How to Get a DBA: Step-by-Step Guide to Filing a DBA Name

Many companies give their businesses a name that matches the product or service they provide. For LLCs or corporations, a DBA will let you operate more than one business without having to form a separate LLC or corporation for each one.

Essentially, getting a DBA is like Clark Kent conducting his hero work under the name Superman.

Am I Legally Required to Have a DBA to Operate Under a Different Name?

His sub-DBAs could include “Green Thumbs McGee’s Landscape Design,” “Green Thumbs McGee’s Tree Maintenance,” etc. This will cut down on his paperwork and expenses when he’s operating multiple projects. Confused about doing business as (a.k.a. DBA, fictitious business name or assumed business name)? We’re breaking it down so you can determine if your small business needs to file one. Do I have to register a DBA if operating under another name? Using a DBA gives you the flexibility to launch additional brands or target specific audiences without starting a separate business.

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According to Georgia’s Secretary of State, select counties and cities require the registree’s state tax identification number prior to registering a fictitious trade name . The first renewal deadline is the 1st of April during the 2nd year of the. The process of filing a DBA tends to vary from state-to-state, even county-to-county. Here is a brief overview of DBA proceedings by state along with official resources to help you get started.

Are there any penalties for not registering a fictitious name?

You should choose a business name that is unique and easy to remember, spell, and pronounce. Your chosen assumed name or DBA can reflect the industry in which the business operates or a particular location. For example, an LLC restaurant group might be named “North Star Restaurants, LLC” but a single location could be called “Captain Jack’s Amberjack.” PNC Bank sought out LegalVIEW BillAnalyzer to further strengthen cost savings, efficiencies, and law firm relationships for better legal bill review. Doing Business As A DBA name enables you to use multiple names for one business. File a DBA to operate your business under new or additional name.

This option should only be used by businesses withverylow profit and risk. Getting a DBA gives these business owners an easy option for achieving their marketing objectives. An LLC is a hybrid of a corporation and a sole proprietorship. Like a corporation, owners of an LLC will not be held personally responsible for liabilities, but the company will not live on if an owner dies or the business declares bankruptcy. In the U.S., a DBA lets the public know who the real owner of a business is. The DBA is also called a fictitious business name or assumed business name. It got its origins as a form of consumer protection, so dishonest business owners couldn’t try to avoid legal trouble by operating under a different name.

How to Get a DBA

Using a DBA name without following state regulations in your area can incur penalties or constitute fraud. To get a DBA name (a “doing business as” name), you’ll need to follow guidelines and procedures specific to your state. In most states, this means registering the DBA name with the office of the secretary of state or with the county where you formed your https://quickbooks-payroll.org/ business, though some states don’t require DBA registration at all. A Fictitious Name Registration is not required for an individual’s legal name, or for the name of a corporation, limited liability company or limited partnership. All corporations, LLCs and PLCs must to register with the Bureau of Corporations at the Office of the Secretary of State by law.

• A Statement of Trade Name must be filed and paid for online.
• You may also obtain the Access ID on the website, you will just need to provide a valid email address.
• Getting a DBA is often a better choice than changing your business’ legal name.
• For example, if you own some rental properties, you may feel fine managing them with a DBA, instead of using your personal name—until something adverse happens at one of your properties.

Upon successful completion of the filing and receiving an fictitious name certificate, you may begin using your DBA name. As a sole proprietor, you can legally conduct business in that state under your fictitious business name, but you won’t have any limited liability protection. That means you are responsible for the business’ debts and obligations. You have an unregistered business such as a sole proprietorship or partnership and would like to operate under a name other than your personal name.

How To Set Up A DBA In Massachusetts

If you make a written request you may use our order form . Written requests for copies/certificates may take up to 7 business days. You may view more information concerning ordering documents. While you are in the details page of the business entity, you have the 2nd option of ordering a certificate of existence by clicking on the Purchase Certificate of Existence Button.

• Because a DBA isn’t a business entity, you do not have to file a tax return specifically for a DBA.
• Charges of taking on a fictitious trading name vary from business to business, according to Iowa’s Secretary of State website.
• Typically, DBAs are good for four years in Massachusetts before you must renew them.
• However, it might be a good idea to have a law firm help you with the process and advise you on whether you should set up a more formal business structure such as an LLC or corporation..
• If you find that having a DBA isn’t enough, perhaps consider upgrading to an LLC or corporation if necessary.

Choose your state from the drop-down menu for more help with completing this step. To know where to file your DBA name, check your state and county’s websites or with your county clerk. Some DBA names are filed at the state level, while others can be filed with the county clerk. You can find this form on your Secretary or Commonwealth of State’s website and typically submit it via online filing in minutes. There is a filing fee in most states for this application. Additionally, just because you filed for a DBA in your state and county does not mean you are able to do business outside of that state or county. There are restrictions and guidelines in many states as to how you must conduct business after setting up a DBA.

