How To Register Your Business In Alabama

How to Register a Business concern Name in Alabama

To register a business name in Alabama, you'll need to register your business with the land. You can form an LLC or corporation, or file for a "doing business every bit" name with your land's business sectionalisation.

Our How to Annals a Business concern Name in Alabama guide will walk you lot through each step of the process in Alabama. Check out our other How to Annals a Concern Name guides to learn almost registering a concern name in every land.

Or simply utilize a reliable professional person service:

Northwest ($39 + state fees).

(We recommend doing a name check kickoff)

Graphic showing how to register your business name in Alabama.

Last Updated: 2022-05-18

Step i: Choose Business organisation Construction

Recommended: We typically recommend forming an LLC for most entrepreneurs because this construction comes with personal asset protection, has no double taxation, and is pretty easy to maintain.

If you would similar to use a service, read our guide on the best LLC germination services.

Sole Proprietorships and General Partnerships

By default, sole proprietorships operate equally the same name as the owner while general partnerships must include the surnames of all the partners.

To use a different proper name to carry business, the business concern owner(s) must file for an Alabama merchandise name — also ordinarily referred to as a doing business equally (DBA) name.

Proper noun Reservations

Alabama LLCs and corporations must complete and file a Certificate of Name Reservation prior to filing for germination with the land. This tin be done by either:

Mailing a Name Reservation Request Form to the Alabama Secretarial assistant of State forth with the $25 fee. This must be done at least two weeks prior to germination.

Filling the form out online via the Alabama Secretary of Land website. This can be completed at the time of formation.

Step 2: Check Name Availability

When registering a business name, it's important to make sure it's unique and no one else in your country formed a visitor with it or has control of it online every bit a domain proper name.

Domain Proper name Search

We strongly recommend that y'all also cheque to see if your concern proper noun is available as a web domain (URL). Fifty-fifty if you don't plan to create a business website today, you may want to purchase the web address to prevent others from acquiring that domain proper noun. If the web domain is available then it'due south likely the name will besides be available in a business search.

Find a Domain Now

Alabama Business Name Search

Side by side, search the Alabama Secretary of Country business entity search tool. This is an important step in the process because your filing will exist denied if you try to file for a name already in use.

Search requirements can vary depending on your business needs. For instance, a unique and available name is required to:

File for formal business structures like LLCs and corporations.
File a DBA name for any business structure.

A state-level proper name search isn't required for breezy business organization structures like sole proprietorships or general partnerships in Alabama. But, if you make up one's mind to register a trade name or DBA name, you'll need to search the database to run into if your desired proper name is unique and available.

Step iii: Form Your Concern With the State of Alabama

One time you have selected your concern construction and name, you will demand to file your formation documents with the land, which will register your business with the country of Alabama.

To annals your Alabama LLC, you'll need to file the Articles of Organization with the Alabama Secretarial assistant of Country. Y'all tin can utilize online or past post. Read our Form an LLC in Alabama guide for details.

Or use a professional person service similar ZenBusiness or LegalZoom to form your LLC for you.

To register your Alabama corporation, you'll need to file the Articles of Incorporation with the Alabama Secretary of Land. Read our Form an Alabama Corporation guide to larn more.

Boosted Considerations

Protect Your Business organization Name With a Trademark (Optional)

Once y'all confirm the availability of your business name and secure information technology, you tin can choose to apply for a trademark for your business. This typically costs around $225 to $400 plus any attorney fees every bit well as a renewal fee every 10 years.

While this cost can be high for a offset-up or fledgling business organisation, it will give your company make nationwide protection backed by federal law. That ways if others effort to do business organization with the same — or a similar — name every bit yours, you'll have legal precedent on your side. For about small businesses, this really isn't necessary unless they are thinking of going national.

How to Change the Name of an Alabama Business organization

Changing the name of a business in Alabama tin can be done in two ways: by filing for a trade name or by submitting an amendment to the legal name of an existing business.

The offset method, filing for a trade name (too known every bit a DBA name), is the easiest way to operate your business using a different name without needing to change its legal name.

A DBA proper name is the only way for sole proprietorships and general partnerships to have a dissimilar business concern proper name. It'south also the easiest method for LLCs and corporations to follow considering it allows them to avert filing an amendment or complicating their business operations while enabling them to operate with brand names that don't include the necessary LLC or Inc. suffix required in a legal name.

If you want to modify the legal name of your LLC or corporation, nonetheless, filing an subpoena to the legal name of an existing business concern is your best selection. Here are links to forms for both options:

Certificate of Subpoena for LLCs
Certificate of Subpoena for corporations

Yous may submit both by mail forth with the $50 filing fee.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to register a business organization in Alabama?

The costs of registering your LLC include filing a Certificate of Formation with the Alabama Secretary of State for $200 as well as additional fees if yous apply a professional business formation service — which we recommend. Alabama also requires you to reserve your LLC proper noun, which costs $28 if requested online or $ten by mail.

How do I class an Alabama series LLC?

Form an Alabama series LLC by post-obit five steps: name your series LLC, cull a registered agent, file the Document of Formation, create a series LLC Operating Agreement, and obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN).

What does LLC mean after a business proper name?

LLC or limited liability company is a business structure in which owners aren't responsible for the business' debts or liabilities.

What does Inc. mean afterwards a business name?

Inc., the abbreviation of incorporated, signifies the business is a corporation rather than an LLC or other business structure. A corporation is a business construction that's treated as a divide legal entity from its owners.

Do I demand a Certificate of Compliance in Alabama?

Yes, a Certificate of Good Standing, known in Alabama as a Document of Compliance, is a certificate that can be obtained to verify that your LLC was legally formed and is properly maintained.

How do I get an Alabama business license?

Apply for a concern license in the canton in which your business is located through the probate guess or license commissioner likewise as any other counties in which you lot plan to deport business.

Alabama Business Resource