Kentucky business entity search

Kentucky's two name searches

The Business Entity Search reviews all documents on file with the Office of the Secretary of State. It looks up a business name or organization number, and it can also search by the city or ZIP code of the principal office. A box limits results to active entities, and the state says to uncheck it to find inactive ones.

A separate Name Availability Search compares a name against the records on file. It accepts the whole name or part of it, and the entry needs at least 4 characters. The state files names first come, first served, so a clear result does not guarantee the name will be usable when the filing arrives.

What Kentucky counts as the same name

Under the state's guidelines, a name passes only if it can be told apart from every other entity name actively on file. Kentucky Revised Statutes (KRS) 14A.3-010 sets the same test against the Secretary of State's records. The office disregards five kinds of difference:

• the entity ending, such as LLC, Inc. or Corporation
• the words "a", "an" and "the"
• conjunctions and symbols such as "and", "&" and "+"
• marks of punctuation
• upper and lower case

The guidelines give "Carpet Universe LLC" and "The Carpet Universe Corporation" as an example of two names that do not pass. An application for use of an indistinguishable name is listed at $20.

Words Kentucky restricts

A for-profit entity may not use "Cooperative" in its name unless it has complied with KRS 272.020 to 272.050. The phrase "Rural Electric Cooperative" belongs only to an entity formed under KRS Chapter 279.

A professional LLC follows its own ending rule in KRS 14A.3-010, with "professional limited liability company" or the abbreviations PLLC and PLC.

Reserving a Kentucky name

KRS 14A.3-020 lets a person reserve a name by filing an application with the Secretary of State. When the name is distinguishable from names of record, it is held for the applicant's exclusive use for 120 days. The application costs $15 under the fee schedule.

The holder may apply to renew during the 30 days before the reservation expires, and a renewal adds another 120 days. Renewal uses the same $15 application.

What Kentucky charges after formation

Articles of Organization cost $40 for a profit, nonprofit or professional service LLC, according to the Secretary of State's fee schedule. An annual report costs $15 and is due by June 30 of each year after the year of formation. A domestic entity that misses June 30 is administratively dissolved until it reinstates.

The Department of Revenue adds the limited liability entity tax. A company pays a $175 minimum when either total gross receipts or total gross profits come to $3 million or less. Use the LLC cost calculator to set these figures beside other states.

An assumed name is filed with the Secretary of State on a certificate that costs $20. The fictitious business name guide covers how trade names work across states. Documents other than annual reports are usually processed the day they arrive. The FAQ adds that it may take up to three business days.

Checking and claiming a name in Kentucky

1. Run the name through the Name Availability Search with at least 4 characters. Then read any matching entities in the Business Entity Search with the active-only box unchecked.
2. Compare the name with the five differences the office disregards. Changing only an ending, an article, a symbol, punctuation or case will not separate it from another name.
3. Add an ending from the endings each state accepts, such as LLC or limited liability company under KRS 14A.3-010.
4. Reserve the name for $15 if the articles are not ready. The hold lasts 120 days.
5. File Articles of Organization for $40, then plan for the June 30 annual report.