Deal alert! Northwest will form your LLC for $39 (60% discount). See details.
A unique business name is important for branding, but it’s easy to get lost in all the Montana business name rules.
This page will teach you how to look up your LLC name and make sure it’s available to use.
Montana LLC name
If you file your Montana LLC paperwork with a name that is already used by another Montana business entity – or that doesn’t meet the Montana name rules – your filing may be rejected.
The first step to checking if your LLC name passes is to make sure your name is not already taken by another business.
You can do this using the Business Entity Search. And you need to do this because two business entities in the state can’t have the same name or be too similar.
The second step is to make sure your LLC name follows the Montana Secretary of State’s rules, which we’ve broken down below.
Need to save time? Hire a company to form your LLC:
Northwest ($39 + state fee) or LegalZoom ($149 + state fee)
(Learn why Northwest is #1 in Northwest vs LegalZoom)
How do I search the Montana business entity name database?
You can use the business entity search to search your business name against the existing business entities registered in Montana.
Note: This tool is sometimes called the Montana Business Name Search or the Montana Business Entity Search. They both refer to the same website and get you the same search records.
Visit the Montana Business Search page:
Montana Secretary of State: Business Search
It’s simple to use:
- Click the Advanced Search tab to expand the options.
- Enter your desired LLC name in the search bar.
- Change the search type to “Contains“. You can leave everything else on the default settings.
- Click Search.
Why use “Contains”? If you select “Starts With” you might miss a similar name which adds a filler word. For example, if you searched “Hamburger Guy” using the “Starts With” setting, you’d miss the existing business called The Hamburger Guy Inc. You can’t name your company “Hamburger Guy LLC” if The Hamburger Guy Inc. already exists.
Search tips:
- Leave out “LLC”, “L.L.C.”, “Limited Liability Company”, etc., when doing your searches.
- Leave out any commas, periods, apostrophes, etc.
- You can search using uppercase or lowercase letters.
Tip: It’s best to enter only the main part of your desired Montana LLC name in the search bar. For example, if your desired LLC name is Riverwalk Studios LLC, first do a search for the words “Riverwalk Studio”. And then do a search for “Riverwalk”. This helps make sure that you see everything that is potentially similar.
How to interpret the Montana LLC search results
If the results show names that are not too similar to yours (meaning yours is distinguishable), then your Limited Liability Company name is available for use.
- Let’s keep using the example above. If your desired name is Riverwalk Studios LLC, and the only similar names you saw were “Riverwalk Ranch” and “Riverwalk Studio Starters”, then your name should be available.
If no results show up, that means your LLC name is unique and it should be available for use. To be safe, run your search again using only part of your LLC name (to double-check that there are no similar names).
- For example, search just the word “Riverwalk” instead of Riverwalk Studios.
If your exact LLC name appears in the list of search records, your LLC name is not available for use because another Montana business entity is already using it.
If the results show a name that is very similar to yours, your LLC name may not be available for use.
- If your desired name is Riverwalk Studios LLC, and the search results show a “Riverwalk Studio”, then your name is not available.
What if my desired LLC name isn’t available?
If your name is not unique, you’ll need to come up with a variation or a different name for your LLC.
Tip: Wait until your LLC is approved before you apply for your LLC EIN Number or purchase any other marketing materials. This way you don’t spend money on business supplies you can’t use because your business name isn’t available.
When in doubt, call the Secretary of State
You can call the Montana Secretary of State to confirm that your LLC name is available.
Not all states offer this service, but the representatives in Montana will help you use the Montana Business Name Search and Name Availability Search to figure out whether your business name is available.
The Business Services phone number is 406-444-3665. Their hours are Monday through Friday, from 8am to 5pm Central Time.
Montana Limited Liability Company Name Requirements
As per Section 35-8-103 of the Montana LLC Act, there are a few rules and requirements for naming a Montana business entity that you need to know.
Do I have to use a comma in my LLC name?
No, you don’t have to. You can file your LLC name with or without a comma. Both versions are accepted by the Secretary of State.
