Connecticut lesson 1 of 6
Name your Connecticut LLC
The Secretary of the State will reject a Certificate of Organization if the name is not distinguishable from an existing business name on file, so search the business registry before you file.
Required wording
A Connecticut LLC name must contain the words limited liability company, or the abbreviation LLC or L.L.C. Limited may be shortened to Ltd. and Company to Co.
- Acceptable: Long Island Sound Marine LLC, Long Island Sound Marine L.L.C.
- Wording that implies a bank, insurance company, or government agency generally needs separate regulatory approval before it can be used
- The name must be distinguishable on the record from other business names already registered with the Secretary of the State
Checking availability and reserving a name
Search the Business.CT.gov business records lookup before you file. Minor differences in punctuation, spacing, or an added article usually are not enough to separate your name from an existing one on file.
If you are not ready to file the Certificate of Organization yet, Connecticut allows you to reserve a name for a limited period with the Secretary of the State, which is worth doing if you still need to finish paperwork elsewhere before filing.
Operating under a name different from the one on your Certificate of Organization is a trade name in Connecticut, generally registered at the town clerk's office rather than with the state.
🇺🇸 Check United States company name availability
Search the official United States state registry before you file. Opens the government portal in a new tab.
Tip: also confirm the .com domain and matching social handles are free before you commit.
Key takeaways
- End the name with LLC, L.L.C., or the words limited liability company in full.
- Search Business.CT.gov's business records before filing the Certificate of Organization.
- A trade name different from your legal LLC name is filed at the town clerk, not with the state.
Official sources
Or let us file your Connecticut LLC for you
Everything above is yours to use for free. If you would rather hand it over, we prepare and file the Certificate of Organization, act as your registered agent, and track your ongoing deadlines.
Last reviewed: September 2026 - reviewed by Gullia Filing Legal & Formation Team