Can You Make Your Name an LLC? – Avoid This Mistake + FAQs

Confused about whether you can make your name an LLC? You’re not alone. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Americans filed a record 5.5 million new business applications in 2023 – yet many entrepreneurs remain unsure about LLC naming basics, risking costly legal disputes or rebranding down the line.

Yes, You Can Make Your Name an LLC (But Should You?)

Straight answer: Yes – you can legally name your Limited Liability Company after yourself. In fact, many one-person businesses choose to use the owner’s personal name as the company name. There is no law against using your own name, as long as you follow your state’s LLC naming rules.

Every state requires that an LLC’s name be unique in that state and include an indicator like “LLC” or “Limited Liability Company.” This means if your name is John Doe and no other business in your state is named “John Doe LLC,” you can register it. Using your own name can be as simple as filing Articles of Organization for “John Doe LLC” (or whatever your name is) with the Secretary of State and paying the filing fee.

However, just because you can name your LLC after yourself doesn’t always mean you should. The choice comes with implications for branding, privacy, and growth. Using your personal name makes your business closely identified with you, which can be great for a personal brand (clients immediately know who’s behind the company). But it might not be the best fit if you plan to expand, take on partners, or sell the business eventually. Before deciding, it’s wise to weigh the pros and cons and understand the pitfalls. Let’s break down what it really means to make your name an LLC.

Pros and Cons of Using Your Own Name for Your LLC

Naming your LLC after yourself has some clear advantages – and a few drawbacks. Below are the key pros and cons to consider:

Pros of a Personal Name LLC:

• Instant Brand Recognition: Using your own name can humanize your business. Clients often feel a personal connection knowing the founder’s name is on the door. For example, many consultants, designers, and real estate agents use their name to leverage their reputation. Your name can become a brand, especially if you’re in a field where you are the product or service (think photographers, lawyers, or coaches).

• Simplicity and Authenticity: It’s straightforward and authentic. You don’t have to brainstorm a creative company name or worry about finding something unique – your name is uniquely yours. This simplicity can save time and even money (no need for extensive naming research or fancy branding campaigns). You also won’t need to file a fictitious name (DBA) if your LLC’s legal name is your actual name.

• Flexibility in Offerings: A personal name LLC isn’t tied to a specific product or service in the name itself. If you’re “Jane Smith LLC,” you can offer consulting today and pivot to a different service tomorrow under the same umbrella without your business name seeming out of place. Using your name can be broad and versatile, allowing you to sell various products or services without the name constraining you to one niche.

Cons of a Personal Name LLC:

• Lack of Clarity or Professionalism: On the flip side, just a person’s name (e.g., John Doe LLC) gives no clue what the business actually does. This can be a disadvantage in marketing. A potential customer seeing your company name might not immediately know your industry or services. Some people also perceive eponymous businesses as very small operations. In certain industries, a made-up business name can sound more established or credible than one named after an individual. For instance, “Doe & Co. Consulting LLC” might sound more professional to some than plain “John Doe LLC.”

• Limited Growth or Sale Potential: Tying the business name to you can make it harder to scale or sell the company later. If your name is the brand, customers expect you personally. This can become a problem if you hire employees or decide to step back. A business named after the founder might be less attractive to potential buyers down the road, because the brand is so closely identified with that one person. As one business consultant put it, if the company’s identity is the owner’s name, handing over the reins to someone else can be more difficult.

• Privacy Concerns: Using your own name means your name is publicized in business records, directories, and marketing. If you value some anonymity, a personal name LLC is not the way to go. Keep in mind that LLC formation documents are usually public record. If the company is named after you, anyone can instantly tell who owns it. Some entrepreneurs prefer a separate brand name to keep a lower profile. (There are even ways to set up an anonymous LLC in certain states to keep ownership quiet – which typically wouldn’t involve using your personal name as the LLC name.)

