← NameCheck
Check Business Name Availability Online
Short answer: you can check a business name's availability online in about 30 seconds — but only if you check all four systems at once. A name can be free as a domain, taken on Instagram, clear in your state registry, and still blocked by a trademark. One check is not a check.
Run the Free 4-in-1 Check →The four checks, in order
- Domain: is the .com (and .net / .co) live on the registry? This is the check most people do first — and stop at.
- Social handles: are @yourname formats open on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and X? Handle formats differ per platform; NameCheck verifies formats as part of the free check.
- State business registry: if you plan to form an LLC or corporation, the secretary of state's business database decides whether the legal name is free in your state.
- Trademark pre-screen: a USPTO search shows live marks that could conflict — including names that are not identical but confusingly similar.
Why online tools miss half of this
- Domain checkers only check domains. A green "available" on a registrar says nothing about trademarks or handles.
- State databases are state-only. Clear in Texas, blocked federally — that happens.
- "Trademark free" tools vary. Some check identical matches only. Confusingly-similar matches are where real conflicts live.
- Handle checkers forget formats. A name might be taken as @oaknest but open as @oaknestco — you need format options, not a single yes/no.
What NameCheck's free check does
Type a name and a category. In about 30 seconds you get: live .com/.net domain verdicts from the registry, social handle format checks, a trademark pre-screen, and ranked alternatives if the name is risky. No sign-up. The $9 one-time report packages everything into a keepable PDF with 12 ranked alternatives and filing classes.
Common mistakes
- Checking only the .com and celebrating. See the four checks above.
- Paying for the LLC before the trademark screen. Formation fees do not refund when a mark blocks you.
- Assuming a free domain means a free brand. Domains are rented cheaply; brands are defended expensively.
FAQ
Is a free online name check legally binding?
No — it is a pre-screen, not legal clearance. It tells you whether to invest in the name or move on. For registered marks, a trademark attorney gives the final word; this is general information, not legal advice.
How fast is the NameCheck free check?
About 30 seconds for the standard pass: domain live checks, handle formats, and trademark pre-screen together.
What does the $9 report add?
The free check gives you the live verdict. The $9 one-time Clearance Report adds domain verdicts across 6 TLDs with sources, handle checks, trademark pre-screen detail, 12 ranked alternatives, filing classes, and a next-step checklist.
Run the Free 4-in-1 Check →
More: Check Domain Availability · How to Check If a Name Is Trademarked · Free Trademark Search
Pricing · Terms · Privacy · Refund Policy · Contact: info@kaimomedia.com