Business name reservation by state
Updated . General information, not legal or tax advice.
A name reservation holds a name with the state for a set period while you get ready to file. It’s optional almost everywhere, and usually only worth paying for if you need time before forming. Filing your formation document claims the name just as well once it’s accepted.
A reservation isn’t a trademark, and it doesn’t carry over to other states. Searching on this site or with any formation service doesn’t reserve a name.
| State | Reservation | State fee | How long |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Available Source | $25 | 1 year |
| Alaska | Available Source | $25 | 120 days |
| Arizona | Available Source | $10 | 120 days |
| Arkansas | Available Source | $22.50 | 120 days |
| California | Available Source | $10 | 60 days |
| Colorado | Available Source | $25 | 120 days |
| Connecticut | Available Source | $60 | 120 days |
| Delaware | Available Source | $75 | 120 days |
| District of Columbia | Available Source | $50 | 120 days |
| Florida | Available Source | $25 | 120 days |
| Georgia | Available Source | $35 | 30 days |
| Hawaii | Available Source | $10 | — |
| Idaho | Available Source | $20 | 120 days (the Secretary of State's pages say four months) |
| Illinois | Available Source | $25 | 90 days |
| Indiana | Available Source | $10 | 120 days |
| Iowa | Available Source | $10 | 120 days |
| Kansas | Available Source | $35 | 120 days |
| Kentucky | Available Source | $15 | 120 days |
| Louisiana | Available Source | $25 | 120 days |
| Maine | Available Source | $20 | 120 days |
| Maryland | Available Source | $25 | — |
| Massachusetts | Available Source | — | 60 days |
| Michigan | Available Source | $25 | — |
| Minnesota | Available Source | $35 | 1 year |
| Mississippi | Available Source | $25 | 180 days |
| Missouri | Available Source | $25 | 60 days |
| Montana | Available Source | $10 | — |
| Nebraska | Available Source | $30 | 120 days |
| Nevada | Available Source | $25 | 90 days |
| New Hampshire | Available Source | $15 | 120 days |
| New Jersey | Available Source | $50 | — |
| New Mexico | Available Source | $20 | 120 days |
| New York | Available Source | $20 | 60 days |
| North Carolina | Available Source | $10 | 120 days |
| North Dakota | Available Source | $10 | 12 months |
| Ohio | Available Source | $39 | 180 days, counting the filing date as day one |
| Oklahoma | Available Source | — | up to 60 days |
| Oregon | Available Source | $100 | 120 days |
| Pennsylvania | Available Source | $70 | — |
| Rhode Island | Available Source | $50 | 120 days |
| South Carolina | Available Source | $25 | 120 days |
| South Dakota | Available Source | $25 | 120 days |
| Tennessee | Available Source | $20 | — |
| Texas | Available Source | $40 | 120 days |
| Utah | Available Source | $22 | — |
| Vermont | Available Source | $25 | 120 days |
| Virginia | Available Source | $10 | 120 days |
| Washington | Available Source | $30 | 180 days |
| West Virginia | Available Source | $15 | 120 days |
| Wisconsin | Available Source | — | 60 or 120 days (short-term) or 10 years (long-term) |
| Wyoming | Available Source | $60 | 120 days |