Why do I need a DBA if I have an LLC?

When an LLC Needs a DBA If you want to conduct business under any variant of itss legal name, you will need to obtain a DBA. If a state already has a company operating under a name similar to yours, you will need a fictitious name for a different name to work there.

Why would you want a DBA?

Registering for a DBA allows you to transact business under the fictitious name instead of your personal name. Your bank requires a DBA to open a business bank account. Banks often require sole proprietorships and the partners in general partnerships to have a DBA before they can open a business bank account.

Can a single member LLC have a DBA?

Similarly, with a single-member LLC, you can do business under the legal name of the LLC, which is the name on its formation document. Or, you can have the LLC register its own DBA.

Can a LLC file a DBA and still do business?

A limited liability company can register a DBA, or “doing business as” name and still do business using the official LLC name. A DBA operates much like a personal nickname—you may use your nickname for some purposes and your full legal name for others. A business might use a DBA for some aspects of the business and the LLC name for others.

Why do I need a DBA for my business?

Since a DBA is only valid for a set period of time and must be renewed on occasion, you can lose the name if it expires and another business takes it. One of the main reasons for forming an LLC is to protect your personal assets from the business’s own liabilities and obligations.

Can a LLC still do business under its own name?

If an LLC does business under its own name, there is no need to file a DBA. But sometimes the LLCs owners decide they want to use a different name. Some of the most common reasons an LLC might want a DBA include:

What makes a DBA a fictitious business name?

A DBA, also known as a fictitious business name or trade name, is any name other than your legal name that you use in your business. For example, if your business is “AAA Cleaning Service LLC” but you decide to market yourself as “Miracle Maids,” you would register “Miracle Maids” as a DBA.

Why do you need to form a business LLC?

When choosing the form of your business, numerous considerations come into play, including personal liability, ownership and management, cost of forming and registering the business, and taxation. Reasons you might want an LLC include: Limiting your personal liability for business debts.

What does it mean to do business as DBA?

The DBA is also called a Fictitious Business Name or Assumed Business Name. It got its origins as a form of consumer protection, so dishonest business owners can’t try to avoid legal trouble by operating under a different name.