Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is a doing business as (DBA)?
A. A DBA filing is an official and public registration of a business name with either the state or local jurisdiction. A DBA name is also called an assumed name, trade name or fictitious business name.
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Q. Can a doing business as (DBA) be filed for all entity types?
A. DBAs can be filed for all entity types. BizFilings can assist sole proprietorships, partnerships, limited partnerships (LPs), limited liability partnerships (LLPs), corporations, limited liability companies (LLCs) and nonprofits in filing a DBA.
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Q. When does a corporation or limited liability company (LLC) file a doing business as (DBA)?
A. A corporation or LLC files a DBA registration if it intends to transact business under a name other than the legal name that appears on the corporation’s or LLC’s state-approved formation document(s). The corporation or LLC must file the DBA with the appropriate state and/or county agency in the state in which the company is formed or foreign qualified.
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Q. Why should I file a doing business as (DBA)?
A. One of the most important reasons for filing a DBA is for banking purposes. Most banks will require the filed DBA registration prior to opening an account under the business name. In addition, the DBA filing becomes part of the public record, thereby giving other businesses official notice that this name is in use.
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Q. Are doing business as (DBA) filings mandatory?
A. An individual or company will be required, in most jurisdictions, to file a DBA if they choose to transact business under a name other than the owner's personal name(s), for sole proprietorships and partnerships, or the name used on the company’s formation documents.
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Q. Do I have to file a doing business as (DBA) before I can begin transacting business?
A. In most cases the state or other local agencies require a DBA to be filed prior to transacting business under a name other than the owner’s personal name or the name listed on the company’s formation documents. Additionally, without the DBA registration document, you may not be able to open a business banking account in the DBA name.
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Q. Where should I file my doing business as (DBA)?
A. DBAs are typically filed in the state and/or county where the principal business address or street address of the business is located. In some cases, it is necessary to file the DBA in other local jurisdictions, such as with the city or town clerk.
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Q. What steps are involved in filing a doing business as (DBA)?
A. Filing a DBA involves the following steps:
- Preliminary name check with the appropriate state and/or county agency (if applicable)
- Preparation and filing of the DBA document(s)
- Payment of DBA filing fees to the state and/or county agency
- Publication of DBA filing with local newspapers (if applicable)
- Re-file publication with state and/or county agencies (if applicable)
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Q. What words are prohibited in a doing business as (DBA) name?
A. There are restrictions on the words you may use in your DBA name. In addition, you cannot use words that may mislead the general public into believing the company is something other than what is being portrayed by the DBA name. For example, you may not use corporate name endings such as Inc., Incorporated or Corp. if the company is not filed as a corporation. Additionally, you may not use Limited Liability Company or LLC if the company is not filed as an LLC.
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Q. How long does it take to complete the filing of a doing business as (DBA)?
A. The typical completion time for the DBA Filing Service is 4 to 8 weeks.
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Q. Is it possible to expedite a doing business as (DBA) filing?
A. If you would like to obtain your DBA filing sooner, BizFilings offers an Expedited DBA Filing Service. With expedited processing, BizFilings sends you the necessary document(s) for signature via FedEx 2Day delivery. We also ship your approved DBA document(s) via FedEx 2Day delivery both to the state and/or county and to you after receiving them from the appropriate office. The cost for expedited processing is $60.
Typical completion time for Expedited DBA Filing orders is 2 to 4 weeks. Please note: BizFilings cannot guarantee this timeframe, as processing procedures vary greatly by state and/or county.
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Q. How many doing business as (DBA) names can I register?
A. There are no state and/or county restrictions as to the number of DBA names you may file.
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Q. Can someone else use my doing business as (DBA) name?
A. Registering a DBA typically does not reserve the name against future use by another party. In most cases, registration of a DBA or fictitious name is for public notice only and should not be presumed that the registrant’s rights to own or use the name are protected.
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Q. Do doing business as (DBA) filings expire?
A. DBA filings can be valid for any number of years and may or may not expire. Each state and/or county where the DBA is registered establishes the expiration date. If your DBA filing expires, the appropriate agency will notify you at the address you have on record with that agency and you will need to re-file the DBA name. Therefore, maintaining a current DBA business address with the appropriate agency is very important.
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Q. What are the publication requirements?
A. Some states require that announcement of the doing business as (DBA) filing be published in a specific newspaper for a specific time frame. Publication requirements vary by the state and/or county in which the DBA is filed. In some cases you will need to re-file your proof of publication with the appropriate agency. BizFilings' DBA Filings Service includes the completion of the necessary publication requirement(s) associated with your DBA name.
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Q. How do I get started with the filing process?
A. BizFilings’ DBA Filing service is the easiest way to get started. Doing business as (DBA) filings may be needed in the state, county, or in some cases, possibly the city where you are planning to use the name. There are also naming issues and publication requirements that are specific to each government jurisdiction. BizFilings' DBA Filing service satisfies all of these requirements.
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