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This name was included in the documents you filed to register the LLC. This is typically done by filing LLC articles of organization with the state agency that regulates businesses. Once your LLC is registered, you may conduct business under the official name of your LLC as it is registered. Sometimes, this is to protect your identity as the business owner if you have a sole proprietorship or partnership that bears your legal name. For example, Timothy Johnson might do business as “Johnson Interiors” for his interior design consulting business. State, county and city requirements vary widely, but you’re generally required to file state or local forms, pay a fee, and sometimes publish a notice of your business’s DBA in a local newspaper. The specific requirements for each state are outlined in the chart below.

The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic conveniently provides links to most county and city websites through its CalGold website. Although a business does not file a FBN statement with the SOS, SOS is a good resource for determining if a business name is already in use. Consider the ways that a fictitious name vs a legal name can help you build, branch out, or even simplify the way you operate.

Check out ourstate DBA guidefor your business’ home state to get a better idea of the regulations relevant to you. There is no difference between a DBA, fictitious name, or trade name. You will need to look up the requirements for your county to ensure you abide by the guidelines when setting up a DBA. Just like when you set up your LLC, you need to do a name search to ensure no one else owns a business with your desired name. To ensure you don’t have any issues with the name you decided on, you can run it through Incfile’s free Business Name Search tool to ensure your business name is available for you to use.

Fictitious Name Registration Fees

That is, if your DBA doesn’t do well and has a loss, those numbers will be calculated within the tax liability for your business. A DBA, on the other hand, is essentially a nickname for a business. You can also read our list of the best DBA filing services. If you need help coming up with a DBA name, try ourbusiness name generator. Then, create a unique logo for your brand with our free logo generator. Getting sued is a small business owner’s worst nightmare. A DBA can accomplish several things for a business owner.

Performance information may have changed since the time of publication. If you only need a DBA to open a bank account or receive How To Set Up A Dba money for your alternate name, it might be enough. For liability shielding of your assets, it may be better to get an LLC.

If the person or company does business under another name, that is a DBA name. DBAs are also referred to as an “assumed name”, “fictitious business name” or “trade name”.

• Find opportunities for businesses owned by women and people of color.
• Filings are submitted in the city or county of registration.
• Here you’ll find many helpful resources on this vital topic.
• The second step is to submit an application for a Tax ID number from the IRS.
• The scoring formulas take into account multiple data points for each financial product and service.
• This means they don’t need to file legal entity formation papers or a business entity name with the state.
• For example, if you sell home goods online, you can create different websites and brand names for your furnishings, kitchenware, and linens.

However, if you’re confused about the process or have a more complicated business situation, it’s always a good idea to seek professional help. In some states, you might also have to place a fictitious name ad in a local newspaper for a certain amount of time. This fulfills the “public notice” requirement for some states — giving the local area an official announcement of your business name. If your company is not in California, it’s considered a foreign entity. That means you must register your DBA with the Clerk of Sacramento County.

This is true even if the name is a part of the business—for example “Bob’s Greenhouse.” A fictitious business name statement usually must be filed within 40 days of starting the business.

Want To File A DBA In The USA? Here Are The Official Links To All States

There are plenty of companies who operate a variety of brands with a DBA, while the parent company oversees them all. Outside of it being required in most areas, your DBA name is meant to be strategically important for marketing purposes. If you are choosing a name that is either not unique enough that other businesses are using the same or very similar names you will be missing out on a huge benefit a DBA provides. Worst of all, your hard marketing and sales work to get your name out there could go to waste if you send business to others using a similar name.

We file and index all Fictitious Name Registrations that meet the mandated statutory filing requirements. Registered with the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, and their licensing board does not require a fictitious name registration. A licensed attorney who is forming a business in order to practice law in the state of Florida. All payments by credit card must use the online registration. Different from your personal name, if doing business as a sole proprietor.

You don’t have to spend a lot of money on marketing services – simply ask friends or people you know. You could even use your social media accounts to get ideas and feedback about the different names you’re thinking about using. Mail the articles and the operating agreement to the secretary of state’s office along with the filing fee. It is not necessary to have a DBA for your LLC, but there may be benefits to having one. As we mentioned earlier, a doing business as name can open up a lot of different opportunities for branding and marketing your business or particular products or services that you offer. Getting a DBA is often a better choice than changing your business’s legal name. If you want to rebrand your company or focus on another line of business, filing for a DBA is a simpler process than filing for a legal name change.