Maryland is one of only 14 states in the US to have an AAA bond rating, and its gross domestic product (GDP) went up 6.7% from 2022 to 2023 for a total of $512.3 billion. Needless to say, this is a small but mighty state, and entrepreneurs should have their eyes on Maryland, especially since it’s received the accolade of America’s Top States for Business too.
Those who are ready to set up shop in the state should run a Maryland business entity search beforehand. This ensures that you’ve got a truly unique company name so you start things off right. Here’s how you can check.
Check With the Department of Assessments and Taxation Charter
Usually, you’d check with the Secretary of State since they’re responsible for business registrations. However, there’s no Maryland Secretary of State business search. Instead, you’ll check with the Department of Assessments and Taxation Charter (DATC).
The actual page is called the Maryland Business Express Business Entity Search. It’s very easy to use since it’s extremely straightforward. There’s a red box with additional information up top, but as for the search function itself, there’s one bar for you to fill in the business name. Then, you can select either search by business name or department ID, and then you click on “Search.”
The next page will show you any hits from the database. This page is quite simple too; you’ll see the department IDs, entity names, and statuses only.
Click on any business and it’ll take you to another page with more information. You see its:
- Principle office
- Resident agent and address
- Status
- Good standing (or not)
- Business type
- Business code
- Date of formation/registration
- State of formation
- Stock status
- Close status
Use Your Favorite Search Engine
Even though there’s no MD SOS business search, as you can see, you can use the DATC’s search function instead. But there’s another method: search engines.
This is another easy search to carry out since you just type your business name into the search bar, plus “Maryland.” If you want to narrow things down and have a certain city or several cities in mind, you can try searches with those typed in as well.
With this type of Maryland business entity search, you can see if someone beat you to the punch. We’d advise you to stay away from similar-sounding names, as there may be grounds for a lawsuit.
Keep your eyes peeled for domain names and social media usernames too. You’ll want those to match your registered company name, so if you’re certain that’s what you want, it might be smart to buy up the domain name and register the social media handles so no one else gets them.
Try Our Business Name Checking Tool
On our site, we have a business name checking tool. It’s just as easy to use as the other methods in this article; type in the business name, choose “LLC” or “corporation” from the drop-down list, and hit “Check availability.”
From there, you’ll see if the name’s free. If it is, then you can fill out your details to hear more about our services.
We are professionals who handle business registration for entrepreneurs like you. We can help you create either LLCs or corporations, and our base packages start at just $37 (plus state fees).
Take a look at our page to see what else we offer and how much each extra service costs. Our transparent and competitive prices are very attractive!
Check Company Names With a Maryland Business Entity Search
It can be disheartening to go through the business registration process only to find out that your selected company name is already taken. However, you can avoid disappointment by doing your due diligence. This is possible through a Maryland business entity search, as well as a thorough search engine search and the use of our business name search tool.
While it may take extra time to perform these searches, it’ll be worth it when you don’t have to go back to square one. Plus, if you enlist our help, we can take over the entire registration process so you don’t have to do any hard work.
Sign up with Business Anywhere today if you want to start a business in Maryland. We have online notary and virtual mailbox services too.