• Name Availability and Uniqueness: If you have a common name, there’s a chance someone in your state has already registered it. You might find that “John Smith LLC” or “Mary Johnson LLC” is taken, forcing you to tweak the name (such as adding a middle initial or another word). Also, while your personal name is unique to you as a person, it might not stand out as a business name in the marketplace. It could be harder to differentiate your business if many others share your name. From a branding perspective, a creative name could be more memorable to customers than “John Doe.”

In short, naming your LLC after yourself is a trade-off. It can boost your personal brand and make networking easier (everyone knows who the owner is), but it might not convey what your business does and could pose challenges for growth. Think about your long-term goals: if you’re a freelancer or plan to be the face of a boutique firm forever, a personal name LLC might serve you well. If you aim to build a company that operates beyond just you, you might lean toward a more generic brand name.

Mistakes to Avoid When Naming an LLC After Yourself

If you do decide to make your name your LLC, be careful to avoid these common pitfalls. A little foresight can save you from headaches and costly changes later on:

• Not Checking Name Availability: One of the biggest mistakes is failing to do a thorough name search before filing. Don’t assume your full name is free to use just because it’s yours. Check your state’s business registry for any existing business with a similar name. If your name is common or if you share a name with someone well-known, there might already be an LLC or corporation with that name. Skipping this step could lead to your LLC filing being rejected or, worse, legal disputes if another business claims you’re infringing on their name. Always run a search and, if available, reserve the name while you prepare your LLC paperwork.

• Ignoring State Naming Rules: Every state has specific rules for business names. Aside from the required “LLC” suffix, states forbid certain words (like “Bank” or “Insurance” unless you have a license) and phrases that could mislead the public. Using your name doesn’t exempt you from these rules. For example, adding “Inc.” or “Corp.” to your name would be illegal for an LLC since those imply a corporation. Similarly, including words like “Trust” or “University” might be restricted. Always follow your state’s guidelines (usually provided by the Secretary of State) to ensure your chosen name (even if it’s your own name) meets all requirements.

• No Descriptor for Common Names: If your personal name is very common or doesn’t hint at your business activity, consider adding a descriptor or keyword. Simply using “John Smith LLC” could be too bland and easily confusable with others. Adding a word or two about what you do can set you apart and inform customers. For instance, “John Smith Creative LLC” or “John Smith Catering LLC” is more descriptive. It’s often a mistake to be too minimalistic with a personal name. Not only could it be hard to distinguish, but if another John Smith opens a similar business, clients might mix you up. A unique twist or additional word helps your brand identity.

• Overlooking the Branding Aspect: Don’t forget to think beyond the legal filing. Using your name means that you are effectively the brand. This can be powerful, but make sure it aligns with your marketing strategy. Will your logo just be your name in text? Does your name have any awkward or unintended meanings in your industry? One mistake is picking a name that’s hard to spell or pronounce – this is just as problematic when it’s your own name. If your last name is long or commonly misspelled, you might inadvertently make it hard for people to find you online or refer you business. Simplicity and clarity matter, even with personal names.

• Mixing Personal and Business Identities: When your own name is the business name, it’s easy to blur the lines between you as an individual and the LLC as a company. This is a huge mistake to avoid because it can undermine the liability protection of your LLC. Always remember that an LLC is a separate legal entity. For example, never sign contracts just as yourself when they should be under the business. If your LLC is “Emily Chen LLC,” sign agreements as “Emily Chen, Managing Member of Emily Chen LLC,” not simply “Emily Chen.” Likewise, get a separate business bank account under the LLC’s name (even if the name on the account is your name with LLC). Commingling funds or not clearly separating roles could allow a court to “pierce the corporate veil” and hold you personally liable despite having an LLC. Treat the company as distinct, even if it bears your name.

• Assuming It Protects Your Name Everywhere: A common misconception is thinking that once you have an LLC with your name, no one else can use that name. In reality, forming an LLC only prevents another business from registering the exact same name in your state. It does not give you nationwide exclusive rights to the name or any trademark protection (more on that later). So if you’re Jane Doe LLC offering interior design in Texas, there could be a Jane Doe LLC offering a different service in California, or a Jane Doe Photography business that isn’t an LLC at all. Don’t fall into the trap of believing “I got the LLC, so I own my name as a brand.” If brand exclusivity is important, you’ll need to consider trademarks or expanding to other states, which involves separate processes.

