Getting incorporated: requirements for the name of your business

Tuesday’s focus: Small Business & Corporate Law

This is the first part of a four-part series covering successfully incorporating your business, and factors you’ll need to consider.

Names like “A Always Flowers” or “Dogz ‘R Us” convey an impression on customers. First, they convey what kind of business they do. Second, they covey a level of familiarity or casualness that may or may not appeal to everyone.

So, the name of your business not only lets people know what you do, but also sets the tone for how you’ll be perceived by customers. A distinctive name will set you apart.

From a legal standpoint, your name has to be different from any other corporation or company in the state when you incorporate. The Illinois Secretary of State’s office has a listing of existing corporations and companies where you can check if the name you want is already taken.

Another important legal detail is that the name of your corporation must include “Inc.” or “Corp.” or “Co.” or “Ltd.” in the name – or “Incorporated” or “Corporation” or “Company” or “Limited.” If you organize as a Limited Liability Company, you must use “LLC” in your name. You will have to use the corporate tag whenever you identify your business, so that it will be known that you are incorporated. Besides being required, picking a corporate designation can add distinction to your corporate name.

For any questions you may have about incorporating your business or picking a corporate name, askthelawyer@yourpersonallawyer.com

Talk Like A Lawyer

Motion in limine: a pretrial motion asking the court to prohibit the introduction of prejudicial evidence by the other party

Closing Argument

“It is good to dream, but it is better to dream and work. Faith is mighty, but action with faith is mightier. Desiring is helpful, but work and desire are invincible.” — Thomas Robert Gains

Do you have a legal question? askthelawyer@yourpersonallawyer.com

Jonathan Dixon is an attorney in Chicago and the principal of the Law Offices of Jonathan Dixon, P.C. , practicing in the areas of real estate law, landlord/tenant law, condo law, small business and corporate law, probate law, estate planning (including wills, trust, powers of attorney, and living wills), and divorce and family law. Jonathan Dixon’s practice is limited to Illinois, and chiefly to the Chicago area.

In the area of small business and corporate law, Jonathan Dixon represents small businesses in all legal aspects of running a business, including forming a corporation, annual registrations, employer/employee matters, corporate record keeping, and contract drafting and review.

The information provided in this blog is intended for informational purposes, and is not intended as legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship with Jonathan Dixon or the Law Offices of Jonathan Dixon, P.C. If you have a legal question or would like to consult with Jonathan Dixon about your specific legal needs, please call (312) 217-0321 or email askthelawyer@yourpersonallawyer.com.