What is a dba or "doing business as" filing?

 

A Doing Business As (DBA) filing is the official way of registering a business name with either a state or a local jurisdiction (such as a county). Often a DBA name is commonly referred to as an assumed name, trade name or fictitious business name.

Why a DBA is important – DBAs allow general partnerships and sole proprietorships to conduct business under a name other than the owner's or owners' personal name(s). For Corporations, Limited Liability Companies (LLCs), Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs), Limited Partnerships (LPs) as well as Nonprofit Corporations, filing a DBA allows them to transact business using a name other than the official company name that is included in the incorporation documents.

Once the DBA filing is filed, the business can use the name as its official business name and:

1. ·        Open a business bank account.
2. ·        Create stationery or business cards.
3. ·        Develop advertisements and/or list the company in directories.
4. ·        Undertake transactions on behalf of the company.