Avoiding these mistakes will help ensure that using your personal name as your LLC’s name is a smooth process rather than a regret. In summary: do your homework upfront, follow the rules, and remain mindful of how using your name impacts your brand and legal responsibilities.

Key Terms to Know (LLC, DBA, Trademark & More)

Before we dive into examples and comparisons, let’s clarify some key terms and concepts. Understanding these will help you make informed decisions about naming your business:

• Limited Liability Company (LLC): A business structure that offers personal liability protection to its owners (called members). If you form an LLC, it becomes a separate legal entity from you. Whether it’s named after you or something else, an LLC can own property, sue and be sued, and have its own debts – separate from your personal finances. All LLCs must register with the state. Naming requirement basics include uniqueness in the state and including a designator like “LLC” or “Limited Co.” at the end. The LLC structure itself is popular for small businesses because it’s flexible and generally simpler than a corporation while still shielding owners’ personal assets from business liabilities.

• Using Your Personal Name: In business contexts, this means the legal name of the company is your own name (e.g., Alice Nguyen LLC is owned by Alice Nguyen). This is perfectly legal. Note that if you don’t form any legal entity and just start doing business as yourself, that’s considered a sole proprietorship by default (and your business name would just be your personal name unless you file a DBA). With an LLC named after you, you still get the liability protection because it’s a registered entity, but your branding stays tied to your name.

• DBA (Doing Business As): A DBA is a fictitious business name or trade name filing. It allows an individual or company to operate under a name that is not their legal name. For example, if Robert Jones has an LLC called Robert Jones LLC but wants to market his company as Sunshine Consulting, he could file a DBA for “Sunshine Consulting” and still keep the LLC’s official name as Robert Jones LLC. Conversely, some owners do the opposite: form the LLC with their personal name for simplicity, then use a DBA to present a different public-facing name. DBAs are optional and regulated by state/county; they don’t provide any legal entity status (they’re just aliases).

• Trademark: A trademark is a form of intellectual property protection for brand names, logos, and other identifiers of goods or services. It is not automatically obtained by forming an LLC. In other words, registering “John Doe LLC” with your state does not give you a federally protected trademark in the name “John Doe” for all of commerce. Trademarks are registered through the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) (or at the state level for more limited protection) and grant exclusive rights in specific categories of goods or services. If your name (as a brand) becomes important nationally or in e-commerce, you might consider trademarking it. However, personal names as trademarks can be tricky – often you need to show that the name has acquired distinctiveness in business (unless the name is very unique). Key point: LLC name registration and trademark registration are separate; one does not substitute for the other.

• Legal Name vs. Brand Name: Your LLC’s legal name is the name on its formation documents (the one recognized by the state). You can have multiple brands or product lines under one LLC using DBAs, or you might just have one name for everything. If your LLC’s legal name is your personal name, that is also effectively your brand name unless you adopt another. Some entrepreneurs keep them different: e.g., ABC Holdings LLC as the legal entity, doing business as Emily’s Craft Shop to customers. When your personal name is the LLC name, your legal name = company name = brand name (for most purposes), so they’re one and the same.

• Sole Proprietorship: This is not an LLC at all, but it’s worth understanding in context. A sole proprietorship is a one-person business that hasn’t been formed as a separate entity. By default, it operates under the owner’s personal name (unless a DBA is filed). For instance, if Maria Lopez is freelancing without an LLC or corporation, her business is just “Maria Lopez” legally. She could invoice under her name or file a DBA to use a different name. There’s no liability protection here – Maria and the business are the same in the eyes of the law. Many people start as sole props under their own name, and later they might form an LLC (perhaps keeping the name). If you’re wondering “can I make my name an LLC,” you’re likely moving from being just you operating a business to creating a formal LLC entity for it.