For example: If your desired business name is Grandpa Grizzly, you can file it as:
- Grandpa Grizzly LLC
- Grandpa Grizzly, LLC
Or, instead of having “LLC” as your designator (ending), there are a few other options in Montana.
What designators (endings) can I use in my LLC name?
Your Montana LLC name must contain one of the following designators at the end:
- LLC
- L.L.C.
- Limited Liability Co.
- Limited Liability Company
- LC
- L.C.
- Limited Company
- Limited Co.
- Ltd. Liability Co.
- Ltd. Liability Company
Note: Most people choose “LLC”.
The following designators are not allowed
Your Montana LLC can’t make itself sound like a Montana Corporation or any other business entity besides an LLC.
The following words and designators can’t be used anywhere in your LLC name:
- Inc.
- Ltd.
- Corp.
- LP or LLP
- Incorporated
- Corporation
- Cooperative
- Limited Partnership
What words are not allowed in my Montana LLC name?
Your Montana LLC name can’t contain words and abbreviations that are restricted by law.
For example, you can’t make your LLC name sound like it’s a bank or an insurance company, or anything else that misleads the public.
In Montana, you can’t use the following words in your LLC name:
- Federal
- Government
- FBI
- United States of America
- United States
- City
- Borough
- Township
- County
You also can’t use words that are reserved for licensed professionals. These vary by state, but some common examples are accountants, architects, attorneys, dentists, and engineers.
Your Montana business name must be distinguishable (unique)
When you use the Montana Secretary of State Business Search, you will compare your desired LLC name to existing businesses in the state.
If your name is not unique, you’ll need to come up with a variation or a different business name.
Montana Rule 44.5.131 specifies what does and doesn’t create distinguishability in business names.
Below are rules and examples of LLC names that are not distinguishable.
Designators
Differences in designators (endings) don’t create distinguishability.
If your desired LLC name is Mourning Cloak Clothier LLC, it’s not available to use if any of the following are found in the Montana Business Name Search results:
- Mourning Cloak Clothier, Inc.
- Mourning Cloak Clothier Corp.
- Mourning Cloak Clothier, L.L.C.
Punctuation, Symbols, Spaces
Adding or removing punctuation, symbols and spaces doesn’t create distinguishability.
If your desired LLC name is Wheatgrass Soapstore LLC, it’s not available to use if any of the following are found:
- Wheat-grass-Soap-store Inc.
- Wheatgrass/Soapstore, Limited Liability Co.
- Wheat+Grass Soapstore, LC
- Wheat Grass Soap Store, L.L.C.
Capitalization
Differences in capitalization don’t create distinguishability.
If your desired LLC name is CutThroat Trout LLC, it’s not available to use if any of the following are found:
- cutthroat trout Inc.
- Cutthroat TROUT LP
- CuT ThRoAt TrOuT LLC
Said another way, you’re allowed to use any capitalization you want. It just doesn’t make your name distinguishable from an existing company with the same name.
Filler Words
Adding or removing non-meaningful or filler words (the, and, a) won’t create distinguishability.
In Montana, “filler words” includes all of the following:
- articles (a, an, the)
- prepositions (by, of, for)
- conjunctions (and, or, &, but)
- contractions (don’t instead of do not, I’m instead of I am)
If your desired LLC name is Bluebunch Farms LLC, it’s not available to use if any of the following are found:
- The Bluebunch Farms LLC
- A Bluebunch Farm Inc.
- Bluebunch and Farms L.L.C.
- Of Bluebunch Farms Corp
Internet Domain Suffixes
Adding or removing internet domain suffixes (like .com .org .gov .net) won’t create distinguishability.
If your desired LLC name is PonderosaPines.com LLC, it’s not available to use if any of the following are found:
- Ponderosa Pines Inc.
- PonderosaPines.org LLC
Plural or Singular Words and Possessive Words
Adding a letter “s” to make a word plural or possessive doesn’t create distinguishability.
If your desired LLC name is Molly’s Mittens LLC, it’s not available to use if any of the following are found:
- Mollys Mittens LLC
- Molly’s Mitten Inc.
- Mollys Mitten, L.L.C.
