New Mexico Business Entity Search (Step-by-Step Guide)

Finding the ideal name is one of the most challenging parts of starting a new business. This is because you need to get the balance right and make sure your business name contains both appeal and functionality, allowing your customers to know exactly what your business offers.

One of the best ways to find the ideal name and ensure that it is available for business registration is to conduct a business entity search.

To determine the availability of your preferred name, you should conduct an entity search on the New Mexico Secretary of State Corporations and Business Services website.

The following step-by-step guide will show you how to perform the New Mexico business entity search.

Business search by entity/DBA name

To begin your business search, refer to the New Mexico Business Services Portal.

Enter the name of the business you’re looking up into the search bar next to “Entity/DBA name.”

You may then choose to refine your search by selecting one of the options above the “Entity name” search bar:

Thereafter, click on the box that says, ” I’m not a robot,” and then click on “Search.”

The “I’m not a robot” box only appears when you don’t have an online account or you’re not logged in during your search.

If you would like to avoid seeing the “I’m not a robot” notification, simply create an account and log in.

All matching entries will be displayed on this page. The information that you have available includes:

You’ll also notice that the results for corporations and LLCs(limited liability companies) are displayed separately from the results for Partnerships and LLPs (limited liability partnerships).

If you’d like to view further information on any specific entity, simply click on the name of the company, and it will take you to the business summary page.

Here, you’ll have access to various pieces of information, including the entity’s details, period of existence, contact information, registered agent details, etc.

Entity search by business ID number

While on the same page, you may choose to search using the entity’s business ID number.

Select the white circle next to “Business ID #.”

Enter the seven-digit business ID number into the search bar where it says, “Busines ID #.”

After that, tick the box that says, “I’m not a robot,” and then click on “Search.”

In this case, there should be only one matching entry if you entered the correct business ID number.

You’ll have access to all of the same information you did when doing the business search by entity name.

You may also click on the “entity name” to access further details about the company.

Additional search options

The New Mexico Secretary of State Corporations and Business Services Portal also allows you to search for entities via officer, director, or Registered Agent’s details.

You’ll have access to all of the information you did when doing the entity search by name and business ID number.

New Mexico search results

Irrespective of your search type or search criteria used, you will have access to the following information:

There’s also a tab at the bottom of the business summary page that says, Entity name history” and allows you to view the entitys’:

Copies of documents and certificates

Once you’ve performed the New Mexico business name search, you may want to request copies of business documents. Certified copies of business documents are often required by financial institutions, licensing agencies, and courts for a number of reasons.

However, in some cases, it is compulsory when it comes to applying for business credit or opening up a corporate bank account. 

While plain copies are available, certified copies are also issued through the New Mexico Department of State’s Business Services Portal, and you need to place your request with the Secretary of State.

Certified copies are often accompanied by an endorsement or seal proving that they are true and correct copies of what the state has on file. 

To request certified copies of business documents in New Mexico, use the following steps:

Go to the New Mexico Secretary of State website and navigate to the Corporations and Business Services link. 

You will need to create an account if you don’t already have one. So start by selecting “Create an account” and entering the relevant information. 

Once you’ve created your account, log in and select either partnerships or corporations from the top menu. 

Then select “Plain copy requests” or “Certified copy requests” from the drop-down menu. 

After that, follow the step-by-step instructions to pay and obtain your certified copies. 

You may also use the below information to reach out to the Secretary of State’s office:

Business name availability

It’s essential to note that if the name does not appear in the search results, then it might be available; however, there is no guarantee that it will be available at the time of registration.

Only the New Mexico SOS can determine whether the name will be approved for business registration. Therefore, it’s advisable to create or compile a few alternatives in the event that your desired name is already in use.

Entity names protect your business name at the state level, and depending on the structure of your business as well as its location, you are most likely required to register a legal entity name. This is the name that the state uses to identify your business and also the name that you use on all formation documents.

Once you’ve registered a name for your business, no one else in the state can use that name or register that name with the Secretary of State.

It’s also a good idea to think about registering your company name as a trademark. The trademark ultimately protects the name of your business, services, and goods at a national level. It also prevents others in the same or similar business from using the name of your business as a trademark.

To check whether another entity has already trademarked your preferred name, search the United States Patent and Trademark Office as well as the New Mexico Department of State’s website.

If it turns out that the name is indeed available, but you’re not ready to initiate the business registration process, then you can always reserve the name.

Depending on your business structure, you may need to complete the Application for Reservation of a Limited Liability Company Name or the Application for Reservation of a Corporate Name. Irrespective of which form you are completing, they would require the information below:

When completing the name reservation for LLCs, you’ll need to pay a $20 filing fee, and when completing the name reservation application for corporations, you’ll need to pay a $25 filing fee. The checks must be made payable to the New Mexico Secretary of State.

You may choose to file the name reservation application online with the Business Filings or online services Department or alternatively have it mailed to the following address:

Domain name availability

Once you’ve chosen the ideal name for your business, you should also consider thinking about a suitable domain name for your organization.

Domain names are essential because they establish your business’s online presence, also known as your URL or website address.

Additionally, once your domain name is registered, no other entity or individual can use it as long as you continue to own it. Therefore, domain name registration is an ideal way to protect your brand’s online presence.

Your domain name doesn’t necessarily need to match your business’s legal entity name. In the event that the legal entity name of your business has already been taken as a domain name, you should start thinking of alternatives.

However, here are a few considerations when deciding on a domain name:

It’s recommended that you use a professional domain checking service like Namechk.com.

Namechk.com helps to check your desired domain name against a number of platforms, including more than 100 social media networks such as:

If your preferred domain name is not available, Namechk.com does offer alternatives and additionally filters your search options.

Fictitious business name search

If you plan on conducting business under any other name apart from your entity’s legal name, then most states require that you register a DBA, also known as a “doing business as” name. A DBA is also referred to as a trade, assumed or fictitious name, in many states.

However, as per New Mexico law, there are no registration requirements for businesses that want to use a fictitious or trade name. Therefore, the is no method that you can use to register or file a trade name with the state.

Additionally, businesses are not required, nor are they permitted to obtain a DBA name in the state of New Mexico.