How to File a DBA

Filing a DBA (doing business as), also known equally an assumed name, trade name, or fictitious name, is an easy process that is accomplished past registering with your state, canton, and/or city.

Follow our step-by-step How to File a DBA guide to get started today.

Filing a DBA won't protect your personal assets similar forming an LLC or corporation will. Larn why in our DBA vs LLC guide.

DBA Meaning:A DBA is any name a business organisation operates under that isn't its legal name. Your state might refer to a DBA equally a fictitious name, assumed proper noun, or trade name.

Sole proprietors and partnerships tin operate under a DBA proper noun instead of their surnames. LLCs and corporations tin use a DBA proper name to diversify their brand.

In this video, we break downwardly what a DBA is, how and when to employ a DBA, and how to file a DBA for your business organisation.

How to Fix Upward a DBA

1) Select Your State

DBA guidelines and laws vary from state to land. In some cases, you volition demand to annals your DBA with the state regime and in others, the county or city government.

Several states require you to register a DBA with more than one level of authorities. For instance, a general partnership may accept to file at the state and county level in one state, while another land may crave that same general partnership to file with just the county.

NOTE: You cannot file for a DBA in Kansas, New Mexico, or South Carolina.

The best place to begin your DBA filing procedure is with our simple step-by-footstep state DBA guides:

  • Alabama
  • Alaska
  • Arizona
  • Arkansas
  • California
  • Colorado
  • Connecticut
  • Delaware
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Hawaii
  • Idaho
  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Iowa
  • Kentucky
  • Louisiana
  • Maine
  • Maryland
  • Massachusetts
  • Michigan
  • Minnesota
  • Mississippi
  • Missouri
  • Montana
  • Nebraska
  • Nevada
  • New Hampshire
  • New Jersey
  • New York
  • North Carolina
  • Northward Dakota
  • Ohio
  • Oklahoma
  • Oregon
  • Pennsylvania
  • Rhode Isle
  • South Dakota
  • Tennessee
  • Texas
  • Utah
  • Vermont
  • Virginia
  • Washington
  • Washington D.C.
  • Due west Virginia
  • Wisconsin
  • Wyoming

Step 2) Consummate a DBA Name Search

Before you file, yous should make certain your proper noun isn't taken by—or also similar to—some other registered business in your country. You lot will likewise want to make certain your DBA meets your state's naming guidelines. Our step-by-stride guides discuss this step in particular for your land.

If y'all demand extra help choosing a business concern name, select your state from the drop-down menu on our How to Name a Business guide.

Need Assistance Creating a Brand Name and Logo?

If you need help coming upwardly with a DBA proper name, try our business organisation name generator. And so, create a unique logo for your brand with our free logo generator.

We recommend securing your domain proper noun (URL) for your DBA as soon as possible. Past reserving your domain proper name, you ensure information technology won't be acquired by another business organization owner.

Find a Domain Now

One time you reserve a domain name for your DBA, consider setting up a business phone arrangement to help strengthen your customer service and boost credibility. We recommend Phone.com considering of its affordable pricing and diversity of useful features. Start calling with Phone.com.

Step 3) Register Your DBA with the State

Yous will need to file your DBA with the state or with the county/urban center clerk'south role depending on your location and business structure,

Several states crave you to register a DBA with more than i level of government. For example, a sole proprietorship may take to file at the land and county level in 1 state, while some other land may require that aforementioned sole proprietorship to file with just the county.

We show y'all exactly how to get a DBA in on our state-specific How to File a DBA guides. You tin can likewise read our listing of the best DBA filing services.

What is a DBA?

A DBA is whatsoever proper noun a business organization operates nether that isn't its legal proper noun. In many states, you can operate under a different name as long equally you officially register it with the proper city, canton, or state agency.

DBAs are used by sole proprietorships, partnerships, LLCs, and corporations for branding purposes. In that location are two chief reasons why you would demand a DBA:

  • You have a registered formal business concern entity looking to branch out into new products, services or brands, or to rebrand in general.
  • Y'all have an unregistered business such as a sole proprietorship or partnership and would like to operate under a proper name other than your personal name. This option should just be used by businesses withvery depression profit and hazard.

What a DBA is Non

A DBA isn't a legal business organisation entity. It is just a proper name that your business organisation can use instead of its legal proper noun. DBAs must be attached to a business entity.

Some examples of business organisation entities include:

  • Sole Proprietorships (non a legal entity)
  • General Partnerships
  • Limited Liability Companies (LLCs)
  • For-Turn a profit and Nonprofit Corporations
  • Limited Partnerships (LPs)
  • Express Liability Partnerships (LLPs)

When you form a business entity such every bit a limited liability company (LLC), corporation (S corp or C corp), limited partnership (LP), or limited liability partnership (LLP), your business concern has limited liability protection. Limited liability protection ways that if your business is sued, your personal avails are protected.

Sole proprietorships and general partnerships legally operate under the owner's personal name and do NOT take limited liability protection. You can operate under a DBA as a sole proprietor or general partnership but the business will still not have express liability protection.

