Hold your business name before you file.
Found the perfect name but not ready to form yet? A name reservation puts it on hold with the state so no one else can take it while you get organized. First we check the name is available; then we file the reservation to lock it for you. It buys you time to line up your paperwork, partners, or funding without losing the name.
A hold on a name you are not ready to use yet.
A name reservation is a short-term claim on a business name with the state, filed before you form the company. It does two jobs. First, it confirms the name is actually available, since the state checks it against existing entities. Second, it holds that name for a set window so a competitor cannot register it while you finish getting ready. It is optional; you do not have to reserve a name to form a business. But when the name matters and you are still lining up owners, capital, or documents, a reservation keeps it from slipping away. It is a state-level hold, separate from a trademark, which protects a brand more broadly.
A checked name, held in your name.
The reservation starts with a real availability check and ends with a filed hold you can rely on while you prepare to form.
- An availability check. We confirm the name is not already taken in your state and meets its naming rules before filing anything.
- The filed reservation. The application that puts the name on hold with the state for the reservation period.
- Your hold window. A clear record of when the reservation starts and expires, so you know how long you have to form.
- A renewal reminder. Where your state allows renewals, we flag the deadline so the hold does not lapse before you are ready.
Useful when you are close, but not filing today.
A reservation earns its keep when the name matters and formation is a few weeks out. If you are ready to file now, you can often skip straight to forming.
- You have chosen a name but are still lining up owners, funding, or documents
- You are forming soon and do not want to risk losing the name in the meantime
- You need the exact name for branding, a domain, or a pitch before you file
- You are registering in a state where names move quickly
- You are ready to form now, where you can just file the company and claim the name
- You want broad brand protection, which is a trademark, not a reservation
- You only need a trade name for an existing company, which is a DBA
- You have not settled on a name yet, since a reservation holds one specific name
A reservation holds a name at the state level only. To protect a brand against others nationwide, pair it with a trademark registration.
How long it holds, and what it costs.
These figures are verified against current Secretary of State guidance across states. The exact period and fee vary, but they fall in consistent ranges.
Reservation periods and fees vary by state and can change. We confirm your state's current rules before filing.
From a name idea to a hold you can trust.
- 1Check availability
We search the state's records to confirm the name is free and meets its naming rules.
- 2File the reservation
We submit the application that holds the name for you for the state's reservation period.
- 3Track the window
We record when the hold starts and expires and remind you before it runs out.
- 4Form or renew
When you are ready, we form the company on the reserved name, or renew the hold where your state allows it.
A hold is only useful if it does not lapse.
The value of a reservation is the window, and windows expire. We check the name properly, file the hold, and watch the clock so the name is still yours when you are ready to form.
We confirm the name is free and compliant with your state's rules before filing.
We record your expiration date and remind you before the hold lapses.
When you are ready, we form the company on the reserved name without a hitch.
You see our price and the state fee up front, kept separate. See pricing →
From holding a name to owning it.
Turn the reserved name into a live company when you are ready.
Explore → Protect the brandTrademark registrationSecure broader rights to the name beyond one state's registry.
Explore → Trade nameDBA / Fictitious nameAdd a public-facing name to a company you already have.
Explore → Already formedBusiness name changeRename an existing company on the state's records.
Explore →Name reservation, answered.
Do I need to reserve a name before forming?
No. A reservation is optional. When you form your company, the filing itself claims the name. Reserving is useful only when you want to hold a specific name for a while before you are ready to file.
How long does a reservation last?
It varies by state, commonly 30 to 120 days. Texas holds a name for 120 days, while California and New York hold it for 60. Some states let you renew before it expires; others do not, so you need to form in time.
Is a name reservation the same as a trademark?
No. A reservation holds a name in one state's business registry for a short window. A trademark protects a brand name or logo against others across the country. Many founders reserve the name to form, then trademark it to protect it.
What happens if the reservation expires before I form?
The name becomes available to anyone again. That is why we track your window and remind you before it lapses, and renew it where the state allows, so you do not lose the name at the last moment.
Can I reserve a name in more than one state?
Yes. If you plan to operate in several states, we can check and reserve the name in each, which is useful before a foreign qualification or a multi-state launch.