Use Domain Name Generators When Stuck
At this point, you should have at least a general idea of some possible words to put in your domain. Some of those words may already be taken, trademarked, or just dont have the sound youre looking for.
Thats where domain name generators come into play. These generators can turn your ideas into fresh, available domains.
Here are some of our favorite domain name generators to try out:
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Search For Llc Name Availability
As you learned above, one of the legal requirements and rules for LLC names is that they must be unique and not taken by another business registration in your State.
Heres how you can can search:
- DIY LLC Name Search Use your States business registration database and search for your LLC name availability. Use these links to your US State LLC Name databasesKnow that there are complex legal rules that differ by State. These types of slight word variations listed below do not qualify as creating distinguishability and thus will not be acceptable as LLC names uniqueness because they are deceptively similar:
- Single, Plural and Possessive Words
Should I Start An Llc Faq
Which is better for my domain registration business an LLC or sole proprietorship?
Choosing the right business structure depends on your businesss unique circumstances and needs. However, unless your business is very low risk , an LLC is likely the better option.
Visit our LLC vs. Sole Proprietorship guide to learn more.
How much does an LLC cost for a domain registration business?
The cost of an LLC depends on which state you form your LLC in. The primary cost of forming an LLC for your domain registration business is the state filing fee. This fee ranges from $40 to $500 depending on your state. You can read more details in our How Much Does It Cost to Start an LLC guide.
How is an LLC taxed?
LLC taxation depends on if you operate a single-member or multi-member LLC as well as your LLC tax classification.
Read our LLC Tax Guide for more information.
How do I pay myself from my domain registration LLC?
How LLC owners pay themselves depends on how the LLC is taxed, the number of members, and any agreements regarding profit sharing and sweat equity.
Visit our How Do I Pay Myself From My LLC to learn more.
What is limited liability protection?
Limited liability protection is one of the benefits of an LLC. It means that the owners personal assets are protected if the company is sued or goes into debt.
Visit our corporate veil guide to learn more about maintaining your LLCs limited liability protection.
Is an LLC good for a domain registration business?
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Fictitious Business Name/doing Business As
What if you dont want to use LLC or any other LLC designation in your business name?
Unfortunately, if your state requires that such a designation be included in your registered LLC name, you will have to comply with these requirements. However, if you really dont want to include LLC in your business name, once youve registered your LLC you can also opt to register a DBA .
A DBA is also known as a fictitious business name or a trade name. Sole proprietors and partnerships register a DBA when they want to run a business under a name other than their legal names.
How To Choose A Domain Name
Remember when Google lived under the URL google.stanford.edu? Or when Twitter was twttr.com? Neither do we! And theres a reason for that. The old domain names werent catchy, clear, concise, or memorable. Thats exactly why the founders decided to change the domain names.
If youve ever tried to find an available domain name for your business, you know exactly how challenging it can be to find one that is clear and catchy. Its no wonder the first quarter of 2021 closed with 363.5 million domain name registrations across all top-level domains .
So how do you choose a domain name that both exemplifies your business and is memorable to customers? Lets dig into the why and how of picking the right domain name.
Step 1: Start brainstorming and do your research
Before you get to the point of purchasing anything, your first big decision is to choose a domain name. Youre going to want to have more than one choice, as you dont yet know which domains are available for purchase.
Brainstorming with family, friends, or colleagues is a great starting point. Bounce your ideas off real people who will be honest about your choices.
Next, use Google to see if there are any business domain names like the ones youre considering. Choosing something like saratheflorist.com could be confusing if there is already someone operating under the domain name of sarahtheflorist.com.
When choosing your domain name, consider the following:
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When Should I Use Llc
You should use LLC with your business name when you are not creating advertising, marketing, or promotional materials. So, for example, you should use LLC with your business name for:
So, while you dont need LLC in your advertising and marketing, you need to use the LLC as part of your business name for all financial, legal, or official documentation as a business.
Do you need help with your trademark?
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Top Reasons To Form An Llc
Even though LLC should not be included in your logo, there are still important advantages to forming an LLC.
These are the top reasons to form an LLC:
1. LLCs provide personal asset protection. This is perhaps the biggest advantage of an LLC. Members of an LLC are not personally liable for debts or liabilities of the LLC. This means that if your LLC is sued, the court can only go after the assets of the LLC, not your personal assets.
2. LLCs are relatively easy and inexpensive to set up.
3. LLCs offer flexibility in how they can be managed.You can have a single member LLC , or a multi-member LLC. You can also have an LLC that is managed by managers, rather than by the members.
