How to Name Your West Virginia LLC
Learn how to name your West Virginia LLC: naming rules, how to search business name availability with the WV Secretary of State, how to reserve a name, and how to register a DBA.
Bizee Editorial Staff
Editorial Team
West Virginia LLC at a glance
Filing fee: $100 (online) / $65 (mail) for Articles of Organization
Processing time: [PROCESSING_TIME]
State agency: West Virginia Secretary of State, Business Division
Annual report due: July 1 each year
State tax rate: No state-level LLC franchise tax; personal income tax applies to pass-through income
West Virginia LLC naming: what you need to know
Naming your West Virginia LLC starts with one core requirement: your name must be distinguishable from every other business entity already on file with the West Virginia Secretary of State. It also needs to include an approved LLC designator. Get both of those right before you file, and the rest of the process is straightforward.
West Virginia LLC naming rules
West Virginia law sets 2 baseline requirements for every LLC name. First, the name must be distinguishable from any other entity already registered with the Secretary of State. Second, it must include an approved LLC designator.
Approved designators are: "Limited Liability Company," "Limited Company," "LLC," "L.L.C.," "LC," or "L.C." Any of these works — most people use "LLC" for simplicity.
When the state evaluates whether your name is distinguishable, it ignores certain elements: corporate-type endings (LLC, Inc., Corp.), articles and conjunctions (The, A, And), punctuation like hyphens and slashes, and singular versus plural forms. So "Mountain Trail LLC" and "Mountain Trails Inc." would not be considered distinguishable — the state sees them as the same name.
Your name also can't use a designator that implies a different entity type. Using "Corporation" or "Incorporated" in an LLC name isn't allowed.
How to search West Virginia business name availability
Check availability through the West Virginia Secretary of State's Business Entity Search before you file anything. The search is free and takes a few minutes.
Enter your proposed name — or part of it — in the search field. Results show the entity name, type, city, and status. You can also use the percent symbol (%) as a wildcard to catch similar names: searching "Mountain%Trail" will return any registered name containing both words in that order.
Search without the LLC designator — the state strips it out when comparing names anyway. If no active entity comes back with a name that looks like yours, you're likely in the clear. If something close shows up, pick a more distinctive name before you file.
Restricted words and trademark checks
Some words require additional approval or documentation before the state will accept them in an LLC name. Words that imply a regulated profession — things like "Bank," "Insurance," or "Attorney" — typically require a letter from the relevant state agency or licensing board.
A state name search only tells you whether a name is available in West Virginia. It doesn't tell you whether someone else holds a federal trademark on that name. Before you commit, run a search in the USPTO's Trademark Electronic Search System (TESS) at uspto.gov. Using a name that infringes on a registered trademark can mean rebranding later — which is far more disruptive than checking upfront.
How to reserve your West Virginia LLC name
If you've found an available name but aren't ready to file your Articles of Organization yet, you can reserve it. West Virginia reserves a name for 120 days after the Secretary of State approves your reservation application.
File Form NR-1 with the Business Division to start the reservation. Once approved, no other entity can register that name for 120 days. Name reservation is optional — if you're ready to file your LLC now, you can skip it and go straight to formation.
West Virginia DBA (trade name)
A DBA — also called a trade name or fictitious name — lets your LLC do business under a name that's different from its legal name. For example, "Appalachian Creative Group LLC" could operate publicly as "ACG Design."
To use a trade name in West Virginia, you register it with the Secretary of State. The trade name still needs to be distinguishable from other registered names in the state. Your LLC's legal name doesn't change — the DBA is just the name you use publicly.
How to change your West Virginia LLC name
To change your LLC's legal name in West Virginia, file Articles of Amendment to your Articles of Organization with the Secretary of State. The filing fee is $25.
Before filing, run a new business entity search to confirm the new name is available and distinguishable. You can file the amendment online through the West Virginia One Stop Business Portal, by mail, or in person at the Secretary of State's Business Division.
FAQ
Use the West Virginia Secretary of State's free Business Entity Search at apps.wv.gov/sos/businessentitysearch. Enter your proposed name — without the LLC designator — and review the results for any active entities with similar names. Use the percent symbol (%) as a wildcard to catch variations. If no close match appears, the name is likely available to register.
Yes, West Virginia has 2 core requirements. Your LLC name must be distinguishable from all other entities on file with the Secretary of State, and it must include an approved designator: "Limited Liability Company," "Limited Company," "LLC," "L.L.C.," "LC," or "L.C." The state ignores designators, articles, conjunctions, punctuation, and singular versus plural forms when comparing names for distinguishability.
Yes. You can register a trade name (DBA) with the West Virginia Secretary of State and use it publicly while your LLC's legal name stays the same. The trade name still needs to be distinguishable from other registered names in the state. This is a good option if you want a shorter or more customer-facing name without changing your LLC's legal registration.
Yes. File Form NR-1 with the West Virginia Secretary of State's Business Division to reserve your chosen name. Once approved, the name is held for 120 days. This gives you time to prepare your formation documents without losing the name to another filer. Reservation is optional — if you're ready to file now, you can go straight to formation.
Search the West Virginia Secretary of State's Business Entity Search at apps.wv.gov/sos/businessentitysearch. Enter part or all of the business name to see matching entities, their type, city, and status. Click the Details link on any result for more information about that entity, including its registered agent and filing history.
File Articles of Amendment to your Articles of Organization with the West Virginia Secretary of State. The filing fee is $25. Before filing, confirm the new name is available by running a business entity search. You can file online through the West Virginia One Stop Business Portal, by mail, or in person at the Secretary of State's Business Division.
Avoid names that are too similar to existing registered entities — the state strips out designators, articles, punctuation, and plural forms before comparing, so small variations won't make your name distinguishable. Don't use designators like "Corporation" or "Incorporated" in an LLC name. Also avoid names that imply a regulated profession (things like "Bank" or "Insurance") unless you have the required state approval. And check federal trademarks at uspto.gov before committing to a name.
