Your company can have one name that belongs on your legal documents and another name everyone’s familiar with, just like with your personal name.
People often change their names for personal or professional reasons. It can be a middle name, an abbreviated name, or a nickname—anything that feels more natural and fitting.
A “Doing Business As,” or DBA as it’s popularly known, is the commercial equivalent of a nickname.
It’s an excellent tool for businesses to create different products, services, and divisions under unique brand names.
The process of filing a DBA varies from one state to another—sometimes even from county to county.
In this guide, I’ll give you a step-by-step of how to get a DBA.
Ready?
The Easy Parts of Getting a DBA
A DBA can be a fantastic thing for your enterprise’s brand. Instead of sticking to your legal name, you can choose something more exciting and attention-grabbing. Getting a DBA does involve a fair share of paperwork and effort, but considering the benefits you get, it’s worth it.
Generally, DBAs are easy and affordable to file. There’s also greater flexibility to choose a name that meets your expanding and evolving business requirements.
For example, if Martha’s Cookbooks, LLC launches a new website, they can file a DBA for MarthaCooks.com to keep that site’s business activities covered under the umbrella protection of the original LLC (Martha’s Cookbo… Read More