4. LLCs offer tax benefits.An LLC can choose to be taxed as an S corporation, which means that the LLCs income is only taxed once at the individual level.
5. LLCs can help you build credibility with customers and vendors.Having an LLC can make your business seem more professional and established.
6. LLCs can give you flexibility in how you raise money.If you want to bring in investors, you can do so by selling membership interests in your LLC.
7. LLCs can help you stay organized.Having an LLC can help you keep your business and personal finances separate. This can make it easier to track expenses and prepare your taxes.
THE PROCESS OF FORMING AN LLC
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Use A Company Domain Name Generator
A domain name generator is one of the best tools you can use to come up with a creative company domain name.
DomainWheel, a free AI-powered generator, provides instant ideas to business and website owners looking for a suitable domain name for their company.
Its straightforward to start with DomainWheel and search for an available company domain name. You only need to write a keyword in the search bar and press Search Domain. Next, youll see a list of domain name ideas and other keywords related to your topic.
There are multiple reasons why you should try a business domain name generator like DomainWheel:
- You only get original and available domain names
- You can filter your search by category, domain extension, or character count
- You get alternatives to the original keyword
- You can register or buy a domain name immediately
Dont miss the opportunity to give your website the company domain name it deserves. Start looking for ideas today and get your business running in no time!
Failure To Use Full Llc Name
Sometimes it may seem preferable to shorten the name of the company for marketing purposes, dropping the LLC or other reference to the form of business. However, doing so could place the owners in jeopardy. A judge may determine that this is evidence the business did not operate as an LLC. As a result, the members might be personally responsible for the debts or other liabilities of the business. The primary purpose of creation is to limit the liability of the members, but they must take steps to preserve that limited liability. Its always best practice to use the full legal name.
State laws require the term LLC or a similar abbreviation to appear in the name of the business when filing the articles of organization. Check with the appropriate office, often the Secretary of State, to determine whether the name you would like to use for your business is available. Always use the full legal name of your company to ensure that a court can treat it as an LLC in any future lawsuit. This helps avoid personal liability for all members.
This portion of the site is for informational purposes only. The content is not legal advice. The statements and opinions are the expression of author, not LegalZoom, and have not been evaluated by LegalZoom for accuracy, completeness, or changes in the law.
Ready to start your LLC?
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Do’s And Don’ts Of Securing A Domain Name
Consider these six tips from small-business owners and experts before deciding on a website name.
Entrepreneur
Navigating the world of domain names can be a daunting task if you’re not up to speed on how to get one. With countless caveats and hosting companies out there, it’s easy to be overwhelmed or worse, make a mistake that could ultimately cripple your business.Consider these do’s and don’ts from small-business owners and experts to help secure your company’s domain name.Do: Include a location or keywords in your domain name, if you can.
If your business focuses on a geographic region, try to put the location into the name of your domain, says Jean Bedord, a Silicon Valley-based search consultant and author of the book I’ve Got a Domain Name–Now What??? When Mikalai Krivenko needed a domain for his painting business in Hoboken, N.J., in 2009, his son Yuriy, a Jersey City, N.J.-based search-optimization specialist, suggested he put “Hoboken” in the name. For $11, Krivenko bought hobokenpainter.com, which shows up at the top of keyword searches that include “Hoboken” and “painter.” Whether it’s location, or what your company does, Krivenko advises: “Put the most important keyword for your industry in the domain name.”
Related:
Related: Protecting Your Business with a Trademark
When To Put Llc In A Domain Name
If youve found an absolutely stellar domain name , but its already taken, then you may want to consider putting LLC in your domain name.
We wouldnt recommend LLC in a long domain name like: www.BobsTackleAndBaitShopLLC.com
However, in a shorter name, it might not be so bad: www.MikesBikesLLC.com
If the non-LLC version of your domain is taken, we recommend that you visit that website to see if its operational. We also recommend doing a trademark search on the USPTO website to make sure you arent going to infringe on a registered trademark.
If there is no federal trademark or there is nothing on the website, you are safe to use the domain name with LLC in the name.
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Final Thoughts On Llc Names
Picking a name for your business is just one of many important company decisions youll have to make as you start a new venture. Spending time to ensure your name fits your business and sets you apart from the crowd will pay off in the future. If youre at all concerned about the legal implications of choosing a name, consider engaging an attorney for advice.
