Do you have the perfect name idea for a new business entity in the state of South Carolina, but you’re not quite ready to form your company?
South Carolina 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 South Carolina.
How to Reserve a Business Name in South Carolina
The first step is to determine if your desired business name is even available in South Carolina to begin with. The state of South Carolina makes it easy to check your desired name’s availability. Simply go to this link and search for 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 to Reserve Name with the South Carolina Secretary of State. You can download the correct form for your business type at this link. Though the forms will vary slightly depending on your business type (LLC, for-profit corporation, etc), you will generally need to provide the following information: Secretary of State Attn: Corporate Filings
1205 Pendleton Street Suite 525
Columbia, SC 29201
The Application to Reserve Name requires a filing fee of $25. Checks must be payable to the “Secretary of State.” Once you have provided all of the necessary information, you can mail the form (in duplicate) and the check to this address:
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How Long Is My Business Name Reserved For?
The Application to Reserve Name will give you exclusive rights to your business name for a period of 120 days. You will need to register your business with the state during this time to ensure that no one else claims your desired name.
Conclusion
Just because you aren’t ready to form your South Carolina business entity doesn’t mean you can’t lock down your desired business name.
The form to reserve a business name in South Carolina is very simple to fill out, and it ensures that your name will be reserved for 4 months. This should give you plenty of time to register your business and file all of the necessary formation paperwork.