costs $50,000 to $250,000 on average.
• Lost brand equity: Every day you operate under a name you might have to abandon, you're building equity that could evaporate. Every backlink, every customer memory, every piece of marketing becomes worthless if you're forced to change names.

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Your Complete Name Availability Checklist

Here's the full checklist in order of priority. Complete each step before moving to the next:

1. Domain availability — Check .com and alternative TLDs. If the .com is taken, assess whether the price is reasonable or if you need an alternative.
2. USPTO trademark search — Search for exact matches and phonetic equivalents in your business class. If there's a live trademark in your class, stop and choose a different name.
3. State business registry — Check your home state and any states where you plan to operate. Name must be distinguishable from existing entities.
4. Social media handles — Check all major platforms. Aim for consistency. Minor variations are acceptable but identical names on competing platforms are not.
5. App store search — If you'll have a mobile app, verify name availability on both iOS and Android stores.
6. Google search — Look for existing businesses using the name, especially in your industry. This catches common law trademarks and unregistered brands.
7. International trademarks — If you have global ambitions, check WIPO, EUIPO, and relevant national databases.

Once you've cleared all seven checks, move fast. Register your domain, file your LLC or corporation, submit your trademark application, and claim your social media handles — all on the same day if possible. In the time between your research and your registration, someone else could take one of these assets.

If you're still in the naming phase and haven't settled on a name yet, our guide on how to come up with a company name walks through the creative process from start to finish. And for detailed guidance on the domain acquisition step specifically, check out how to buy a domain name.