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How to Check If an LLC Name Is Available in Kentucky

Last verified: November 2, 2026 · Sources are cited at the bottom of this page.

The short answer

Short answer: Kentucky runs two different searches — a Business Entity Search for looking up companies, and a separate Name Availability Search for checking a new name, both free at sosbes.sos.ky.gov. The trap: Kentucky files names first-come, first-served with no guarantee, and the yearly cost that surprises founders is not the $15 annual report — it is the state's $175 minimum Limited Liability Entity Tax.

The official search

The registry is run by the Kentucky Secretary of State, Business Filings, through its FastTrack system. Kentucky is unusual in giving you two official tools:

The Secretary of State's own words on the availability page set the expectations: the office "files business entity names on a first come first serve basis," and "there is no guarantee that a name searched with the Name Availability Search tool will be available at the point of filing." You can also check availability in writing or by phone at (502) 564-3490.

The entity database covers LLCs, corporations, limited partnerships, and other entities registered with the Secretary of State. A record shows the organization number, legal name, type, status, principal office, registered agent, formation date, and filing history.

Step by step

  1. Start with the Name Availability Search. Enter your proposed name — the tool requires a minimum of four characters, and you can enter the whole name or just a portion of it.
  2. Leave off "LLC." Search the distinctive part of the name so designator differences do not hide conflicts.
  3. Read the verdict. If the tool reports "No matching organizations were found," your name is probably available. If it lists matching organizations, your name must be distinguishable from each of them — if it is not clearly different, pick another name.
  4. Cross-check in the Business Entity Search. Search by Business Name to inspect the actual records behind any near-match. This search also offers City Name and Zip Code modes.
  5. Uncheck "Show active entities only." The entity search defaults to active records. Unchecking it surfaces dissolved and inactive names, which helps you judge how crowded your name space really is.
  6. Act promptly if the name is clear. Because filing is first-come, first-served, a clean search does not hold the name. Either file your Articles of Organization or reserve the name.

Kentucky's name rules

The rules are in KRS 14A.3-010 of the Kentucky Business Entity Filing Act.

Designator. The name must end with "limited liability company" or "limited company," or the abbreviation "LLC" or "LC." A professional LLC must instead end with "professional limited liability company," "professional limited company," "PLLC," or "PLC."

Distinguishable. The real name of an entity must be distinguishable from any name of record with the Secretary of State — not just from other LLCs, but from corporations, partnerships, reserved names, and other filings too.

Differences that do not count. Under the Secretary of State's Name Availability Guidelines (linked from the search page itself — read them before you rely on a close call), punctuation, letter case, articles such as "a" and "the," the word "and" or "&," and the entity designator itself are ignored when names are compared. Changing only those things does not make two names distinguishable.

Reserving a name. Kentucky allows name reservations under KRS 14A.3-020 using Form RES: $15 for 120 days, and the reservation may be renewed in the 30 days before it expires. A reservation is optional — it holds the name, but it does not create an LLC.

What the search can't tell you

If the name looks available

File Articles of Organization (Form KLC) with the Secretary of State, Business Filings, online through FastTrack or by mail.

Then finish the step most formation guides skip: record a copy with your county clerk. Under KRS 14A.2-040, one exact or conformed copy of your Articles of Organization must be filed with the county clerk of the county where your registered office is located. The clerk charges a recording fee set by KRS 64.012, so check the amount with your clerk's office. (Your annual reports, by contrast, go only to the Secretary of State.)

Ongoing: the annual report — plus a tax.

FAQ

Is the Kentucky LLC name search free? Yes. Both the Name Availability Search and the Business Entity Search are free and require no login. You can also check a name by phone at (502) 564-3490 or in writing.

What is the difference between Kentucky's two searches? The Name Availability Search compares a proposed name against the records on file and tells you whether anything matches. The Business Entity Search shows the full records of existing businesses — status, addresses, registered agent, and filing history. Use both.

What does "No matching organizations were found" mean? It means no name on file matched what you entered — a strong sign the name is available. It is not a guarantee: Kentucky files names first-come, first-served, and the Secretary of State makes the final call when you file.

How much does it cost to form a Kentucky LLC? The Articles of Organization (Form KLC) filing fee is $40, plus a county clerk recording fee for the copy you must file locally. Reserving a name first is optional and costs $15 for 120 days.

When is the Kentucky LLC annual report due, and what else do I owe each year? The annual report ($15) is due between January 1 and June 30 each year, starting the year after formation. Separately, most LLCs owe the Limited Liability Entity Tax to the Department of Revenue — a $175 minimum for most small businesses.

Sources

Run the check now

Use the workflow tool below — it is pre-set to Kentucky and builds your printable checklist with the official links.

Name-Check Workflow Tool

Pick your state, choose your entity type, and type the name you want. The tool builds your step-by-step checklist — the official search, the trademark check, the domain check, and your filing options. It runs entirely in your browser; nothing you type is sent anywhere.