What should I name my corporation?

Setting aside personal choice and issues such as name recognition, the primary legal consideration is to pick a name that is not the same as, or closely resembles, the name of another corporation that has already been formed, or is doing business, in the state where you are going to incorporate. The secretary of state in your state usually has a way for you to check the availability of your desired name before you incorporate. If the name checks out, you can then register the name so no one else can use it. Other than picking a name that is different from that of existing corporations in your state, it is important to include some type of corporate designation, such as “Corp.,” “Inc.,” or “Co.,” as part of the name. That is required in most states, but not in California. Even in California, however, it is still a good idea to include a word or abbreviation showing that your business is incorporated, as it may help to protect you from being held personally liable on a corporate obligation, as we discuss in our article Why Every Corporate Name Needs a Suffix.