Numerals or Spelled Out Numbers
Using numerals (like 5 or 101) instead of spelling out the number (like “five” or “one hundred and one”) doesn’t create distinguishability. Using Roman numerals (like “II” instead of 2 or two) doesn’t create distinguishability either.
If your desired LLC name is 25 Stars LLC, it’s not available to use if any of the following are found:
- Twenty-Five Stars LLC
- Twenty 5 Stars Inc.
- XXV Stars L.L.C.
Variations of the same name or word
Using the same word, just with a suffix or a different derivation, doesn’t create distinguishability. This rule can be tricky, because sometimes a different version of a word has a different meaning and would be distinguishable. Really, it all depends on the opinion of the LLC examiner who reviews your paperwork.
If your desired LLC name is Meadowlark Creations LLC, it might not be available to use if any of the following are found:
- Meadowlark Creatives LLC
- Meadowlark Creates Inc.
- Meadowlark Creativity Corp
Exception: Unique Spellings
Using a different spelling (a phonetic spelling) of the same name or word can create distinguishability. However, if the LLC examiner in Montana thinks the names are confusingly similar, your LLC name might still be rejected.
Let’s say your desired LLC name is Boys Baskets LLC. But there’s already a company named Boys Baskets Inc. in Montana. Instead, you could use one of the following unique spellings:
- Boyz Basketz LLC
- Boiz Baskets LLC
Exception: Homophones
Homophones (words that sound the same but mean something different) can create distinguishability. However, if the LLC examiner in Montana thinks the names are confusingly similar, your LLC name might still be rejected.
Homophones are words like berry and bury, or tail and tale. Because they have different meanings, business names using these words would be distinguishable.
For example:
- Sole Studios, LLC (a shoe design company) is distinguishable from Soul Studios, LLC (a music recording business).
- Point Break LLC (a pencil sharpener manufacturer) is distinguishable from Point Brake LLC (a car repair shop)
How to create distinguishability in Montana
The easiest way to create a distinguishable business name is to come up with something completely unique. This is the best method, because it also avoids confusion for your customers.
But if you’re really attached to a name idea but it’s very similar to an existing business, we can help.
Here are a few tricks for how you can distinguish your desired LLC name from other business names in the state.
Changing Spelling
If you use a unique spelling, your business name might be distinguishable.
See our detailed discussion above.
Word Order
If you rearrange the words in a business name, the names will be distinguishable.
Let’s say you want to name your company Gold Silver Sky LLC. But there’s already a Gold Silver Sky Inc. in Montana. You could name your company any of these instead:
- Sky Gold Silver LLC
- Gold Sky Silver LLC
- Silver Gold Sky LLC
Abbreviation vs Complete Name or Word
Using an abbreviation instead of a complete word (or vice versa) creates distinguishability.
Let’s say you want to name your company New York Pizza Bros. LLC. But there’s already a New York Pizza Bros Inc. in Montana. You could name your company any of these instead:
- NY Pizza Bros, LLC
- NY Pizza Brothers, LLC
- New York Pizza Brothers LLC
What if my Montana business name is rejected?
If you file your Montana Articles of Organization (the document that creates your Montana LLC) and the business name is not available, don’t panic. The state will notify you and tell you why your filing was rejected.
You will just need to file again with a variation of your LLC name or a different LLC name.
Montana Business Name FAQs
Do I need a name reservation in Montana?
No, a name reservation isn’t required to form an LLC in Montana. It’s an unnecessary step and a waste of money.
You can just file your LLC’s Articles of Organization with your desired LLC name.
Does Montana require LLC in the name?
Yes. Your Montana LLC name must contain one of the allowable designators at the end. The most commonly used designators are:
- LLC
- Limited Liability Company
Does my Montana LLC need a DBA?
No, you’re not required to file a DBA (“Doing Business As”) for your business entity in Montana.
A DBA (known as a Trademark or Trade Name in Montana) lets your LLC conduct business under a name which is different from its true and legal name (the name on your Articles of Organization).
If you want your LLC to do business under a name that’s different from its true and legal name, you have to file an Assumed Business Name online and pay an additional fee of $20 to the Secretary of State.
If you are going to file an Assumed Business Name for your Montana LLC, it must also be distinguishable from existing business names in the state.
