Ready to File a Doing Busines As (DBA)?

A DBA (“Doing Business As”) is a registered trade name, an alias under which a sole proprietor, partnership, LLC, or corporation may legally operate when that name differs from its formal, legal name. Filing a DBA doesn’t create a separate legal entity or shield you from liability. It just notifies the public that “Acme Consulting” is owned by “Jane Doe, LLC,” for example.

Other common terms for a DBA include:

• Assumed Name

• Fictitious Business Name (FBN)

• Trade Name

• Fictitious Firm Name

• Operating As (Op. As)

• Alias Name

A sole proprietorship is the default unincorporated business form where you and your business are legally the same, exposing you to unlimited liability. A DBA (“Doing Business As”) is merely a registered trade name that lets any business, including a sole proprietor, operate under a different name without creating a new legal entity.

Key Distinctions

• Legal Structure: A sole proprietorship creates no separate entity; the owner and the business are one. A DBA is simply an assumed name registered by an existing entity.

• Liability Profile: Sole proprietors bear unlimited personal liability for business obligations. A DBA carries the liability of its underlying entity.

• Naming Flexibility: A sole proprietorship uses the owner’s legal name by default, while a DBA enables trade under any approved business name.

• Filing Requirements: A sole proprietorship often requires no formal state filing, but a DBA must be registered with the appropriate county or state authority.

A DBA (Doing Business As) registration allows you to operate under a distinctive trade name without the cost or complexity of creating a new legal entity. It helps you build brand recognition, streamline banking and payment processes, and comply with your existing business structure.

Key Benefits of a DBA

• Brand Identity & Marketing: Establish a memorable business name for advertising, signage, and customer recognition.

• Legal Compliance & Transparency: Notify the public who’s behind the business name, satisfying state and county “fictitious name” requirements.

• Banking & Financial Operations: Open merchant and business bank accounts under your DBA, streamlining payments and bookkeeping.

• Operational Flexibility: Use the same DBA across sole proprietorships, partnerships, LLCs, or corporations. There is no need to form separate entities.

• Cost-Effective & Simple Registration: Low filing fees and minimal paperwork get you up and running quickly without the expense of full entity formation.