What Is A DBA For An LLC And How To Add One?

Each structure has pros and cons, so which is right for your business? Let’s look at the differences between a DBA and an LLC and how each could impact your business differently.

Using a DBA has many advantages. It allows you to create brand recognition without changing your official company name, which can be beneficial if your original company name does not accurately reflect your services. 

Additionally, using a DBA lets customers know who they are doing business with while allowing you to operate under another name as the business owner.

Using a DBA may also help protect your intellectual property from competitors who could trademark your original company name and prevent you from using it in the future. 

Finally, registering for a DBA can make record-keeping easier for you and the IRS since you must report all income earned through that alternate business separately on tax returns. 

In most cases, registration of a fictitious name requires filing with the county or city government where you will use the assumed name. However, some states require filings at the state level instead. To determine the requirements in your state, you can take the following steps: 

Check with your city or county agency that deals with business regulation. 

Check with your local office of the U.S. Small Business Administration. 

If you want to use more than one assumed name, you must file separate registrations for each unless statewide registration is possible.  

It’s also important to note that some states require publication in newspapers and other periodicals when filing for a fictitious name. After registering, you may need to purchase ads in local papers and publish information about your new company on social media sites and other platforms – all within specific periods of time (which vary by state). Failure to comply may result in penalties or fines.

In addition to adhering to specific time frames, most states also charge fees when filing for a fictitious name (again, these vary by state). There may also be additional requirements, such as submitting fingerprints or providing proof of residency, before completing the filing successfully. 

Ensure all paperwork is in order before beginning the registration process. Failing to meet the specific criteria or submitting incomplete or inaccurate information could cause delays or disqualification.

When registering your DBA, you will need an acceptable name. Which is typically the name of your LLC with a descriptor added (for example, “John Doe Cleaning Services”).

In some cases, there may be restrictions on what type of names you can use. For example, certain words might be restricted as part of the registration process in some states. 

Once you have identified your desired name, you must register it with the appropriate agency or agencies. Depending on your business’s location and type of business structure, you could do this through the state government or local county clerk’s office. 

Sometimes, you can do it online or by filling out a form from the agency. You will likely have to pay a small fee (typically under $100) for filing and processing LLC costs.

Once you have registered your new business name, you may also need to publish notice of its existence in an approved newspaper for it to become official. This is especially common in states requiring DBAs to prove that they are legally operating as an alternative business name before receiving any other permits or LLC licenses associated with their business activities.  

When you own a business, you want to protect your hard work. That’s why many business owners choose to trademark their DBA name to protect their investment and prevent others from using it. 

While trademarking a DBA name can be long and tedious, many choose to hire an attorney or use a service to simplify things. Filing for a trademark can be costly, but it may save time and money in the long run. 

A trademark is an exclusive right granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) that allows you to protect your brand identity. It provides legal protection against competitors who might try to use your brand name or logo without permission. 

Additionally, it prevents customers from needing clarification about which company they are dealing with when buying products or services. Trademarks also allow you to license your brand so that others can produce merchandise with your brand name, such as t-shirts or mugs. 

Filing for a trademark requires research, forms, and time, all of which can distract from growing your business. If you opt not to do it yourself, hiring an attorney or using a service like LegalZoom can provide peace of mind knowing that they will do everything correctly according to the law. 

In addition to filing fees, additional costs may be associated with researching the availability of your desired brand name before filing and any expenses related to dispute resolution should someone infringe upon your rights after you have registered the mark. 

Several benefits are associated with registering a trademark for your business’s DBA name. These benefits include legal protection against infringement, exclusive rights over the use of the mark, and increased credibility with customers due to the increased professionalism and legitimacy of the company. 

Additionally, it would allow you to license trademarks for additional revenue streams, faster dispute resolution times if someone tries to use your mark without permission, and more!  

Learning how to start an LLC is an exciting process. However, ensuring your business name isn’t too similar to another business in the new state is essential. If businesses have too similar legal names, you will only be allowed to do business under a DBA (Doing Business As). 

For each new state you plan to do business in, you must conduct a thorough search and register a DBA before conducting any transactions. 

Fortunately, most states have websites where you can check if another company takes your desired business name. The website should also provide information on an acceptable name variation. Depending on the state, the website may also allow you to reserve specific names for up to 120 days while you complete your paperwork. 

It is important to remember that not all states have the same rules and regulations about LLCs. In some cases, the LLC may need additional paperwork filed or have different restrictions placed upon them to conduct business within that state. Make sure to research the laws thoroughly for each new state so that your LLC is compliant and does not run afoul of local ordinances. 

Once your DBA is registered in the new state, ensure it is listed correctly on all official documents, such as contracts and invoices. You can often accomplish this by adding “DBA” after the existing name or using the acronym “LLC” after their name instead of listing the company’s full legal name. For example, John Doe Enterprises LLC or John Doe Enterprises DBA ABC Company. 

Furthermore, suppose you plan on opening a physical location in a new state. In that case, you must list your registered legal name and DBA on any signage outside your store or office space, so potential customers know who they are doing business with.

Operating an LLC has many advantages but also some serious responsibilities. One of those responsibilities is registering your business’s DBA, or “Doing Business As” name. 

An LLC that doesn’t register its DBA risks facing monetary fines and penalties and being unable to hold contracts as per the agreed terms. Plus, in some states, the LLC owner that doesn’t comply with assumed name laws may be held personally liable for any lawsuits against their business.

You may have heard that LLCs can have unlimited DBA names. But what exactly does this mean? In short, a DBA name is simply a trade or business name different from the company’s legal name. 

An LLC has no limits on the number of fictitious business names it can file. But there are pros and cons to establishing multiple DBAs for your LLC. Let’s take a look at both sides of the equation.