How Do I....Register and/or Protect my Business Name With the State of Maine?

• The state of Maine does not require business name registration. If you choose to incorporate or create a limited liability company or limited liability partnership and operate under an assumed name, you may be required to register with the Secretary of State’s Bureau of Corporations. Also, many municipalities require business registration. Check with your town/city clerk to find out about local regulations.

• Although the state does not register business names, you should make a good faith effort to make reasonably sure that you won’t be using someone else’s name. Online you can search through all of the phone books in the U.S. at Switchboard.com. In addition, a list of online Maine business directories can be found at Maine’s homepage.

• You may choose to file a state trademark on your name or logo with Maine’s Bureau of Corporations. It is not necessary to incorporate to do this. The cost is $60 for the first classification and $10 for each additional class (type of business), and the trademark lasts 10 years, after which it must be renewed within 6 months of the expiration date. You can download the forms and find out more at the Bureau of Corporations website. This trademark is for Maine only; if you wish to protect your business name nationally, you must file a trademark with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. You can file electronically and find out more at their website.

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