Check business name availability with a checklist across state registrations, trademarks, domains, and social media.
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A Texas-based freelance graphic designer earns $140,000 net profit/year from client work. She's evaluating whether to stay as a sole proprietor, form an LLC, or elect S-Corp status to reduce self-employment taxes.
Takeaway: S-Corp saves $8,300/year but adds ~$1,500-$3,000 in accounting fees (payroll, extra returns). Break-even is around $80-90K net profit. Below that, the overhead eats the savings. Texas has no state income tax, so the benefit is purely federal SE savings.
LLC annual fees range from $0 (Ohio) to $800 minimum (California, even for zero-revenue LLCs). Delaware C-Corp is standard for VC-backed companies but adds registered agent costs (~$300/yr) for out-of-state entities. The "best" structure is state-specific.
S-Corps cannot have more than 100 shareholders, cannot have non-US shareholders, and cannot have corporate shareholders. Violating these rules (e.g., adding a foreign investor) terminates S-Corp status retroactively, potentially creating a large unexpected tax event.
The IRS requires S-Corp owner-employees to pay themselves a "reasonable salary" before taking distributions. There is no fixed formula — the IRS looks at industry benchmarks, duties, and hours worked. Setting the salary too low is a common audit trigger for S-Corps.
Business break-even models track revenue vs. direct costs. They rarely factor in the owner's time as a cost. If you're working 60 hours/week at imputed $50/hour, your "profitable" business may be paying you $12/hour after the opportunity cost calculation.
Break-Even CalculatorA service business valued on EBITDA multiples (2-4×) gets a very different number than one valued on SDE (seller's discretionary earnings) or discounted cash flow. Buyers and sellers typically use different methods to argue their preferred price. This calculator uses a single method.
Business Valuation CalculatorBased on your inputs
No conflicts found yet
| State Entity Search | ⬜ Not Checked |
|---|---|
| USPTO Trademark (TESS) | ⬜ Not Checked |
| .com Domain | ⬜ Not Checked |
| Google Search | ⬜ Not Checked |
| Social Media Handles | ⬜ Not Checked |
| DBA / Fictitious Name | ⬜ Not Checked |
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Search your state's Secretary of State database, the USPTO trademark database (TESS), and check domain availability. Also search Google to see if anyone is operating under that name.
An LLC name is your legal entity name registered with the state. A DBA (Doing Business As) or fictitious business name lets you operate under a different name than your registered entity.
State registration only protects your name within that state. For broader protection, file a federal trademark with the USPTO. Domain registration doesn't provide name protection.
Two businesses in different states can have the same name unless one has a federal trademark. If you want exclusive nationwide rights, register a federal trademark.
USPTO trademark filing costs $250-$350 per class of goods or services. Attorney fees add $500-$2,000. The full process takes 8-12 months. You can file without an attorney using TEAS Plus.
Yes. Secure your .com domain early since they cannot be reserved like business names. If the .com is taken, consider .co, .io, or other extensions, but .com remains the most trusted.
Strong business names are easy to spell, pronounce, and remember. They have an available .com domain and no trademark conflicts. Avoid names too similar to established brands or generic industry terms.
A trade name is your official business name registered with the state. A trademark protects a brand name, logo, or slogan used in commerce. Trade names have state-level protection; trademarks provide federal protection.
You can use the business name legally if no trademark conflict exists, but customers may confuse you with the domain owner. Consider a different name or negotiate to purchase the domain.
Search the USPTO TESS database at tess2.uspto.gov for exact and phonetically similar marks. Also search state trademark databases and Google for common law usage. Consulting a trademark attorney is recommended for names in competitive industries.
Check each registry and mark the result. Green = proceed. Red = choose another name.
Every formula on this page traces to a federal agency, central bank, or peer-reviewed institution. We cite the rule-makers, not secondhand blogs.
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Calculations are for educational purposes only. Consult a qualified financial advisor for personalized advice.