Knowing these terms ensures you’re not mixing up concepts. For example, don’t confuse registering an LLC name (which is a state-level business registration) with trademarking a name (a separate process for brand protection). Also, recognizing the difference between an LLC and a sole proprietorship is crucial: an LLC (even one named after you) creates a legal separation that a sole prop doesn’t have. With these definitions in mind, let’s look at some concrete examples and scenarios.

Examples: When Naming Your LLC After Yourself Works (and When It Doesn’t)

To make this more tangible, consider a few scenarios of entrepreneurs deciding whether to use their personal name for their LLC. Below is a table illustrating three common scenarios related to “making your name an LLC,” including how it plays out in practice:

Scenario	Example LLC Name	When to Use This Approach	Considerations
1. Using Your Exact Name A solopreneur makes their own legal name the company name.	“Alex Turner LLC”	Best for solo professionals who are the business (e.g., consultants, freelancers, artists) and want to build a personal brand. It immediately identifies who is running the show.	+ Simple and personal – signals a one-to-one relationship with the owner, which can build trust. + No need for a DBA – the business name is already your name. – Not descriptive of services (clients must already know you or ask what you do). – If your name is common, you might hit availability issues or blend into the crowd.
2. Name + Descriptor Combining the owner’s name with a keyword about the business.	“Taylor Nguyen Consulting LLC” (Owner: Taylor Nguyen)	Useful when you want the personal touch and clarity. Good for small firms where the founder’s reputation is a selling point, but you also want to communicate the industry or service in the name.	+ More distinctive and informative – people see the name and get an idea of what you do (“Consulting” in this example). + Still leverages the owner’s name for credibility and personal branding. – The name gets longer – you need to keep it concise for marketing (avoid a mouthful). – You must ensure the descriptor is accurate (and allowed in names; some states restrict certain words without licenses).
3. Different Brand Name (No Personal Name) Using a creative or generic business name instead of the owner’s name.	“BrightWave Creative LLC” (owned by Jane Doe)	Common when the owner wants a standalone brand identity. Ideal for businesses that may expand with multiple people or where the service/product is separate from the owner’s persona.	+ Professional and brandable – can sound bigger or more established, and won’t seem odd if the company grows beyond the founder. + Enhances privacy – not everyone will immediately know who owns the business by its name. – Requires more branding effort; clients don’t immediately know who’s behind it, so you have to build brand recognition from scratch. – If the owner’s reputation is a key asset, hiding the name could be a disadvantage (you might still mention ownership in marketing materials).

Let’s unpack these scenarios with brief examples:

Scenario 1: The Personal Brand Solopreneur. Alex is a freelance graphic designer. He decides to form an LLC to protect himself from liability. Alex’s work is highly personal – clients hire him for his individual style. He names his company Alex Turner LLC. This works well because anyone who knows Alex can find his business easily, and it reinforces that when you hire the company, you get Alex’s expertise. Alex uses his name on his website and business cards, building reputation under that name. The downside? New clients sometimes aren’t sure what services Alex offers until he explains (“Oh, you design logos and websites”). He’s okay with that because his network and referrals drive his business. Alex must remember to sign all contracts as Alex Turner LLC (not just Alex Turner) to maintain his liability shield, but otherwise it’s straightforward. This approach shines for truly one-person businesses or personalities (artists, consultants, influencers) where you are your brand.

Scenario 2: The Boutique Firm. Taylor Nguyen runs a small IT consulting practice. Taylor wants the credibility of his own name on the business, but also to immediately convey what the business does. He names his LLC Taylor Nguyen Consulting LLC. This way, existing professional contacts recognize his name, and new clients see “Consulting” and know it’s a consulting firm. It straddles personal and corporate branding. Taylor might even hire a couple of employees down the line, but as long as he remains the figurehead, the name still makes sense. Many law firms and real estate agencies use this formula (name + industry) because it balances personal goodwill with a functional description. If Taylor expands massively or merges with another firm, he might rebrand later, but for now this hybrid naming serves his growth needs and marketing clarity.

