District of Columbia business name search
Before you fall in love with a name, make sure it's free in District of Columbia. The only authoritative source is the state's own registry — here's the direct link, plus District of Columbia's LLC naming rules and what an "available" name does and doesn't get you.
Official state registry
Search the DC Dept. of Licensing & Consumer Protection (DLCP)
This is the official government database for District of Columbia — free to search, and the single source of truth for whether a name is taken.
Heads up: District of Columbia's registry occasionally moves this page. If the link lands on a redirect, search "DC Dept. of Licensing & Consumer Protection (DLCP) business entity search" — it's always free and on the official state domain.
How to check District of Columbia name availability
- 1 Open the DC Dept. of Licensing & Consumer Protection (DLCP) business search (linked above) — it's the official, free, authoritative registry.
- 2 Search your exact name, then variations (singular/plural, with and without "the", different designators).
- 3 An entity that already exists with a confusingly similar name means yours is likely unavailable — the name must be "distinguishable upon the record".
- 4 If it's clear, forming in District of Columbia costs about $99 in state fees for year one — reserve the name or file your Articles of Organization to lock it in.
District of Columbia LLC naming rules
Required designator
Every District of Columbia LLC's legal name must end in a limited-liability designator. Accepted forms include:
Distinguishability
Your name must be distinguishable upon the record from every entity already on file in District of Columbia. Tiny tweaks usually don't count — swapping "Inc." for "LLC", adding "the", or changing punctuation won't make a near-identical name acceptable.
Restricted & barred words
Words implying a bank, trust, insurance, or a regulated profession (e.g. “Bank”, “Insurance”, “Engineering”) usually need approval from the relevant state agency. Words suggesting a government agency (e.g. “FBI”, “Treasury”) are barred.
Reserving the name
Name reservation is available for 120 days.
Available ≠ yours to own
A clear District of Columbia entity search means the name is free to register as a business in District of Columbia. It does not give you a trademark — those are national, based on real use in commerce, and a business in another state could already own the brand. Before you print cards or buy a domain, run a free trademark search too.
Name's clear — ready to form in District of Columbia?
Forming an LLC in District of Columbia runs about $99 in state fees for year one. You can file directly with the state yourself, or use a formation service to handle the paperwork and act as your registered agent.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check if a business name is available in District of Columbia?
Use the DC Dept. of Licensing & Consumer Protection (DLCP) business-entity search — the official state registry — and look up your proposed name. District of Columbia requires a new LLC name to be "distinguishable upon the record" from every existing entity, so search variations, not just the exact string. It's free and authoritative; third-party "name check" sites just query this same database.
What words must a District of Columbia LLC name include?
Your legal name must contain a limited-liability designator. In District of Columbia, accepted forms include: LLC, L.L.C., Limited Liability Company. Words implying a bank, trust, insurance, or a regulated profession (e.g. “Bank”, “Insurance”, “Engineering”) usually need approval from the relevant state agency. Words suggesting a government agency (e.g. “FBI”, “Treasury”) are barred.
Does an available name in District of Columbia mean I own the trademark?
No. A clear District of Columbia entity search only means no other District of Columbia business is registered under that name. It does NOT grant trademark rights, which are national and based on use in commerce. Before you commit to a brand, also run a free trademark search — see our trademark-search tool.
Can I reserve a name in District of Columbia before forming?
Name reservation is available for 120 days.
Check another state
Official links reviewed June 2026. State registries change their URLs periodically — if a link breaks, search the state's official site.
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