California LLC names must include "LLC", "L.L.C.", or "Limited Liability Company". Must not conflict with existing CA businesses or trademarks. Cannot use restricted words without approval. Filing fee: $70, processing 10-15 business days.
California LLC Name Requirements
California Secretary of State enforces strict naming rules.
Required Designators
Must include: "LLC", "L.L.C.", or "Limited Liability Company". Can appear anywhere in name. "Blue Ocean LLC", "LLC Blue Ocean", "Blue Ocean, LLC" all valid. Cannot use: "Ltd", "Inc", "Corp" (wrong entity type). Abbreviations must be one of the three approved.
Name Availability Requirements
California prohibits names that:
Identical or Confusingly Similar
Cannot be same as existing CA business. "Confusingly similar" is subjectively determined. "Blue Ocean LLC" likely blocks: "Blue Oceans LLC", "Blueocean LLC", "Blue Ocean Group LLC". Adding descriptor may not help: "Blue Ocean Marketing LLC" may still be too similar. Search: CA Business Search.
Restricted Words
These words require pre-approval or licensing: Bank, Banking, Trust: Requires CA Department of Financial Protection and Innovation approval. Attorney, Law, Legal: Requires active CA State Bar members. Insurance, Insurer: Requires CA Department of Insurance license. Engineer, Engineering: Requires licensed PE. University, College: Requires CA Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education approval. Accountant, CPA: Requires CA Board of Accountancy license.
Restricted Word Process: Using "Law" in California LLC name requires: All members must be licensed CA attorneys. Must provide bar numbers on filing. SOS will reject filing if not provided. Process adds 2-4 weeks to formation timeline.
Checking Name Availability
Multi-step verification process.
Official CA Business Search
Visit bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov/search/business. Search your desired name without LLC. Check variations (plural, singular, spacing). Review results for: Active businesses. Reserved names. Dissolved businesses (may still block you). Business type (LLC, Corp, LP, etc all conflict).
Beyond State Database
CA database doesn't show: Federal trademarks (USPTO). Pending trademark applications. Common law business names. DBA/Fictitious names. Check these separately to avoid legal issues.
California Name Reservation
Secure your name before formal filing.
Reservation Details
Cost: $10. Duration: 60 days. Form: Name Reservation Request (Form LLC-12). Processing: 5-7 business days. Extends filing window: Prepare operating agreement while name reserved. Gather member information. Arrange initial capital. Prevents someone else taking name.
When to Reserve
You're not ready to file LLC yet. You need time to: Finalize operating agreement. Coordinate with co-founders. Secure funding. Want to lock in name immediately. Multiple parties involved (lawyers, accountants preparing docs).
California Filing Process
After confirming name availability.
Online Filing (Recommended)
Site: bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov. Form: Articles of Organization (LLC-1). Fee: $70. Processing: 10-15 business days standard. Expedited: +$350 for 2-3 business days. +$750 for 24 hours. +$1,250 for 4 hours.
Required Information
LLC name with designator. CA street address (no PO boxes). Registered agent: CA resident or CA corporation. Name and address of agent. Service of process address. Management structure (member-managed or manager-managed). Organizer information (person filing).
Foreign LLC Name Requirements
Out-of-state LLC doing business in California.
Foreign Qualification Rules
If your home-state name conflicts with existing CA business: File under different name. Use "doing business as" (DBA). Get written consent from existing business (rare). Add distinguishing words approved by CA SOS.
Process
Form: Application to Register Foreign LLC (LLC-5). Fee: $70. Must show: Certificate of Good Standing from home state (issued within past 90 days). Proof name available in CA or consent letter. Same registered agent requirements. Annual franchise tax still applies ($800 minimum).
California Franchise Tax: All California LLCs pay minimum $800 annual franchise tax to Franchise Tax Board. Due within 3-4 months after formation. Not paid to Secretary of State (separate agency). First year may be waived if filing late in year. Plan for this expense.
Name Change After Formation
Want to change LLC name post-filing?
Amendment Process
Form: Certificate of Amendment (LLC-4/8). Fee: $30. Process: Vote by members (per operating agreement). Check new name availability. File amendment. Update: EIN with IRS. Business licenses. Bank accounts. Contracts. Marketing materials.
Cost of Name Change
Filing fee: $30. Updating materials: $500-5,000+. Bank account changes: Free-$50. License updates: Varies by county. DBA filings if keeping old name: $26-100. Consider: Total cost $1,000-10,000 depending on business size. Change early if needed (less expensive when small).
California DBA Requirements
Operating under name different than LLC name.
When DBA Needed
"Smith Holdings LLC" operates as "Blue Ocean Coffee". Multiple brands under one LLC. Name already taken for LLC but available as DBA. Filing: County Clerk's office (county where business operates). Fee: $26-100 depending on county. Renewal: Every 5 years. Publication: Required in some counties (newspaper notice, $50-200).
Trademark Protection in California
LLC registration ≠ trademark protection.
State vs Federal
CA LLC registration: Prevents identical name in California. No protection in other states. No protection against similar names. Federal trademark (USPTO): Protects across all 50 states. Prevents confusingly similar marks. Covers online/interstate commerce. $250-350 to file. California state trademark: Only protects in California. $70 to file. Weaker than federal. Rarely worth it (get federal instead).
Always check USPTO before choosing CA LLC name. Prevents future trademark conflicts.
Multi-Check Before Filing
Trademark Lens verifies: California business database availability. USPTO federal trademarks. .COM domain availability. Social media handles. Shows all conflicts before spending $70 filing fee.
Filing Checklist
Name available in CA Business Search. No USPTO trademark conflicts. Domain available (.com preferred). Registered agent selected. $70 filing fee ready. $800 franchise tax budgeted. Operating agreement drafted (not filed but needed). Initial member contributions planned.