When To Consider A Trademark
While your business entity name protects you at the state level, trademarks protect you at the national level. You can trademark your business name, as well as the names of products or services you provide. Doing so prevents others in similar industries from selling their goods under the same names.
If you do a lot of business out of state, are considering expanding or franchising your business, or have a unique business name or brand you want to protect, you might want to consider trademarking your business name. If youre a small service business, say a local painting company, whose customers are mostly or all local, trademarking likely doesnt make sense. Your business name would already be protected in your state through your LLC.
Make sure to cross-check the names youre cooking up to avoid a costly trademark infringement lawsuit. Again, you can check the official database at the Patent and Trademark Office.
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Why Forming An Llc Is Important
Forming an LLC is a straightforward yet crucial step in developing and protecting your business. LLCs offer structure, protection from lawsuits, minimal paperwork, and boost credibility.
There are many advantages to forming an LLC. LLCs offer limited liability protection for their owners, which means that the owners are not personally liable for the debts and liabilities of the LLC. This is a significant advantage over sole proprietorships and partnerships, which do not offer this same protection. LLCs also have a flexible management structure and can be managed by their members or designated manager. This flexibility is another significant advantage over more traditional business entities. Finally, LLCs are relatively easy and inexpensive to form and maintain.
All of these advantages make LLCs an attractive option for many small businesses.
What Do I Do With The Assignment Do I Need To Send It Anywhere
You dont need to send the Assignment anywhere. Meaning, you dont need to send it to your domain name registrar, the state, the IRS, or anywhere else.
You simply need to keep a copy with your business records. Itll serve as proof of the transfer of ownership if there was ever a dispute or audit in the future.
We recommend keeping a digital copy on your computer and printing out a physical copy as well.
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Keep It Short And Memorable
The shorter, the better.
A short company domain name is easy to remember and convey. It transmits a brand personality in just a few characters.
Google recommends using domain names that contain 2-3 words. This way, people wont have trouble typing or spelling a domain when searching for a company online.
When picking business domains, think about your personal experience. What are the domain names you remember the most? Facebook, Amazon, or Apple might be at the top of the list. You know exactly what to type when you want to check your social media profile or buy a new laptop. Its almost automatic.
Apply the same formula to your company. Choose a short and memorable domain name that forever sticks in peoples heads. Make their life easier.
Keep Your Domain Name And Website Up And Running
Domain names play a crucial on the virtual marketplace. Choosing a creative domain name is a time-consuming and important aspect of giving your business the tools to thrive. Such an investment is essential for success, which is why a domain name expiration can be a demoralizing and business-crippling issue, that is only made worse if a competitor manages to snatch up your domain name. All the time and effort spent on building that brand and linking it to the domain name might be all for naught.
The best way to prevent this issue is to do everything in your power to prevent such a disaster from occurring in the first place. This includes regularly checking your email and spam folders for renewal notices, setting personal alerts of expiration, always ensuring that your domains billing info is up to date, and setting your account to auto-renew. If you take the right steps, you can save yourself a serious headache, so, do not be anything less than proactive when it comes to one of your domain names possibly expiring. With the right infrastructure in place, this should never be an issue!
Domain.com has the tools you need to continue building your business into a success.
Kristin Crabb
Content Marketing Strategist working in the digital marketing industry. Skilled in SEO-focused content creation, keyword research and competitive analysis, interactive content, web content optimization, and landing page creation.
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Should You Register A Business Name Or Domain First
Before you register a business name you should search which domain names that you like are available or if they are on sale at a good price. If the website is a crucial part of your business then you should register the domain name right away since it is the easier part.
Registering a business name and open your new company should be more time-consuming than getting a domain name in most countries. There is no paperwork or face to face interaction when you register a new domain.
You can bulk check multiple domains at once since almost all the websites that sell domains have a tool like that. Dont search one by one because you will probably see the message that domain is taken and this is discouraging. Create a list with many domains before you actually check if they are available.
If you rely mostly on the mouth to mouth marketing and referrals then a website is not so crucial for your revenue. For example, if you run a small coffee shop then probably people around your area are your main clients. You dont rely on your website to attract new customers.
For those that are not sure about the value of a domain name, lets see what Mark Zuckerberg mentioned some years ago for a mistake he did:
*This part is from an old interview at Startup School
They ended up paying 200,000$ for facebook.com but if they had purchased in the beginning the price would be significantly cheaper. Facebook is an online business so a domain name is really crucial.