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Home/Secretary of State directory/Secretary of State Name Reservation/Reserve a New York business name before you form
New York . Name Reservation

Reserve a New York business name before you form.

If your formation is not ready but you need to lock in a name, New York lets you reserve it. This guide explains the NY Department of State reservation process, fee, duration, and how to convert a reservation into a finished entity.

Reserve name in New York →

Why reserve a name in New York

  • Lock the name while raising capital.
  • Hold the name while building the business plan.
  • Protect the name during a trademark search.
  • Coordinate domain + name + branding.
  • Block competitors from filing the same name.
Where this page sits

Up a level, or across to the neighbors.

Guide

Secretary of State Name Reservation by state

The national explainer above this page: what changes between jurisdictions, and why.

Open the hub → Section

Secretary of State directory

Every filing the state business office takes, state by state.

Open the section → State

New York business filings

Every filing a business makes in New York, gathered on one page.

Open New York → In New York

Secretary of State in New York

The Secretary of State, state by state

Read the guide → In New York

Federal EIN in New York

The federal EIN, state by state

Read the guide → In New York

Secretary of State phone number in New York

Secretary of State phone numbers, state by state

Read the guide → In New York

Secretary of State Forms in New York

Secretary of State forms, state by state

Read the guide →
Lock the name

New York Name Reservation: at a glance.

Reserves a business name with the Secretary of State for a set period before formation.

Filing details

How New York handles Name Reservation.

New York Business SearchLook up any New York entity and read every status right.
Where to fileSecretary of State office, online portal, or by mail with the required fee.
TurnaroundStandard processing: 5-10 business days. Expedited service available for an additional state fee.
Required informationEntity name + ID, current officers and registered agent, principal office address.
Common pitfallsMismatched officer addresses, expired registered agent, missed prior reports causing administrative dissolution.
Frequently asked

New York Name Reservation questions.

What is a name reservation with the New York Secretary of State?

It lets you hold an available business name with New York for a set period before you file formation, so no one else takes it while you prepare. It is optional but useful when you are not ready to form yet. We check New York availability and reserve the name so it is waiting when you file.

Do I need to reserve a name before forming in New York?

No: if you are ready to form, filing the formation document claims the name directly, so reservation is only needed when you want to secure a name in advance. We tell you whether reserving makes sense for your New York timeline or whether to just form now and claim it.

How long does a New York name reservation last?

It varies by New York, commonly 60 to 120 days, and some states allow a renewal. If you do not form before it expires, the name frees up again. We track your New York reservation window on a compliance calendar so you form in time or renew before it lapses.

How do I check if a name is available in New York?

You search the New York Secretary of State's business database and apply the state's naming rules, required designators like LLC or Inc, no conflicts with existing names, no restricted words. A name that looks free can still be too similar. We run the New York availability check properly before you rely on a name.

What makes a business name unavailable in New York?

Usually that it is the same as or confusingly similar to an existing New York entity, missing a required designator, or using restricted words, like bank or insurance, without approval. We screen your name against New York's rules so you do not build a brand on a name the state will reject at filing.

Does reserving a name protect my brand or trademark?

No: a New York name reservation only holds the name at the Secretary of State for forming an entity; it gives no trademark rights and does not stop use elsewhere. For real brand protection you need a trademark. We reserve the New York name and can point you toward trademarking if the brand is central to your business.

Can I reserve a name before I foreign-qualify in New York?

Yes: if you plan to expand into New York, you can reserve your name there ahead of foreign qualification so it is available when you register. We coordinate the New York reservation with your expansion timeline so the name is secured before someone local takes it.

Related

Related services

New York Secretary of StateOverview, contact, full filing index. Annual reportDue dates, fees, and how to file. Registered agentRequirements and renewal. Compliance calendarEvery deadline that touches your entity.

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