How to Add a DBA to an LLC
If you have formed an LLC but want to do business under a different name, you must formally register that name as a DBA, which is usually a simple process.
You chose a name for your limited liability company (LLC) when you formed it. This name was included in the paperwork you submitted to register the LLC. This is typically accomplished by filing LLC articles of organization with the state agency in charge of business regulation. You may conduct business under the official name of your LLC once it has been registered.
Some LLCs find it advantageous to conduct business under a different name. This is a name that is usually better suited for marketing and advertising. If an LLC does business under a name other than the one registered for the LLC, the other name must be registered as a DBA.
What Does DBA Mean?
DBA (sometimes spelled dba) is an abbreviation for doing business as, and it is how an LLC conducts business under a different name. For example, if your LLC is registered as “ane Jones Enterprises LLC, but you want to do business as JJ Computer Services, you would use Jane Jones Enterprises LLC, DBA JJ Computer Services.
Most states laws refer to a business name as a assumed name, fictitious name, or tradename. This type of name is also known as a DBA name or business name.
Why Use a DBA?
The following are the two most common reasons for using a alternate name:
The ability to run multiple businesses through one LLC rather than forming separate LLCs. Summit Enterprises LLC, for example, could use Summit Property Management for a company that owns or manages rental properties and Summit Yard Services for a company that provides lawn and garden maintenance.
Choosing a name for your company that you believe will provide you with a marketing advantage, such as more accurately describing the nature of your company, making a local connection, or obtaining a favourable alphabetical position in phone book or online listings. For example, if your LLC is registered as California Wine Outlets LLC, and you decide to open a store in Monterey, you might want to call it Monterey Wine Outlet to distinguish it as a local business. You’d be California Wines Outlets LLC, DBA Monterey Wine Outlet”after that.
Where to Register a DBA
All states require the registration of a different name. Most states require registration with the county or city government where the assumed name will be used, but some require registration at the state level.
To assist you in determining what is required in your state:
- Conduct an online search for your state’s fictitious name requirements. Search for Florida fictitious name registration or Texas DBA registration, for example.
- Check with the state agency where your LLC was registered.
- Check with your city or county’s business regulation agency, which is usually the county or city clerk’s office.
- Check with your local Small Business Administration office.
If you want to use more than one assumed name, you must register each name separately. Unless statewide registration is available, the assumed name must be registered in each county or municipality where it will be used.
How to Register a DBA
You may be able to register your DBA name online once you’ve decided where to register. You can also obtain the appropriate form from the agency, complete it with the necessary information, and file it with the agency. You must provide the registered name of your LLC as well as the fictitious name you wish to use. The use of a name that is the same as, or similar to, an already registered fictitious name is frequently prohibited. You will almost certainly be required to pay a registration fee, which is usually less than $100.
In order to begin using the assumed name, you may be required to publish a notice in an approved newspaper. If such a publication is required, a local legal newspaper will usually offer much lower publication rates than a general circulation newspaper.
How to add a DBA to an LLC varies slightly by location, but it is typically a simple process that involves filing a simple form with the appropriate government agency.