If you live in Utah, then you may be familiar with the Utah Business Entity database. This database is essentially one location where you can find out all sorts of information about the businesses that are registered as operating within the state of Utah.
All States will have their own business database, and they can all be easily accessed once you know what you are doing. There are lots of reasons why you may choose to access the Utah Business Entity Database, but one of the most common reasons for this is to find out if company names are available, or if they are currently being used by companies within the State.
When you are setting up your own business, one of the first things that you need to do is find out if any other companies are currently using that business name.
The Utah Business Entity database is the easiest way to do this. Using the Utah Business Entity Database for the first time can be a little overwhelming. In this guide, we’re telling you how to do a Utah Business Name Search step by step. Keep on reading to find out more!
What is a Business Name Search?
Let’s start off by taking a quick look at what a business name search is. As we have said, a lot of people utilize a business name search when they are in the early stages of setting up their very own company. When you set up your company, you will typically want to start it with a name that isn’t currently being used by any other companies.
It simply makes sense to have your own unique company name, and the easiest way to ensure that your name is totally unique is to do a business name search. A business name search will typically be completed on the business database for the State that you are looking to operate in.
Every single State has their own database, and it will include both small, medium and large businesses in it. By looking at the database, you will be able to check if any other companies are currently using the name that you had in mind, or if it is free to use.
If the name that you want to use is free to use, then you will need to register the name with the database. During the process of registering, checks will be run in order to ensure that the name is totally unique and that you are able to use it.
Only once these checks have been run will you be able to claim the name as your own. Conducting a business name search might seem like something that’s really easy to do. But, if you haven’t previously used the Utah Business Entity database then it can be very tricky to navigate.
With that in mind, we’ve put together a step-by-step guide that you can use to guide you through the process. So if you want to conduct a business name search, you are in the right place. Keep on reading to find out how to do this.
How to Do a Utah Business Name Search: Step-by-Step Guide
If you want to do a Utah Business name search then this step-by-step guide is made for you. Using this step-by-step guide allows you to find out whether any other companies are operating under the name that you are considering using, and help you come up with a company name for your business.
Without any further ado, let’s take a look at how to do a Utah Business name search.
1. Check the Utah Business Entity Database
The first thing that you need to do is navigate to the Utah Business Entity database. This database is easily accessible online through a Utah government website often referred to as the Utah Business Search. The website is a little dated and that is part of what makes it so difficult to navigate this website.
2. Do a Search for your Proposed Business Name
Now that you are on the website, you will need to do a search for the business name that you are considering using. On the home screen of the website there is clearly a search bar labeled “business name”. Pop the name that you are considering into this search bar, and then click on the “search” button next to it.
3. Check the Results
Once you press the “search” button, it might take a little while for the database to search through all the information. However, after a few moments, you will suddenly be faced with all the results that come up for the name that you are searching for.
With all these results available to you, it is suddenly time to begin the tedious search through all the results. Just because there are results, this doesn’t necessarily mean that there is a company using the specific name that you have chosen, it simply means that the name has been used at some point in these documents.
So you must search through to see if the name that you are interested in is listed with the term “LLC” listed after it. If it is, then you will be unable to use this name. In order to be able to register as an LLC in Utah, you are required to prove that your business is distinguishable from the other companies registered.
So if the company is listed with the term “active” in the status column, then you will not be able to use the company name. But if the name is listed with the term “expired” in the column, that means it had previously been registered but is no longer being used. Meaning that the name is still technically distinguishable, even though it had previously been used.
4. Click on Details to Get More Information About the Name
If the name that you were interested in is listed in the database, but is “expired”, you may want to find out more about the company before you register your own company with that name. The easiest way to find out more about the previous company is to to click on “details” in the final column on the table.
This column can also be used to find possible alternatives to the name that you were looking at originally. Variants for the company name may be suggested to you, and these names will be available to register, so you can easily choose these names if you want to.
It is important to be aware, however, that even if a name is showing as available on this database, your application may still be rejected if the Utah Division of Corporations finds any results in their own searches for the name.
Step Five
And that’s it, really! While the database can be a little daunting, as soon as you use it once, you will be flying. It is an easy tool and it really is invaluable if you are thinking of starting your own business and registering your company. Remember to use this tool for every single name that you are considering using before you apply to use that name.
What Information Can Be Found On The Utah Business Entity Database?
So far in this guide, we’ve basically highlighted how you should use the Utah Business Entity database to research potential company names and do a Utah business name search. However, there are actually lots of different bits of information that you can get from this database and that is what makes it such an invaluable resource for anybody who is considering setting up their own company.
As well as using the database to look at potential names for your own company, you can also use it to research things about existing companies.
Through the Utah Business database you can find out whether companies are registered as limited liability companies or corporations, and you can discover the status of companies. You can also access data for registered agents of the company, and the registered address for the company too.
As we said earlier, the Utah Business Entity database really is a database that is packed with everything you could possibly need to know about a company, as well as a ton of information that could be useful when you are in the process of setting up your own company.
If you need to find out information about registered companies in the State of Utah, then the Utah Business Entity database is a platform that you will find yourself coming back to time and time again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Utah Require LLC To Be In The Name?
If you are registering a limited liability company in Utah, then you will need to include the acronym “LLC” in your company name. This is a requirement for all LLCs in Utah, so it is important to bear this in mind when you are looking for potential names for your company.
Can I Check If A Business Is Registered On The Utah Business Entity Database?
Yes, you can easily check if a company is registered on the Utah Business Entity Database by searching the company name on the website. The company’s name will bring up all the data about the company that is registered on the website, including company status, company address, and lots more.
Summary
In short, the Utah Business Entity Database can be tricky to navigate at first, and this is what can make doing a Utah business name search so tricky. However, once you have done this the first time, you will be able to do it with your eyes closed. Find out how to do a Utah business search in the step-by-step guide above.