Scenario 3: The Standalone Brand (Not Personal). Jane Doe is launching a digital marketing agency. She’s considering using her name, but she envisions building an agency with multiple team members and possibly selling it someday. Jane opts for the business name BrightWave Creative LLC. Legally, she’s the sole owner, but publicly the brand stands on its own. She doesn’t highlight her personal name in the branding; clients know the agency name primarily. This gives Jane flexibility – the business could carry on if she steps back, or even be acquired by another company without being tied to her identity. The trade-off is that initially no one knows BrightWave is Jane’s company. She has to work harder to network and market to establish that brand from scratch (for example, clarifying “BrightWave Creative, founded by Jane Doe, specializes in digital marketing”). She also files a DBA for “BrightWave Marketing” in case she wants to use a slightly shorter name in advertising, but the official LLC remains BrightWave Creative LLC. Jane’s personal name is not front-and-center, which is fine for her goals.

These examples show that making your name an LLC can be advantageous in some cases and less so in others. If personal trust and recognition are key in your field, using your name (alone or with a descriptor) is a common path. If your vision is to build an entity larger than yourself, a separate brand name might serve better – and you’d use your LLC with a non-personal name accordingly.

Some entrepreneurs choose a middle ground: they form the LLC with their personal name for simplicity or legal reasons, but also register a DBA for a more marketable name. For instance, an attorney could have “John A. Doe LLC” as the legal entity but practice law under “Doe Legal Group” as a trade name. This way, John’s name is on the official paperwork, but he can present a broader brand outwardly. It’s a flexible approach if you’re on the fence.

What the Law and Experts Say About Personal LLC Names

Legally speaking, you absolutely can use your name in your LLC. Most state laws explicitly allow it. For example, Massachusetts’ LLC statutes note that an LLC’s name may contain the name of a member or manager. They even give an example: you could name your company “Mary Smith’s Accounting Services, LLC” and it meets the requirements. The primary legal criteria for an LLC name are that it’s distinguishable from other entities on record and that it includes the proper suffix (LLC, etc.). So from a regulator’s standpoint, “John Doe LLC” is perfectly acceptable if no one else has claimed “John Doe” in that state’s business registry.

You still have to include the LLC designation. Some people wonder, can I just call it “John Doe” without the “LLC”? The answer is no – when officially registering, you must include the LLC tag in the name so that the public is on notice that this is a limited liability company. On your logo or marketing materials, you might stylize or drop the formal “LLC,” but on legal documents and filings, it needs to appear. This isn’t a special rule for personal names; it applies to all LLCs.

Trademark considerations: It’s important to understand that forming an LLC with your name does not automatically grant you trademark rights to your name for your business services. Many first-time business owners are surprised by this. They might assume “I registered the company name, so I own it and others can’t use it.” In reality, someone in another state could form an LLC with the same name and you’d have no say, because each state only cares if the name is unique within that state. To truly lock down a name across all states (and effectively prevent others from using it in commerce in your field), a trademark registration is needed.

Experts often cite this example: forming John Doe LLC in Texas won’t stop a John Doe LLC from being formed in New York. And neither of those necessarily stops a person from trademarking “John Doe” for, say, a line of apparel if that’s considered a brand. If protecting a name is crucial (maybe you have a unique personal name that you want as a brand), look into trademark registration separately. On the other hand, if your name is very common, a trademark on just the name alone might not even be feasible or worthwhile unless you pair it with a distinctive logo or design.

Expert opinions on using personal names: Business advisors have mixed views, mostly hinging on context. Some, like branding consultants, say that if you are the selling point, then by all means use your name – it can lend authenticity. A real-world case: a jewelry designer had initially named her business something abstract and saw mediocre results. She rebranded to include her own name in the business name (essentially making her name part of the LLC name) and reported that customers felt more connected and her sales increased. The personal touch made people trust the product more because they knew who was behind it.

