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Tell us your state
Pick where your company is registered. We pull the exact requirements for that state.
BASE CAMP01 / 03
DBA
Run under the name your customers actually know
A DBA lets you operate under a brand name that is different from your legal company name. It is the cleanest way to launch a new line, run more than one store, or simplify a clunky registered name. We file it in any state.
from $129
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THE DELIVERABLE · DBA
Fictitious Name RegistrationDoing business as
DBA
Registered to ACME LLC
Trade name
ACME COFFEE CO
REGISTERED
Official DBA certificate deliveredCERT ✓
What's in the kit
Handled start to finish.
The brief
What is a DBA?
In short
A DBA, short for doing business as, registers a trading name that is different from your company's legal name. Some states call it a fictitious name, an assumed name or a trade name. It does not create a company or change ownership. It records that this name belongs to that business.
Why do you need a DBA?
Banks will not deposit a cheque made out to a name they cannot connect to your company. The DBA is the paperwork that makes the connection, which is why it is usually needed the moment a brand name starts appearing on invoices.
Trading under an unregistered name is also a problem in itself. Depending on the state it can mean fines, and it can leave you unable to enforce a contract signed in that name.
Who needs a DBA?
- Companies trading under a brand different from the registered name
- One company running several storefronts or product lines
- Sole owners who want to invoice under a business name
- Anyone whose bank has refused a payment made out to their trading name
On your own, or with Summit
- Where it is filed. We file it where that state actually requires it.
- Publication. We handle the requirement where it applies.
- Renewals. The expiry sits on your compliance calendar.
When a DBA is the right move
There are a handful of moments where a DBA makes life a lot easier.
If you want to protect the brand from copycats, a trademark is the natural next step. A DBA registers the name with the state for the record. A trademark protects it nationally. Different jobs, and they work well together.
Common reasons people register one
- Your legal company name is awkward or generic and you want a stronger brand out front
- You are launching a second product line or store and want its brand kept separate from the parent company
- You run a holding company and want each operating brand registered under it without forming new entities
- A bank, payment processor, or vendor wants a registered fictitious name before they will invoice or pay you under the brand
Our process
How we file it
We start by checking that your DBA name is available in your state and does not clash with an existing fictitious name. Then we file it.
We register the DBA with the state, and with the county too in states that require both. We also handle any newspaper publication step, which is something a few states ask for before the registration is final.
Once it is approved, you receive your DBA certificate and the brand name is officially yours to use. We track the renewal date so you keep the registration without thinking about it.
What we will need from you
- Your Articles of Incorporation or Organization
- Your proposed DBA name, which we run availability checks on
- The EIN for your parent company
- An owner's signature on the registration form
Your expedition kitDBA
DBA name availability search✓
State and county filing where both are required✓
Newspaper publication when your state requires it✓
Your official DBA certificate✓
Renewal date tracking and reminders✓
Exactly as listed. Where something is optional, the line says so.
Now unlocked Live
US bank account
Hire and pay
Raise capital
Business credit
Filing Filed
State submission
Document review
Confirmation
The route
Three camps to the summit.
The same route every time. Open a tab to see what happens at each camp, and what we need from you at it.
02
We prepare and file
We complete your DBA filing and submit it to the state for you.
THE RIDGE02 / 03
03
You get the proof
We send the stamped confirmation the moment the state returns it. No chasing.
THE SUMMIT03 / 03
Fellow climbers
“It has been 2 years since I started my business and I keep using their Flexible Space service. It is like I got my own office there. They receive my documents and scan them for me. Highly recommend it for those who do not have an address.”
NickToronto
4.7 on Google
Questions
Asked on the way up.
Can the DBA include LLC, Corp, or Inc?
Yes, as long as the abbreviation matches your real entity type. An LLC can register a DBA with "LLC" in it, but not one with "Inc," since the legal entity is not a corporation.
How long does DBA registration take?
It depends on your state and county. Most filings wrap up within one to four weeks. Some states publish the DBA in a local newspaper before it is final, which can stretch the timeline a bit.
Does a DBA come with its own EIN?
No. A DBA is just a name, so it does not create a new entity or a new EIN. Your company's existing EIN covers all of its DBAs, which is part of why they are so quick and affordable.
Can one company have several DBAs?
Yes. You can register as many as you want. Each one is filed and tracked separately, and each carries its own renewal schedule, which we keep an eye on for you.
How long does a DBA last?
Most states issue DBAs for a five-year term, then a renewal. A few use one-year or ten-year terms. We track the renewal date for any DBA we file so it stays active.
What is the difference between a DBA and an LLC?
An LLC is a company: it exists as a legal entity and separates business liability from your personal assets. A DBA is only a name. Registering one records that a business trades under it, and creates nothing and protects nothing on its own.
Does a DBA protect my personal assets?
No. Only forming an entity does that. A sole owner with a DBA is still personally responsible for the business's debts and claims, which is the single most common misunderstanding about what a trade name registration does.
Can I open a bank account under a DBA?
Yes, and it is the usual reason to register one. Banks want the DBA registration alongside the company's documents so they can connect the trading name to the legal entity, which is what lets them accept payments made out to it.
Do I need a DBA to trade under a different name?
In most states, yes, if the name you use is not your legal name or your registered company name. Trading under an unregistered name can mean fines and can leave a contract signed in that name difficult to enforce.
Is a DBA the same as a trademark?
No, and one does not give the other. A DBA is a state or county registration that records who trades under a name. A trademark is a separate right in the name itself. Registering a DBA does not stop anyone else from using the name.
Where is a DBA filed, the county or the state?
It depends on the state, and a few require both. Some file with the county clerk where the business operates, others with the Secretary of State, and a handful add a newspaper publication requirement with proof afterwards.