Registering DBA | Doing Business As
WHAT IS A DBA?
DBA is short for “Doing Business As”, some states use Trading As shortened to T/A similar to the UK. It is also commonly known as an assumed name or fictitious name, these have to be registered with the county clerk or secretary of state.
A DBA is a name that is usually given to a business that you don’t want to incorporate just yet or you are sole proprietor who wants to give your business a name but don’t want it to be your legal personal name. For example you can have Peter Muller DBA PM Retail Fittings or something similar. This way you can hold a bank account in your business name and pay money in and out of this account that relate to your business only and keep your personal finances separate.
WHY GET A DBA?
Well you can’t legally trade under any other name other than your legal name or open bank accounts, take out loans etc. So you either use your personal name, which I wouldn’t want to just to give you a little privacy or incorporate your business.
BENEFITS OF DBA
It is so easy and simple to do, why not just get it done. You can concentrate on creating your business rather having to carry out mountains of paperwork for an incorporated business and it keeps your start up cost to a minimum. This saving can be used to register a Doing Business As name and build your thriving business. Incorporation can always be done later on.
You can also start establishing a brand with a DBA name, which can continue when you do decide to incorporate, which may influence what name you give your business from the start. Remember you can keep your Doing Business As name even when you do incorporate.
ALTERNATIVE TO A DBA
You can opt to become incorporated which affords you the protection of not being personally liable for debts this is usually the most compelling reason why people choose to be incorporated.
It is seen as a separate entity and usually do not associate a human face behind an incorporated company.
HOW DO YOU GET A DBA?
Some states require you to register a Doing Business As name, other states do not require it to be registered but is accepted practice that it is registered and some states do not require you register if you are a sole proprietor or general partnership confused? You will be! Although registering a Doing Business As name is quick and straight forward, you need to know each county’s and state’s requirements.
You should carry out a name search so that you have a unique name, as some states will let you register anything even if there is a business with an identical name. This will benefit you if you have wanted to create a brand for your business. You can do these searches with the secretary of state or county clerk.
Check whether you are required to put your Doing Business As name in a local publication notifying the public of your name.
Better still why don’t you get someone else to do it for you, there are businesses that will do it for you for just a $100. Click here check out the prices here Legal Documents @ Lawyer-Free Prices
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