New York lesson 1 of 6
Name your New York LLC
New York has one of the longer lists of restricted words in the country, and several of them require written consent from another state agency before the Department of State will accept your filing.
Required wording
The name must end with Limited Liability Company, LLC or L.L.C. It must be distinguishable from other names on file with the Department of State.
Words that need consent
New York restricts a long list of terms. Words connected with banking, insurance, education, and certain regulated activities require consent or approval from the relevant agency, for example the Department of Financial Services or the State Education Department. Words implying a government connection are prohibited outright.
If your preferred name includes words like academy, insurance, trust or exchange, check the restricted list before designing anything.
Checking availability
You can search the Department of State's corporation and business entity database free of charge. That search is informal guidance only. For a formal answer, the Department charges $5 per name submitted for an availability check. Name reservation is also available if you need to hold a name while you prepare your filing.
🇺🇸 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 in full.
- Many words need written consent from a New York state agency.
- The free database search is informal; the official check is $5 per name.
Official sources
Or let us file your New York LLC for you
Everything above is yours to use for free. If you would rather hand it over, we prepare and file the Articles of Organization, act as your registered agent, and track your ongoing deadlines.
Last reviewed: September 2026 - reviewed by Gullia Filing Legal & Formation Team