How to Reserve a Corporate Name
To reserve a corporate name, confirm it is available through your state's business entity search, then file a name reservation application with your state's filing office and pay the fee, which ranges from $10 in California to $75 in Delaware. Most reservations last 60 to 120 days depending on the state, and some states let you renew before it expires if you are not ready to file your articles of incorporation yet.
By LLC Register · Last reviewed October 2, 2026
Comprehensive Guide
Why Reserve a Name Before Incorporating
A name reservation holds a specific corporate name for your exclusive use for a set period, so no one else can register it with the state while you finish preparing your articles of incorporation, lining up financing, or coordinating with co-founders. It's optional in most states; if you're ready to file immediately, you can skip the reservation step and go straight to filing your articles of incorporation with the name you've chosen.
Step 1: Confirm the Name Is Actually Available
Before you file a reservation request, search your state's business entity database to confirm the name isn't already registered or reserved by someone else. See our guide on how to check corporate name availability for how to run this search properly, including why a state search alone doesn't check trademarks.
Step 2: File the Reservation Application and Pay the Fee
Each state has its own form and fee for a name reservation. In California, you request a Certificate of Reservation for a corporate name through the Secretary of State for a $10 fee, with the reservation lasting 60 days. In Texas, you file Form 501, Application for Reservation or Renewal of Reservation of an Entity Name, with the Secretary of State for a $40 fee, holding the name for 120 days. In Delaware, you request a name reservation through the Division of Corporations for a $75 fee, also good for 120 days. Confirm your own state's current form and fee before filing, since both can change.
What Happens When the Reservation Expires
If your reservation period passes without your articles of incorporation being filed, the name becomes available again to any other filer, including one who wants the exact name you reserved. Some states let you renew a reservation before it lapses; Texas's Form 501, for example, doubles as a renewal application. California's rules are stricter: a new 60-day reservation for the same name and applicant generally requires at least one day to pass after the prior reservation expires, so back-to-back consecutive reservations aren't automatically available there.
A Reservation Doesn't Replace Filing Your Articles
Reserving a name only secures the name itself; it doesn't create your corporation, establish a registered agent, or authorize any shares. You still need to file articles of incorporation, appoint a registered agent, and complete the rest of the formation process described in our guide on how to form a C corporation before your reserved name becomes an actual operating corporation.
When Reserving a Name Makes Sense
Reserving a name is most useful when you've settled on a name but aren't ready to file immediately, for example, while you're still finalizing your cap table, waiting on a registered agent arrangement, or coordinating a multi-state filing strategy. If you're ready to file right away, the reservation step is an unnecessary extra fee and filing; just include the name directly in your articles of incorporation.
Reserving a Name in More Than One State
If you're planning to register as a foreign corporation in additional states beyond where you incorporate, a reservation in your home state doesn't protect the name anywhere else. Each state's reservation, like each state's entity registration, is separate, so check availability and reserve separately in any other state where you plan to register soon.
Practical Considerations
Don't Let a Reservation Lapse by Accident
Mark your reservation's expiration date on your own calendar, not just the state's, since a lapsed reservation that someone else claims in the meantime can force you back to square one on naming.
A Reservation Fee Is Usually Worth Paying If You're Not Filing Immediately
Given how inexpensive most reservation fees are relative to the cost of losing a name you've already built early plans around, reserving is generally worth doing any time there's a real gap between choosing a name and filing your articles of incorporation.
Reservations Don't Protect Against Trademark Claims
A name reservation only concerns your state's corporate registry. It offers no protection against a trademark infringement claim from a business with a registered trademark in a similar name, even if that business has no entity registered in your state at all.
This Is Not Legal Advice
State name reservation rules, fees, and renewal procedures can change. Confirm your specific state's current process with its Secretary of State or equivalent filing office before relying on the figures here.
Sources
The official sources used for this article.
California Secretary of State: Business Entities Fee Schedule | bpd.cdn.sos.ca.gov/pdf/be-fee-schedule-062018.pdf |
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Texas Secretary of State: Form 501, Reservation or Renewal of Reservation of an Entity Name | sos.state.tx.us/corp/instructions/501.shtml |
Delaware Division of Corporations: Name Reservation | corp.delaware.gov/nameres |
Created by: LLC RegisterLast reviewed October 2, 2026
Updated: October 2, 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a corporate name reservation last?
It depends on the state. California's reservation lasts 60 days, while Texas and Delaware both hold a reserved name for 120 days, after which it becomes available to other filers unless renewed where renewal is allowed.
How much does it cost to reserve a corporate name?
Fees vary by state: $10 in California, $40 in Texas, and $75 in Delaware, according to each state's Secretary of State.
Can I renew a corporate name reservation?
In some states, yes. Texas allows a renewal filing before the reservation expires using the same form. California generally requires at least one day to pass between consecutive 60-day reservations for the same name and applicant.
Is reserving a name the same as registering a corporation?
No. A name reservation only holds a specific name for your exclusive use for a limited period; you still have to separately file articles of incorporation, appoint a registered agent, and complete the rest of the formation process.
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