Find a name that's actually available.
A name is only yours if it's free everywhere it counts. We check it in one search, across all 51 state registries, the USPTO trademark database, and the matching domain, then reserve it with the state so no one takes it while you get ready. Want to see how a state record reads before you pick? Start with our Florida business search guide.
What it is
A name that's free everywhere it matters.
The perfect name isn't much good if it's already registered in your state, collides with a federal trademark, or has no domain left. Most founders find that out one painful check at a time, after they've printed the cards.
We check a name in a single search across the state business register, the USPTO trademark database, and domain and handle availability, so you know in seconds whether it's truly clear. When it is, we can reserve it with the state to hold it for you while you line up owners, funding, or paperwork.
One search, everywhere
Four checks, one answer.
A name is only "available" when it's clear in all the places someone could block you. We check them together.
State register
Whether the exact name is taken in your Secretary of State's business registry, and if it meets naming rules.
USPTO trademark
A screen of the federal trademark database for identical or confusingly similar marks in your class.
Domain
Whether the matching .com, and useful alternates, are available to register right now.
Social handle
Whether the handle is open across the platforms your brand will actually use.
Hold it
Found the one? Reserve it before you file.
If you're not ready to form yet, a state name reservation puts your name on hold so a competitor can't register it while you get organized.
How long it holds
Reservation periods commonly run 30-120 days depending on the state, Texas holds a name 120 days, California and New York 60.
What it costs
Most states charge a small filing fee, commonly about $10-$50, paid to the Secretary of State, shown separately from our fee.
Renewals & expiry
Some states let you renew before expiry; others don't, so the name must be formed in time. We track the window and remind you.
Accuracy verified against Secretary of State guidance · July 2026. Periods and fees vary by state and can change; we confirm your state's current rules before filing.
How it works
From a name idea to a hold you can trust.
Check availability
We search the state register, USPTO, and domains to confirm the name is free and compliant.
Reserve it
We file the application that holds the name with the state for the reservation period.
Track the window
We record when the hold starts and expires, and remind you before it runs out.
Form or renew
When you're ready, we form the company on the reserved name, or renew the hold where your state allows.
Who should reserve
Useful when you're close, but not filing today.
A reservation earns its keep when the name matters and formation is a few weeks out. If you're ready now, you can often skip straight to forming.
Worth reserving
- You've chosen a name but are still lining up owners, funding, or documents
- You're forming soon and don't want to risk losing the name meanwhile
- You need the exact name for branding, a domain, or a pitch before you file
- You're registering in a state where names move quickly
Probably skip it
- You're ready to form now, just file the company and claim the name
- You want broad brand protection, that's a trademark, not a reservation
- You only need a trade name for an existing company, that's a DBA
- You haven't settled on a name yet, a reservation holds one specific name
Why File.Business
A hold is only useful if it doesn't 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're ready.
A real availability check
We confirm the name is free and compliant with your state's rules before filing anything.
The window tracked
We record your expiration date and remind you before the hold lapses.
Straight into formation
When you're ready, we form the company on the reserved name without a hitch.
Clear, flat pricing
You see our price and the state fee up front, kept separate. See pricing →
From holding a name to owning it
Goes well with this.
Trademark
Protect the brand nationwide, beyond a single state's register.
Explore →Domain
Register the matching domain the moment the name checks out.
Explore →AI Logo Maker
Turn the name into a full brand kit, logo, colors, and type.
Explore →Form the company
When you're ready, file the entity on your reserved name.
Explore →Questions & trust
Name checks & reservations, answered.
What does "available" actually mean?
Does an available name guarantee I can use it as a brand?
Is a name reservation the same as a trademark?
How long does a reservation last, and what does it cost?
Can I check a name across multiple states?
What if the name I want is taken?
What happens if the reservation expires?
Get started
Check your name in one search.
See whether it's free across the state register, the USPTO, and the domain, then reserve it before someone else does.