DBA vs. LLC

Potential business owners sometimes ask what the difference is betwixt an LLC and a DBA. The respond is that an LLC and a DBA are ii very different things.

An LLC is a business entity type like a corporation or a partnership. It can operate with or without a DBA.

A DBA, on the other hand, is essentially a nickname for a business. It must exist attached to a business organization structure (like an LLC).

TIP: For more details on the departure between an LLC and a DBA, visit our DBA vs LLC guide.

DBA Taxes

Business taxes are determined by a business's structure. Each business structure has specific filing requirements prepare along past the IRS.

Because a DBA isn't a concern entity, you do non accept to file a revenue enhancement return specifically for a DBA. The income or loss from a DBA is factored into your total tax liability for the business organisation.

That is, if your DBA doesn't do well and has a loss, those numbers volition exist calculated within the tax liability for your business organisation.

TIP: For more than data on business taxes, visit our tax guide.

DBA EINs

An EIN (employer identification number) is like a business's Social Security Number. The IRS uses EINs to continue rail of a concern'south tax reporting. Whatever business with employees must file for an EIN in gild to remain compliant with the regime.

Considering a DBA is not a business entity, there is no such thing as an EIN for a DBA. The business structure that the DBA is attached to, if it has employees, will have an EIN.

TIP: To learn more about when to utilise an EIN, read our What is an EIN guide.

When to Use a DBA

Branding

Whether your business organisation is a sole proprietorship, partnership, LLC, or corporation, filing a doing business organization as name can brand it easier to create or build a particular brand. If your business organization offers multiple singled-out products or services, registering a DBA can help you highlight and market sure ones in a unique way.

If you're operating a sole proprietorship or partnership, choosing a doing business equally name for your business organisation can arrive easier to marketplace your company, helping to attract more customers.

Privacy

Sole proprietorships and general partnerships are required to use their surnames (last names) every bit their legal proper name. If your business concern is a sole proprietorship and you don't want your name in directories, online, or on public tape, then it's a good practise to gear up a DBA to protect your privacy.

Setting Upwardly Multiple Businesses Under One LLC

Entrepreneurs who desire to create several different businesses can do so under 1 limited liability company (LLC) by creating DBAs for each i.

Cyberbanking

Some banks require sole proprietors and full general partnerships to take a DBA in social club to open a business business relationship. It likewise adds credibility when you accept payment in the business organisation name that customers expect to see.

Domain Proper name Availability

Your business proper noun might non be available as a domain name. Some business possessor's choose to file a DBA that matches their domain name.

Credibility

Sole proprietors and general partnerships can sometimes gain more than credibility with a business organization proper name that isn't their ain name.

How To File A DBA FAQ

How many DBAs tin can I have?

You tin take every bit many DBAs as you can afford to create and are able to keep track of. Each one comes with additional incremental expenses and paperwork, meaning more is not necessarily better.

Can a DBA get an EIN or Tax ID?

DBAs aren't required to have a divide EIN because DBAs aren't a business entity. The business entity that the DBA is under would have an EIN if an EIN is required.

To learn more virtually EINs and when you lot need ane for your business, read our What is an EIN guide.

Tin can a DBA become an LLC?

No. An LLC is a concernentity, while a DBA is merely aname for a business organisation.

Sole proprietorships are often confused with DBAs, but they are non the same: a sole proprietorship is a business concern entity, therefore it can choose to become an LLC.

To larn how to form an LLC, visit our Class an LLC land guides.

Can a DBA have Inc. in the proper noun?

A DBA can only take Inc. in the name if the business entity the DBA is attached to is a corporation.

How practice I set upwards a DBA for a rental property?

Holding a rental belongings in your proper noun and with a DBA volition non afford y'all any protection. The best option is to form an LLC to protect your personal avails in the issue of an result with the rental belongings. In any example, it is always best to consult an attorney.

When would it be expert to get a DBA versus a legal name change?

Getting a DBA is often a better choice than changing your business concern'south legal proper name. If yous want to rebrand your company or focus on another line of business organization, filing for a DBA is a simpler process than filing for a legal name alter.

Is my DBA protected from being used in other places?

Some state-level laws prevent DBAs that are besides like to existing ones from being used, but this varies from state to state. Information technology is possible to trademark a DBA, which would offering stronger protection beyond state lines.

Do I Need A DBA For My Business organisation?

In nearly cases, a DBA is only required if you are using a business proper name other than your legal business name. There are some states that crave 1 for sure business organization entity types. For case, New York requires partnerships to have a DBA.

Cheque out our state DBA guide for your business' dwelling state to run into the rules and regulations that are relevant to you.

Additionally, if you are operating a sole proprietorship or partnership, and yous are using a proper noun other than your own, you lot volition need a doing business organisation equally name to open a business bank account or to be listed in certain business directories.

Practice I demand a DBA for my LLC?

Information technology is not necessary to have a DBA for your LLC, but there may exist benefits to having one. As we mentioned earlier, a doing business concern as proper name can open up up a lot of different opportunities for branding and marketing your business or particular products or services that you lot offer.

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