Any legal requirement to calling my LLC, an "Institute."

10 years ago

Each state's laws are different but from my experience the 2 big naming requirements that normally need to be met are:

1. Unique from every other LLC or corporation in the state.
2. Include Inc., LLC, Corporation, etc. as the last part of the name behind the comma. Which one you use is determined by what type of legal entity your company is.

For example, my nonlegal opinion is that in many states something like "The Growth Busters Financial Institute, LLC/Inc." would not be a problem.

However, you probably should ask an attorney or the department of corporations in your state to get a definitive and correct answer.

Mark

Originally Posted by TimothyW

Any legal requirement to calling my LLC, an "Institute."

Or is "Institute" a term that has no legal, official meaning or requirement?

I'm guessing it's fair game, but I just wanted to make sure.

-Anyone know?

- TW

PS: I'm in the US.

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HeySal

10 years ago

I'd seek a laywer's opinion on this one. "Institute" might just have some sort of funding restrictions, or educational, public service, etc. You don't just call the average business an "institute".

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Sal
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TimothyW 10 years ago

Originally Posted by HeySal

You don't just call the average business an "institute".

Yes - that's basically what I'm wondering. Is there some actual legal reason why that "cannot" be done?
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Mark Singletary

10 years ago

If you look at Utah's laws, for example, there are restrictions on using certain names. Other states may have other such restrictions including possibly "Institute".

3) The name cannot include the words "Olympic," "Olympiad," or "Citius Altius Fortius" without written consent from the United States Olympic Committee; or the words "university," "college," or "institute" without consent from the Division of Consumer Protection in accordance with Section 53B-5-114. See Utah Code Ann. § 16-10a-401(1)(c)-(d) (2000). or the words "Bank", "Banker", "Banking", "Banc", "Banque", "Banco", "Bancorp", "Bancorporation", "Bankcard", "Bancard", See Utah Code Ann. § 7-1-701(3)(a)-(b) (1998). "Savings Association", "Building Association", "Savings and Loan Assoc.", "Building and Loan Assoc.", "Savings Bank", See Utah Code Ann. § 7-1-701(4)(a)-(5) (1994) without consent from the Department of Financial Institutions

There are a lot of businesses with Institute in their name in Florida that don't appear to be anything special. But still you should check with a lawyer or the people that do the corporations in your state.

Mark

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sbucciarel

Banned 10 years ago

An institute is an organisational body created for a certain purpose. Most I've seen are educational institutes, but there are a lot of research institutes as well.

I really think you should ask an attorney because institutes are often related to education, courses, research, etc.

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seasoned

10 years ago

Originally Posted by sbucciarel

An institute is an organisational body created for a certain purpose. Most I've seen are educational institutes, but there are a lot of research institutes as well.

I really think you should ask an attorney because institutes are often related to education, courses, research, etc.

YEAH, when I think of institute, it has the connotation of "RESEARCH" agency and/or "education".

To the OP, CAREFUL! Some words have a special connotation. INSTITUTE is one of them. It is ALSO one of those words that is recognizable in MANY languages! Some COUNTRIES have strong laws about things like this. So using such a word, if you sell internationally, may limit your ability to have the same company name internationally.

Steve

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HeySal

10 years ago

They can be social, too. You have to have a central "theme" or "objective" that has something socially beneficial in some way as it's purpose. Just any business isn't an Institute. There are legalities and if you can't afford a lawyer, your local Small Business Assoc can give you a lot of information about forming it. You'll have special designations you will need from the IRS, too.

This isn't a matter of just "naming a business".

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BigFrank

Banned 10 years ago

The word 'institute' is not protected in the U.S. in business names, like it is in the UK. What you pair the word, however, can open you up to increased government scrutiny and that's never a good thing. :-)

I was active in The Actors Institute in NYC.

Cheers. - Frank

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seasoned

10 years ago

Originally Posted by BigFrank

The word 'institute' is not protected in the U.S. in business names, like it is in the UK. What you pair the word, however, can open you up to increased government scrutiny and that's never a good thing. :-)

I was active in The Actors Institute in NYC.

Cheers. - Frank

But the US ALSO doesn't allow corporations, LLCs, sole proprietor etc;... If you want to get such an entity, you have to go to a STATE, or county(for SP), or the district(which is treated as a hybrid city/state even though it is really neither). And THEY set their OWN laws! And Washington DC is NOT necessarily equivalent to the US Federal Government.

Steve

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BigFrank Banned 10 years ago

As I stated, if you want to use 'institute' in your name, you can in the U.S..

Cheers. - Frank
- Thanks
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- seasoned 10 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by BigFrank
  
  As I stated, if you want to use 'institute' in your name, you can in the U.S..
  
  Cheers. - Frank
  
  The US does NOT have any corporations! Try to find ANY company that says they are simply a US corporation. You WON'T! Many are Delaware, because it USED to be easier and has LOTS of case law, or Nevada because it is now easier, inexpensive, and there is no STATE tax! As Mark said earlier, you DO have potential problems in UTAH! For something like this, you have to really read the laws. They are a little different in nearly every state. SOME, like nevada now, may require that you have a city license even if you have NO real presence there. This MAY be due to the residence of the resident agent that you might need, like you DO in nevada if YOU don't have a presence there.
  
  Steve
  
  Thanks
  
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  BigFrank Banned 10 years ago
  
  As I stated, if you want to use 'institute' in your name, you can in the U.S..
  
  Cheer. - Frank
  
  Thanks
  
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ForumGuru

Banned 10 years ago

Originally Posted by TimothyW

Any legal requirement to calling my LLC, an "Institute."

Or is "Institute" a term that has no legal, official meaning or requirement?

I'm guessing it's fair game, but I just wanted to make sure.

-Anyone know?

- TW

PS: I'm in the US.

As others have mentioned, check the state statute. For instance...