On the other hand, many attorneys and growth strategists caution about the future. Jessica Dennehy, a business consultant, advises against defaulting to your personal name if you aspire to scale up. She points out that if your company is literally your name, it can psychologically (and practically) be harder to pass the baton to someone else or even to take on partners. Employees or customers might always insist on dealing with the name on the door – which is you. Similarly, an M&A specialist might say: think about whether your name has value without you. If the answer is no, then the business might have less transferable value.

Compromise solutions: Some experts recommend a two-pronged strategy, as mentioned earlier: use a personal name legally but operate under a different name publicly. Attorney Ugo Lord has suggested registering the LLC in the personal name for the simplicity of bank accounts and legal paperwork, but then using a DBA for all client-facing branding if the owner is hesitant to have their personal name in advertisements or on a storefront. This approach can give the owner privacy and a distinct brand while retaining the straightforward nature of an eponymous LLC behind the scenes.

Another piece of advice from legal professionals: maintain the formalities strictly when your LLC bears your name. Because it’s so easy to blur the lines, lawyers emphasize signing documents correctly (as the LLC, not in your personal capacity) and keeping finances separate. Just mentally, when your name is on the LLC, you might slip into treating business funds as your own piggy bank – but you must not. The law will only protect you (via the LLC liability shield) if you respect that separation. One attorney famously put it this way: “Always add ‘LLC’ to your name when acting for the business. If Michael Brown’s company is Michael Brown LLC, he should sign as Michael Brown, Managing Member, Michael Brown LLC every time – so it’s crystal clear the LLC is the party, not Michael personally.”

In essence, the law doesn’t prohibit using your name – it actually often anticipates it. And experienced entrepreneurs will say it can be a smart move or a limiting one depending on your circumstances. Make the choice with eyes open: consider legal requirements, branding impact, and how you plan to run and possibly exit the business.

Personal Name vs. Other Naming Options: Choosing the Right Approach

How does using your personal name for your business stack up against other naming strategies? Let’s compare to help you decide the best fit for your situation:

• Personal Name LLC vs. Descriptive Business Name: A descriptive name (not personal) might tell people instantly what you do, e.g., Creative Web Solutions LLC. Compared to Jane Doe LLC, the descriptive name has the advantage of clarity and maybe SEO benefits (if someone searches “web solutions,” the name itself is a keyword). However, it lacks the personal touch – it’s more generic and might not stand out unless well-branded. Use your name if the personal connection is more important; choose a descriptive name if conveying your service in the name itself is a priority and you don’t need your personal brand front and center.

• Personal Name vs. Invented Brand Name: Invented or evocative names (like Apple, Google – or on a small scale, something like Silver Pine LLC for a consulting firm) can be very powerful long-term brands. They give you complete freedom to define what the name means in customers’ minds. Against this, a personal name is limited by, well, being a personal name – it may not evoke any imagery or concept related to your business. On the flip side, an invented name starts from zero recognition; your own name might already be known in your community or industry. Personal name is great for leveraging existing reputation and trust. Invented name is better if you want a distinct corporate identity or plan to create something that eventually runs without you.

• LLC with Your Name vs. Sole Proprietorship with Your Name: It’s worth noting the difference if you are currently a sole proprietor. As a sole prop using your own name, you might think “why bother making an LLC if the name stays the same?” The big difference is liability and legal status, not the name itself. As a sole proprietor, “Jane Doe” has no liability shield – if someone sues, they sue Jane Doe personally and her house, car, and personal savings are on the line. If Jane forms Jane Doe LLC, and runs the business through that, then legal actions target the LLC’s assets, not her personal assets (assuming she keeps everything separate and doesn’t personally guarantee debts). So even though the customer might still just see “Jane Doe” on the door, the existence of “LLC” in the legal name is critical for protection. Bottom line: using your name doesn’t negate the benefits of forming an LLC; it simply means you’ve chosen the simplest naming route for that LLC.

