Do you have the perfect name idea for a new business entity in the state of Iowa, but you’re not quite ready to form your company?
Iowa allows you to reserve a business name until you’re prepared for the business formation process, but how does the reservation process work and how long will the state reserve the name for you? In this guide, we’ll run down all the important details of reserving a business name in Iowa.
How to Reserve a Business Name in Iowa
The first step is to determine if your desired business name is even available in Iowa to begin with. The state of Iowa makes it easy to check if your desired name is available online. Simply go to this link and use the search tool. If it is not already in use, then you can proceed with reserving your business name. Once you’ve determined the availability of your desired name, you can begin the process of reserving it with the state.
In order to reserve your business name, you will need to file the Application for Reservation of Name with the Secretary of State. This is not a complicated form, but you will need to provide the following information: Secretary of State Business Services Division
Lucas Building, 1st Floor
Des Moines, Iowa 50319
In addition to the finished form, you will need to include a check for $10 made payable to the “Secretary of State.” Then, both the form and the check can be mailed to the Business Services Division at this address:
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How Long Is My Business Name Reserved For?
In Iowa, name reservations last for a period of 120 days. Upon the expiration date, you may apply to renew the name reservation for an additional 120 day period.
Conclusion
Just because you aren’t ready to form your Iowa business entity doesn’t mean you can’t lock down your desired business name.
The Application for Reservation of Name is simple to fill out and only costs $10 to file. So, if you would like to use a certain business name but are not ready to form your business yet, you should definitely reserve your desired name as soon as possible.