How to Name Your LLC in Texas

Filing fee: $300 (online) / $300 (by mail)

Processing time: 3–5 business days (online); 5–7 business days (by mail)

State agency: Texas Secretary of State

Annual report due: No annual report required; franchise tax report due May 15 each year

State tax rate: No state income tax; franchise tax applies to most entities

To name your LLC in Texas, your name must include a required designator, be distinguishable from existing registered entities, and avoid restricted or prohibited words. Texas follows both general LLC naming rules that apply in most states and a few state-specific requirements you'll need to meet before filing.

The name must contain the words 'Limited Liability Company' or the abbreviation 'LLC' or 'L.L.C.' — this is non-negotiable. It tells the public and the state what kind of entity you're running.

General naming rules

• Include 'Limited Liability Company,' 'LLC,' or 'L.L.C.' in the name
• The name must be distinguishable from all other business entity names already on file with the Texas Secretary of State
• The name cannot imply the business is a state or federal government agency
• The name cannot include words that suggest a purpose the LLC isn't authorized to carry out

Texas-specific naming rules

Texas restricts certain words in LLC names — things like 'bank,' 'trust,' 'insurance,' or 'university.' You can use these words only if your LLC meets specific statutory requirements or gets written consent from the relevant state regulatory authority. Most LLCs won't qualify, so it's worth checking before you get attached to a name.

Before you file, search the Texas Secretary of State's business entity database to check whether your name is available. The state won't approve a name that's the same as — or confusingly similar to — an existing registered entity. Running the search before you file saves you from a rejected application.

The Texas SOS offers a free online search tool called SOSDirect. You can search by entity name, keyword, or filing number. A name that comes back with no exact match isn't automatically available — the state also rejects names that are too close to existing ones, so search a few variations and use your judgment.

Clearing the state database is only one step. A name can be available in Texas and still be trademarked at the federal level. If your name will be used in commerce, check the USPTO's trademark database as well — a state registration doesn't protect you from a federal trademark claim.

If you've found a name you want but aren't ready to file your LLC yet, Texas lets you reserve it. A name reservation holds the name for 120 days while you get ready to file. It doesn't form your LLC — it just keeps someone else from registering the same name in the meantime.

File a Name Reservation Request (Form 501) with the Texas Secretary of State. The filing fee is $40. You can file online through SOSDirect or by mail. The reservation is non-renewable, so if you need more time after 120 days, you'll need to file a new reservation — assuming the name is still available.

A Texas LLC can do business under a name that's different from its legal name — this is called an assumed name, or DBA (doing business as). Your legal LLC name stays on file with the state, but you can market, sign contracts, and open bank accounts under the assumed name.

In Texas, you register an assumed name at the county level, not with the Secretary of State. File an Assumed Name Certificate with the county clerk in every county where your LLC conducts business. The fee varies by county but is typically under $25 per county. The certificate is valid for 10 years.

One thing that catches people off guard: if your LLC operates in multiple Texas counties, you need a separate filing in each one. There's no single statewide DBA registration for LLCs in Texas.

Your LLC name is officially registered when you file your Certificate of Formation (Form 205) with the Texas Secretary of State. The name you put on Form 205 becomes your legal LLC name. There's no separate name registration step — the formation filing handles it.

The state filing fee for a Texas LLC is $300. You can file online through SOSDirect or by mail to the Secretary of State's office in Austin. Online filings typically process in 3–5 business days. Mail filings take longer — plan for 5–7 business days under normal conditions.

If you need to change your LLC name after formation, you'll file a Certificate of Amendment (Form 424) with the Texas Secretary of State. The amendment fee is $150. The name change takes effect when the state approves the filing.