Corporations

Reserving or Registering a business name

What is the difference between Reserving and Registering a business name?

Reserving (protects for 120 days):
A name reservation temporarily protects the name by giving the owner exclusive rights to the use of that name while a business or entity is being organized. You may reserve a business name if you are intending to do business using that name. A business reservation is valid for 120 days and is non-renewable.

Note: If the business name reservation has not expired but you are ready to use your reserved name please submit the following items together hardcopy:

  • A notice to cancel your name reservation (which must include the entity number from the Certificate of Reservation; the notice must be signed by the applicant of the reservation). This will allow you to use your reserved name to create a business or entity using that same name.
  • Your entity creation filing with the Corporations Section using the same name and/or a business license application to the Business License Section.

Registering (gives exclusive rights for 5 years):
A name registration gives the owner the exclusive right to the use of that name. To register a name a current Business License is required. A registered name is valid for five years including   any portion of the filing year, and is renewable between October 1st and December 31st of the year of expiration.

The names of the following entity types are registered automatically upon incorporation or organization by the Division: corporations; limited liability companies; limited liability partnerships; limited partnerships; cooperatives; non-profit corporations; Alaska religious corporations; professional corporations; or BIDCOs.

For information about exclusive rights click on:
What are exclusive rights?
What is the remedy if exclusive rights are infringed upon?

For information on how to apply click on:
How do I reserve or register a business name?

 

Contact Us:

If you have questions you can reach us at either the Juneau or Anchorage phone numbers listed below
or by emailing us at: corporations@alaska.gov.