How to register a business name

The legal business name of a corporation or an LLC is the name registered with the Secretary of State when forming the corporation. Unfortunately, to set up a business larger than your local lemonade stand, you’ll have to do significantly more legwork. When it comes to starting your business, you can’t do what I did when I was eight and just hit the ground running. You’ll need to register your business name, and decide what method of doing so is best suited for your specific business needs.

This is often done with a county agency, but may be with a state agency in some states. This is called a fictitious name in some locations and is also commonly referred to as a “doing business as” or “dba” name. State laws prohibit a company from using a name that is already being used by another company.

When to Register Your Business Name

If your business is a limited liability company (LLC), corporation, partnership, or nonprofit corporation, you’ll probably need to register with any state where you conduct business activities. An entity name can protect the name of your business at a state level. Depending on your business structure and location, the state may require you to register a legal entity name. The legal business name is how the business is recognized by the government for official purposes, including by the IRS for tax purposes and by the state in which the business is registered.

• Even if a business hasn’t officially registered a name, they might still have a valid legal claim if they’ve been using it for a certain period of time.
• There will also be a filing fee, which usually ranges from $100 to $800.
• For many small companies operating in only one state, organizing as a corporation or LLC may provide sufficient protection.
• You can reserve a name with the New Jersey Department of the Treasury for six months.
• A business name is registered with the locality and state where the business is organized.
• Registering your business name can offer protection and should be one of your first steps in starting a new business.

To register a business name in New York, you’ll first determine the business structure and fill out accompanying paperwork. Some local governments may also require you to obtain permits or licenses to operate the business locally. For example, a freelance writer that is a sole proprietor might just go by their full name for their business. But if you decide to give your business a unique name like Best Writers, you’ll need to register the business name — even as a sole proprietor. If you are doing business as yourself, as a sole proprietor named Jane Smith, you do not have to register an entity name for Jane Smith.

Search Available Business Names

Filing a DBA (Doing Business As) allows your existing or new business to do business as a name other than your legal business name. This can be helpful for getting a brand name established, or to change https://kelleysbookkeeping.com/difference-between-bookkeeping-and-accounting/ the name of a business without having to file an amendment to an original filing. State of Georgia government websites and email systems use “georgia.gov” or “ga.gov” at the end of the address.

If you choose to use a DBA or trade name, you may be required to file a separate registration for the DBA. You can check with your jurisdiction’s secretary of state to determine specific requirements and filing fees. The difference is that a partnership consists of two or more people.

Determine your business structure.

Because John and Kelly are using a fictitious name for their auto repair shop — rather than their own legal names — they are required to register their business name. If you conduct business as yourself using your legal name, you won’t need to register anywhere. But remember, Small Business Bookkeeping Services Bookkeepers Near Me HHH CPAs if you don’t register your business, you could miss out on personal liability protection, legal benefits, and tax benefits. Each way of registering your name serves a different purpose, and some may be legally required depending on your business structure and location.

We’ll ask you a few onboarding questions; be prepared to tell us your legal structure, industry, and location. Depending on your legal structure and which state you’re doing business in the US, there are several ways to register your company name. Each one serves a different purpose, so read carefully through the eligibility and requirements that follow. With this in mind, you’ll want to protect your business name against others potentially using and misusing it.

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As with LLCs, LPs, and nonprofits, forming a corporation involves several steps and a certain amount of paperwork, all of which will—you guessed it—vary state to state. “Most states don’t allow you to register a name that’s already been registered by someone else, and some states require your entity name to reflect the kind of business it represents.” A business can choose to operate under other names by filing for a DBA, also known as a trade name, fictitious name, or assumed name.