More than 800,000 people are employed by more than 408,000 small companies in Alabama. The Secretary of State wants to ensure that every company is using its own distinct name because there are so many of them. Before registering your firm with the Secretary of State, you must first do a name search. Using the Secretary of State’s website to conduct the search is free.
What Is a Business Entity?
A business structure is a commercial entity. To be allowed to conduct business in the state, a corporation must be registered under a specified structure, obtain certain liability limitations, and adhere to specific tax regulations. Limited liability companies (LLCs) and corporations are common commercial entities.
Starting a Business in Alabama
In Alabama, launching a business only requires a few easy steps. Just keep in mind that while creating the legal structure to operate a business under is simple, creating and expanding your new company will require a significant amount of work.
Selecting the company entity you want to operate under is the first step in starting a business. Although it is taxed as an entity, a corporation restricts liability. Conversely, an LLC limits liability as well but has the option to choose to be taxed as a corporation or to distribute income to members for tax purposes. To determine the best course of action for your business, speak with your accountant.
After deciding on the desired entity type, you must choose a name, reserve it, and register the company. The Secretary of State is contacted for registration. To access and file the appropriate forms, visit their website’s business services pages.
Alabama search tips
When leading your Alabama business entity search, keep the following strategies in mind:
The search is not case-sensitive, and all alphabets are treated as uppercase, so using small letters is acceptable, even the letters that the name starts with
- Adding or removing spaces in business names will give you inaccurate results, so avoid doing so
- If you’d like to narrow down your search to a specific business structure, like limited liability partnerships, then add designators such as LLC, LLP, Corp., Inc., etc.
- Punctuation marks are ignored during the search, so there’s no need to enter them even if the business name contains them
Business search by entity name
Refer to the business entity records page on the Secretary of State’s website.
The following search options will be available:
- Entity name
- Entity number
- Officer/Agent/Incorporator
- Month and year
- Date
- Reservation number
- Select “Entity name”
- Arrive the name of the business entity
Once you’ve crossed to the exact webpage, you may enter the name of the business you are searching for. To narrow down your search results even further, enter the following information:
- Type
- Place of formation
- Principal city
- Status
If you have this info on hand, it’s a good impression to filter your search by addition in the relevant info.
Click “Search”
- Review the results
If there are results that are an exact match or partial match, then the table will display the following information:
- Entity name
- Entity ID
- City
- Type
- Status
- Review additional business information
For more information on the business entity, simply click on the entity ID number. The following information will become available:
- ID number
- Type
- Mailing address
- Principal address
- Qualify date
- Place of formation
- Formation date
- Nature of business
- Registered agent name
- Registered agent street address
- Capital paid in
- Capital authorized
- Incorporator name, address, and mailing address
- Business filings
- Any/all scanned documents
Business search by the entity ID
Go backbone to the Alabama business histories webpage and select “Entity Number.”
1. Enter the entity ID
Go into the six-digit entity number into the search bar.
There is no need to refine your search as that option is not available when searching by entity ID.
Click “Search”
2. Review the results
The results will either display a message that says, “No match found.” Alternatively, if the entity ID number exists, it will take you to the business’s information page, where you’ll be able to view detailed company information.
Business Search by agent/incorporator/officer
The next search type for an Alabama business is to search using the “Officer/agent/incorporator” names. Just click on the link that says, “Officer/incorporator/agent.”
1. Enter the official’s name
Enter the name of the agent, officer, or incorporator you are looking up. The best way to thin down your search or get the most accurate results is to add the last name first and the first name afterward. Furthermore, you can refine your search by entering the officer type and place of formation.
2. Review the results
As with the entity name and entity ID search options, you’ll have access to the name of the entity name and ID, officer/agent/incorporator, and the position they hold in the company.
3. Review detailed business information
By connecting on the entity’s name, you’ll have access to detailed information as you did in the stages above with the earlier search criteria.
Business Search by month/year/date
Next, you may continue to search by using the month and year link or the exact date of the business’s formation.
1. Enter the month and year
In this step, you’ll need to enter the month and year of the business’s formation.
Click the “Search” button or hit Enter on your keyboard.
2. Review the results
If there are matching results, you’ll have access to the following:
- Entity name and ID
- Type
- Date
- Transaction
3. Review detailed business information
Just click on the entity name to view more business information on any company on the list.
Business Search by reservation
Another option when searching Alabama registered businesses is to search by reservation ID. This is the number you will have traditionally when demanding a name reservation.