There is no limit to the number of Assumed Business Names an LLC can have.
For more information, please see Does my LLC need a DBA?
When would my LLC use a DBA?
Let’s say you form an LLC called Skytree Cruise Lines LLC, but you also want to use a friendlier, catchy name, like Sky Cruises. In this case, your LLC would need to file an Assumed Business Name Registration to use the name Sky Cruises.
If you don’t file an Assumed Business Name Registration for a different name, you can only use your legal entity name of Skytree Cruise Lines LLC.
Similarly, if you want to do business under the name Skytree Cruise Lines, just without the letters “LLC” in the name, you will need to file an Assumed Business Name for Skytree Cruise Lines.
How do I get a business domain name?
Once you’ve found a business name that you like, it’s a good idea to check if your domain name is available before forming your LLC.
You can search for available domain names with GoDaddy:
Find a domain name
What does “distinguishability” mean?
Each business entity name must be “distinguishable upon the records” of the Secretary of State.
This means that no two businesses can operate with the same exact name. Said another way, if a business already exists with your desired LLC name, you can’t register your LLC with that name.
For example, let’s say you want to form an LLC called Lambeau Landscapers LLC. But there is already a business in another town called Lambeau Landscapers, Inc. Because your desired LLC name is the same as that existing Montana Corporation, it is not distinguishable. You can’t use it and must choose another name.
How do I come up with a business name?
Business names are important for branding and recognition. The name of your Montana LLC can be your company’s brand name, but it doesn’t have to be (please see the FAQ about DBAs above). Either way, picking a good LLC name is an important decision.
Here are some quick tips for coming up with business names:
- First, write down the features of your company and things that you want to be associated with.
- Then list out as many business names as you can think of. Don’t edit or analyze them. Just get as many names on the page as you can.
- Now go back and read through them. Write down any variations that come to mind.
- Next, set the list aside. Do something else, like go for a walk or get groceries, or sleep on it for the night. Then come back and review the list of names. As you go through it, write down additional ideas and variations.
- Read the whole list out loud. If you want, get input from friends, business partners, and family.
- Repeat the process: sleep on the ideas, write down new variations, read them out loud again.
- The best business name will often “rise off the page” and present itself. If it doesn’t, you can try this trick: Close your eyes and count to 10. When you get to 10, you must choose a name. When you open your eyes, force yourself to make a decision. Sometimes we know the best name deep in our subconscious, and this trick can help it come out. Trust yourself and go with what feels best.
For more tips, please see How to Choose a Business Name or check out TRUIC’s Business Name Generator.
Can I use the name of another Montana entity?
No. You can’t use the same name as another Montana business.
And it doesn’t matter what entity type it is – your LLC can’t have the same entity name as another corporation, LLC, or any other entity type.
You can’t use another business’s name even if the entity is in “delinquent” status on the Montana Secretary of State website.
But if a business is dissolved, they no longer have rights to that name. This means you can form an LLC with the same name.
How do I change my LLC name?
You can change your LLC’s name later by filing an Amendment form with the Secretary of State.
We have step-by-step instructions on how to change an LLC name in Montana.
How to start an LLC in Montana?
Here are the steps to starting an LLC in Montana:
- Choose an LLC name and make sure it’s available
- Choose who will be your Montana Registered Agent
- File the Montana LLC Articles of Organization
- Complete and sign an LLC Operating Agreement
- Get a Tax ID Number (EIN) from the IRS
- Open an LLC bank account
- Check whether you need a business or sales tax license in Montana
References
Montana Rule 44.5.131 (distinguishable on the records)
Montana LLC Act: Section 35-8-103 (LLC name)
Montana Secretary of State: Glossary of Terms
Matt holds a Bachelor's Degree in business from Drexel University with a concentration in business law. He performs extensive research and analysis to convert state laws into simple instructions anyone can follow to form their LLC - all for free! Read more about Matt Horwitz and LLC University.
hello sir my question is can i purchase llc on your website easily bcz offical government website very tuff
Hi Jack, I hear you. We don’t offer filing services at this time. However, we recommend Northwest Registered Agent if you want to hire someone to form your LLC.