There are multiple steps a business owner must make before the first time the doors of the business can open. One of those steps is naming the company. It used to be in the process of forming the company, the lawyer or business owner would check with the State of formation/incorporation to see if the desired name was available. States were the business was likely to do regular business would also be checked. If the name was available, then the lawyer or owner would form the company by certificate of incorporation or formation with the State. Things have changed somewhat and I believe that merely checking with the state(s) to see if the name is available is not enough.
When you consider your company’s name you should also consider at the same time whether you can get the company name or a very similar name as you domain name for your company. For example my firm is named: Frascella & Pisauro, LLC. and our domain name is: fplegal.com. If you want to name your company XYZ Consulting, Inc. and that name is available with the State of New Jersey but is not available to be registered as your domain name because someone already has it, then maybe you should re-think your company name. The internet has become a huge avenue for creating awareness for your company and its ultimate success. By taking a domain name that it is not the same as or similar enough to your company name you are making it hard or confusing for customers to find your company. As you begin you new venture you should minimize the hurdles to success, so check domain name availability as well as State availability.