Louisiana LLC Name Reservation
Mississippi LLC Name Reservation
This guide will show you how to search for and lock down the perfect business name for your Mississippi LLC. Read on to learn more or form an LLC with ZenBusiness today for $0 + state fee: $53
Your company name is important. It’s your first impression, and it’s how people will remember you. You don’t want to be the business with a forgettable name. So, when you’ve got that perfect name in mind, that clever alliteration or meaningful acronym, you might think about reserving it before someone else does.
Naming your company is one of the first official steps when starting an LLC in Mississippi. In certain situations, it may be beneficial to reserve a business name while you’re preparing to bring your business idea to life.
In this article, we’ll explain when reserving a business name can be helpful and guide you through all the steps involved.
Are You Required to Reserve a Business Name?
You have the option to reserve a name in Mississippi, but you aren’t obligated to do so. If you’re ready to launch your business, forming it through the Secretary of State’s online filing system will automatically register your name.
Should You Reserve Your LLC Name?
Maybe it took you sleepless nights of brainstorming, or maybe you thought of it while sitting at a traffic light. No matter how you came up with your memorable LLC name, you’ll want to make sure that it’s available and ready to use when you file your Mississippi LLC registration.
You have the option to reserve your LLC name, but it’ll cost you a $25 fee. Overall, it’s cheaper to skip this fee and simply start your business, which will lock in your name automatically.
However, there are cases where you may not be ready to officially start your business. Filing an application to reserve your business name gives you “dibs” and ensures that competitors aren’t able to snag it while you’re preparing for launch.
If your business name is unique, including unusual spellings or characters and/or family names, it may not be necessary to reserve a Mississippi business name ahead of time. Plus, paying the extra state fee to reserve your business name could be a waste of resources if you’re planning to launch your business soon after.
How Do I Reserve a Business Name in Mississippi?
Got a name in mind? Perfect. Follow these steps to reserve it.
Before submitting your application to reserve your business name, you first need to check name availability by performing a Mississippi LLC name search. The Secretary of State’s website simplifies the process with its Business Search tool. Just search your desired name to see if your LLC name is available. If it is, let out a sigh of relief — you’re ready to reserve it or form your LLC.
Let’s get started. The Mississippi Secretary of State only accepts business filings through its online system. They don’t allow paper submissions. Fortunately, the online filing system is pretty user-friendly. Follow these steps to secure your name:
- Go to the online filing system
- Select “Register” and create your account
- Once logged in, select “Reserve a Business Name” from your homepage
- Enter the required information
- Choose your payment option (see below)
Reserving an LLC name will cost you $25, and you have a couple of options for how to pay. At the end of the online form, you can enter your credit/debit card information. Or, you can print your form and mail it to the Secretary of State’s office with a check or money order. For the latter, send your payment to P.O. Box 136 Jackson, MS 39205-0136.
And that’s it! The 120-day reservation will begin when your form is processed. The typical processing time is 24 hours. Once your name is reserved, it’s time to start thinking forward to filing your Certificate of Formation. Check out our comprehensive guide here.
How Long Does a Mississippi Business Name Reservation Last?
Anyone planning to do business within the state of Mississippi can reserve an entity name. Filing your name reservation prevents another entity from using that name to conduct business in the state during the time of your hold. An entity name reservation in the state of Mississippi makes that name yours for a period of 120 days.
After this four-month window closes, though, you won’t be able to reserve the same name again until 60 days have passed, during which anyone else can claim it. So, it’s important not to wait too long to form your LLC after you’ve reserved a name.
You can also transfer your name reservation using the online filing system for an additional $25. This only transfers ownership; it doesn’t extend or renew the reservation.
Mississippi Secretary of State Contact Information
| Jackson Address: 401 Mississippi Street Jackson, MS 39201 601-359-1350 | Coast Address: 1141 Bayview Avenue, Suite 120 Biloxi, MS 39530 228-432-0541 |
| Secondary Jackson Address: 125 S. Congress Street Jackson, MS 39201 601-359-1633 | Website: https://www.sos.ms.gov/ |
Wrapping up and Choosing the Best Route
Your LLC name is an important part of the business. If you’re not ready to launch your business, but you’ve got a perfect name and you think someone else might claim it, consider reserving it.
However, if your business is ready for takeoff, use our comprehensive guide to forming an LLC in Mississippi to get started instead. This way, rather than paying an additional $25 for the name reservation application, you’ll only pay the one-time $250 Mississippi LLC formation fee to claim your name and form the LLC at the same time. $25 isn’t a fortune by any means, but this will at least save you the hassle of reserving a name and registering an LLC separately.
Save Time by Using a Professional LLC Service
As a business owner, you have a lot to think about. Pile on the responsibility of handling state correspondence, LLC tax information, and more while keeping your LLC compliant, and you’ve got yourself a pretty full plate.
Sometimes the best move is to let someone else take care of the paperwork for you. This way, you can sleep easy knowing you’ll never miss a deadline or compliance requirement with the state. While LegalZoom is by far the most well-known LLC formation service and has decent overall value, ZenBusiness is an entrepreneur favorite. Other than that, IncFile and Northwest are two other popular options with appeals of their own.
Frequently Asked Questions
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The Mississippi State Code doesn’t get into too many specifics about restricted terms, except to say that you can’t use any terms that refer to different business types (like corporation or general partnership), and you also can’t use language that implies a business purpose other than the one you indicated on your formation documents. In addition, you need to avoid words that imply an association with the banking and insurance agencies.
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No. In fact, Alabama is the only state that requires entrepreneurs to reserve a business name before forming an LLC. In Mississippi and the other 48 states, this is an optional and largely unnecessary step.
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The state of Mississippi is home to nearly 200,000 small businesses. Entrepreneurs of all backgrounds and business types find that Mississippi is a great place to own and operate a small business.
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The Mississippi chapter of the Small Business Development Center is a great place to start, as they offer a wide variety of tools and resources for Mississippi LLCs. The U.S. Small Business Administration’s Mississippi District Office is another valuable resource, and the Mississippi Development Authority also has plenty of good info.
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The overall costs of operating a Mississippi LLC can vary considerably based on the specifics of your business. However, we created a helpful guide to help you identify and plan for every expense your LLC will face in this state.
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The answer to this question lies in your personal preferences, but we can give some general pointers. An attorney will cost the most by a mile, but also provides expertise you won’t find with the other options. The DIY route is free of charge but can require quite a bit of legwork and provides no peace of mind that the process is being completed correctly.
Using an LLC service means your business will be formed by professionals who know what they’re doing, while also costing significantly less than a lawyer. This “best of both worlds” attribute is what makes LLC services our preferred option.
Disclaimer: The content on this page is for information purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or accounting advice. If you have specific questions about any of these topics, seek the counsel of a licensed professional.
How to Reserve an LLC Name in all 50 States
We break down the LLC Name Reservation process for all 50 states. View all of our guides below.
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