1. Enter the reservation ID number
Enter the registration ID number into the search bar and click “Search.”
2.Review the results
If matching results are found, they will display in the table. If not, you will understand a message that says, “No matches found.”
Alabama search results
The information that you’ll have contact to after using the above-stated search methods includes:
- Entity name
- Entity ID
- City
- Status
- Type
- Mailing address
- Principal address
- Qualify date
- Place of formation
- Formation date
- Nature of business
- Registered agent name
- Registered agent street address
- Capital paid in
- Capital authorized
- Incorporator name, address, and mailing address
- Any/all scanned documents
Copies of documents and certificates
Following an Alabama name search, you might want to get copies of particular business records.
The Business Services Division of the Alabama Secretary of State is where you must get these documents.
A plain copy of an Alabama business document, which is just a photocopy of the company’s documentation, is what you can ask for.
There are no stamps, seals, or endorsements on a plain copy.
However, in the event that you need certified copies of business documents for legal purposes or to submit to financial institutions, then you may request them from the Secretary of State, which includes an endorsement along with a certificate or seal of the Alabama SOS stating that it is a true copy.
The cost of certified copies from the Secretary of State website at varies based on the total number of pages you are requesting to be certified. It’s approximately $17.50 for up to five pages for certified copies, and thereafter an additional $2.50 per page after the first five pages.
Business name availability
It is strongly advised to perform a name search for a number of reasons. In the first place, it will spare you the trouble of filing formation forms and then having your business registration denied because your chosen name is too close to an already-registered company in the same state.
Furthermore, the company name might be trademarked in another state even if the state database yields no results that match it.
So you’ll also need to check the trademark database to ensure that no other business entity is using that name either as a legal entity name or trademark.
Another method of determining if the name is available for business registration is to examine the company’s current state. When you see a status that reads “exists,” it indicates that the business is operational and in good standing. As an alternative, if you see status updates that read:
- Withdrawn
- Merged
- Previous name
Then is a possibility that the name is available for use. However, you’ll need to double-check this with the business entity records department to make sure. Additionally, if the business name is available, but you do not want to register it at this point, you can put in a name reservation request via the Secretary of State’s office, and this will set it aside for a period of 90 days.
Domain name availability
A suitable domain name is just as important as a professional business entity name. Domain names should be short, uncomplicated, and relevant to your brand. This way, it becomes easier for potential customers to remember and search for your website.
One of the best ways to search for available domain names is to use a professional service. It helps you filter your options and also offers suggestions for alternative domain names in the event that your preferred one is taken.
In terms of cost, domain names are relatively cheap in exchange for giving your brand an online presence and reaching customers from all over the globe.
Fictitious business name search
If you plan on doing business under another name aside from the legal name, then you should register an assumed name or DBA name. A DBA is an abbreviation for “doing business as” name. It must be registered with the state’s office for you to legally operate under that name.
Additionally, a DBA name is separate from your legal name and is especially useful for sole proprietorships and general partnerships. This is because sole proprietorships and general partnerships are required by law to operate under their individual names; registering a DBA will allow these business structures to operate under another name from their personal or individual name.
DBA is also specially useful for established companies looking to function multiple businesses. If you’re interested in registering a DBA, you may do so with the Department of State.
However, you should ensure that the DBA name does not contain any banking-related words or words that may confuse your organization with a government agency.
Also, keep away from names with any professional designation in DBAs or words that imply that your business is not authorized to pursue by law.
FAQs
How do I find out if a name is taken for a business?
The best way to find out if a business name is taken or not is to conduct a name search on the state’s website. If there are matching entries, they will be displayed as the state keeps a record of all registered business entities.
What is the difference between a company name and a business name?
A company name is a legal entity that is distinct from its owners. A business name might simply be the first and last name like John Smith if you are a sole trader.
What are some tips for naming a business?
Some tips for naming an Alabama base- business include choosing a name that people can pronounce and spell, making your name web-friendly, and picking a name that’s consistent with your brand and also not too similar to a competitor’s name. Ultimately, when choosing a name for your business, you should follow state naming guidelines.
What is service of process?
Service of process refers to the legal process of letting a business know that legal action has been taken against them. The individual responsible for serving the legal correspondence is referred to as a service of process or registered agent.
What are for-profit corporations?
A for-profit corporation is simply an organization that intends to earn profits via its operations. Some examples of for-profit organizations or for-profit corporations are construction companies, airlines, publishing companies, retail stores, and restaurants.