• Multiple Owners or Partners: If you’re not alone in the business, naming it after one person can cause friction or impracticality. For example, if John Smith and Jane Lee start a company together, calling it “John Smith LLC” leaves Jane out. Partnerships often compromise by creating a new brand or combining names (like Smith & Lee Associates LLC). If only one name is used in a multi-member LLC, it might imply that person is the primary face, which could be fine if that’s agreed upon. But generally, if you have co-founders or plan to bring in investors, a neutral brand name can be more inclusive and marketable. Consider the dynamics of your team – personal name LLCs are most common when one individual is the clear figurehead or owner.

• Privacy and Professionalism: Using a personal name can sometimes come across as small-scale or amateur if not done carefully – think of a consumer seeing a business name and thinking, “Is this just one person working out of their garage?” In some cases (like consulting or boutique services) that’s not a bad thing; in others, it might erode confidence. A separate business name can sound more “established” even if you are the only employee. Additionally, if you prefer clients not knowing who the owner is (some owners like a bit of distance or just prefer a distinct identity), a non-personal name keeps things impersonal. Ask yourself: do I mind being directly tied to everything my company does publicly? If you mind, lean toward a distinct name or use a DBA. If you’re proud to be the name and face of the business, an eponymous LLC could be perfect.

• Marketing Considerations: Think about practical marketing issues. Will your name look good on a sign or website URL? Sometimes long or hyphenated last names can be a challenge in logos or domain names. If you have a difficult name, a brand name might be easier for people to remember and spell. On social media, do you want the company page to be your name or a brand? Also, consider if your name is shared with someone famous or another company – you might constantly get questions (“Any relation to…?” or confusion). A distinct brand name avoids that. On the other hand, if your name is unique and you want it to be known, it can actually be an advantage to use it because anything with that name will likely point to you.

In choosing between your personal name and other naming strategies, weigh these factors in light of your business goals. Many entrepreneurs start with their name and later rebrand as the business grows (this is possible – you can change an LLC’s name by filing an amendment with the state, though it costs a fee and some paperwork to update licenses, bank accounts, etc.). Others choose a brand name from day one to appear more professional or allow the business to take on a life of its own.

In summary: Use your personal name if you are the brand, want simplicity, and aren’t worried about being the focal point of all business dealings. Choose a different name if you need something more descriptive, more marketable beyond yourself, or more private. Remember, neither path is irrevocable – but changing course later can require effort, so it’s best to pick a strategy that will serve you for the foreseeable future.

FAQ: Quick Answers to Common Questions

Q: Can I use my legal name as my LLC’s name?
A: Yes. You are allowed to use your own name as the LLC’s official name, as long as no one else in your state has it and you include the “LLC” in the name.

Q: Does my LLC name have to include “LLC” or “Limited Company” in it?
A: Yes. All U.S. states require an LLC to indicate its business type in the name (for example, using “LLC,” “L.L.C.,” or spelling out “Limited Liability Company”). This is non-negotiable.

Q: If I name my LLC after myself, do I need to file a DBA?
A: No. If your LLC’s legal name is exactly what you want to do business as (your own name), you do not need a separate “Doing Business As” filing. The LLC name itself is sufficient.

Q: Will forming an LLC protect my name from being used by others?
A: Not entirely. It prevents other businesses from registering the identical name in the same state. However, it won’t stop someone in another state (or someone using it informally) unless you trademark it.

Q: Can I change my LLC’s name later if I start with my name and decide to rebrand?
A: Yes. You can file an amendment with your state to change your LLC’s name anytime. Keep in mind you’ll also need to update the name on all legal documents, bank accounts, and permits.

Q: Does using my name for the LLC affect my liability protection?
A: No. Your liability protection comes from properly forming and running the LLC, not from the name itself. Even if the LLC is named after you, it is a separate legal entity—so ensure you treat it as such.

Q: Should I trademark my name if I use it as my business name?
A: It depends. If your name is central to a brand you want to protect nationally (and it’s distinctive enough), you might consider a trademark. It’s not required for operating locally, but it can prevent others in your industry from using the name.