How to Check Name Availability: The Complete Workflow

Check the exact .com first. If taken, check the .com owner's activity — a parked domain may be acquirable; an active brand is not. Then check your category-appropriate alternative TLD: .ai, .io, .dev, .co, .app, or .studio depending on context.

Avoid hyphens, numbers, and creative spellings as workarounds. They introduce friction in every channel for the life of the company.

Run a USPTO TESS search across the most relevant classes (typically 9 for software, 25 for apparel, 35 for advertising, 42 for SaaS/services). A clean direct-match search is the floor, not the ceiling — also check for phonetic matches and existing brands in adjacent classes.

If you are operating internationally, repeat the search at EUIPO (Europe) and WIPO Global Brand Database. For deeper validation, consider a paid trademark attorney clearance opinion before incorporating.

Check at minimum: Instagram, X, TikTok, YouTube, LinkedIn company URL, and GitHub if developer-facing. The bar is consistency across at least four of these — fewer and brand equity splits, more is a bonus.

If your first-choice handle is taken, evaluate the existing account: dormant accounts can sometimes be acquired or reclaimed; active competitors are blockers.

If you are launching a product brand, search Amazon, Etsy, Shopify's directory, and the App Store for existing brands with the same name. Visual confusion in a marketplace is a slow tax on conversion.

Google the bare name and the name plus your category. If page one is dominated by a major brand or a well-funded competitor, you will spend years climbing — and never own the search term. Decide if the brand is worth that climb, or move on.

In your state or country of incorporation, check the business entity registry for existing LLCs, corporations, or DBAs using the name. A match is not always a blocker — but it complicates incorporation and may require a slight alternate legal name.

Only when steps 1–6 all clear. The cost of running this workflow is a few hours; the cost of skipping it can be six figures in rebrand expense, lost SEO equity, or legal action.