Does “LLC” Have to Be Used in a Logo Design?

In the US, the name a limited liability company (LLC) must contain an identifier of the business entity type. This can be written in several ways, including LLC, L.L.C, llc, or limited liability company. 

The most common version is LLC with no periods. Many states have additional naming regulations as well, so be sure to check those of your state before you settle on a business name. But does your business need to include “LLC” every time it uses its business name? 

You’ll be happy to know that it does not. You’ll also be happy to know that this handy explains precisely when you need to include the LLC in your name, and when it’s not necessary. 

Marketing Materials

Most marketing materials, including your company logo, do not need to include “LLC”. But again, states have different laws, so it’s a good idea to check with your state before you create promotional materials.

But generally speaking, if the full name of your business is “Nicole’s Shoes, LLC,” your marketing materials can just promote “Nicole’s Shoes”. 

Official Business

When signing documents or conducting other business, you’re signing on behalf of your LLC. Thus, in these cases you do need to include LLC. Examples include:

• Bank accounts, loan agreements, financial documents
• Vendor and supplier contracts
• Leases
• Accounting records and taxes
• Invoices
• Payroll
• Estimates
• Terms of use and privacy policies on your website
• Your website footer
• Business cards, signs, letterhead
• Business correspondence

When in doubt, check with your state for guidance.

DBA Names

When it comes to business regulations, “DBA” stands for “doing business as.” Simply put, it’s a name a company registers to do business under that is not its legal business name. 

For example, if “Smith Enterprises LLC” wants to do business as “Smith’s T-Shirts”, it will register a DBA in order to do so. A DBA is sometimes called a fictitious or trade name. 

A DBA is not a business entity and has no impact on taxes. It’s simply a registered name for the business. 

Filing requirements for DBAs vary by state, county, and city, and by business structure. Check with local governments about the process you need to follow. Fees generally do not exceed $100 and you can likely file your DBA online. 

In some states, you’ll have to place an ad in a local newspaper about your new DBA and run the ad for a certain period of time. This is to fulfill public notice requirements.

You can do searches in your area to make sure the name you’ve chosen isn’t already being used. Your state website is a good place to start.

If your business is operating under a name that is not your official name and you have not registered a DBA, you could face significant fines. 

In some states, you may have to renew your name registration periodically, so make sure you stay on top of any looming deadlines. 

In Closing

LLCs generally need to include some version of LLC in their officially registered name, but it can usually be left out of public versions of your business name. Even so, when deciding when to include LLC, it’s best to err on the side of caution and check with your state, or you could face significant penalties.