Small Business Guide - Welcome to Alabama A&M University

S m a l l B u s i n e s s H a n d b o o k f o r N o r t h A l a b a m aBusiness Names and Trademarks:Your new business name should not violate trademark laws; researchingyour business name will prevent such violations.- First, contact your county to see if your chosen business namehas already been registered .- Second, contact your state to see if your chosen business namehas been registered by an existing corporation or limited liabilitycompany.- Third, search the internet using different search engines to seeif you can find an existing company with the same businessname.The United States Patent and Trademark Office provides a search toolfor existing trademarks at the following website:http://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/Trade Name / Trademark Registration:Business Owners in Alabama are not required to register a fictitiousname; however, businesses may elect to register a trade name withthe Secretary of State. Forms for a trade name or trade mark registrationcan be found at:http://www.sos.state.al.us/B u s i n e s s L i c e n s e s a n d P e r m i t s :Almost every business needs a business license or permit issued bythe state and your local government. The Alabama Department ofRevenue publishes a Handbook which can be used to determine therequired licenses for Alabama. The handbook can be found at the followingwebsitehttp://www.revenue.alabama.gov/licenses/handbook.pdfThe State and County licenses are issued by the county Probate Judgeor License Commissioner in the county where the business is located.A listing of all county probate offices and their contact information forthe counties in North Alabama can be found on page 35.For other counties see:http://www.revenue.alabama.gov/licenses/authrity.htmlFor more information and assistance,contact the Alabama A&M PRIME Project 256-372-8667.13