Starting a small business?

Question

I am starting a small business I want to know is there a way to check to see if the name that I would like to use is already in use by someone else.

Answer 1

Check with the Secretary of State for your state or the Dept of Corporations.  They should have a website where you can check corporate names and fictitious name filings.  You might want to pay a fee and reserve whatever name you choose so that no one else can take it.  

The website should have instructions on how to do so.

Answer 2

you could type it in Google and it should come up with the homepage of that company, if it's already taken.  I don't know if it will work though...