Register a Business Name

Information On Registering a Business Name

Register A Business Name | 4 Steps To Follow

December 24th, 2011

Register A Business Name

Register A Business Name | Getting Started

Whether you are creating a new business, or even expanding a business that you already have, it is important that the business structure is set up properly to ensure you are set up to legally operate in your state or territory and you go through the process to register a business name.

There are four points to register a business name that you must keep in mind and we will discuss in detail below.

Register A Business Name | The Structure Of Your Business

When registering your business, you must make sure you are registering the business as a legal entity. With this in mind, there are several options, with each option having different benefits as well as different drawbacks.

The right structure for your business is dependent on how you want to operate based on factors such as how much control you want to have, your businesses vulnerability to lawsuits as well as financing needs or obligations.

Whatever legal structure you do end up choosing, this will determine the legal documentation and requirements.

Common business types are:

Corporation
Non-profit organization
Limited liability or partnership

Register A Business Name | Business Name Availability

Your business legal name is required on all of your business government forms and applications, this includes but is not limited to tax documents, permits and licenses.

By default, the legal name of the actual business is then name of the person that actually owns it, for example if you happen to be a sole proprietor, then the name of the business is your full name.

When you are in a partnership, the legal business name is the name given on your partnership agreements.

For LLC’s and corporations, the legal name of the business is the one that was registered with the state (this is the most common business structure).

Register A Business Name | Federal Tax ID

Any business that goes through the process of registering a business name, has employees and/or has a business partnership must get a Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the US Internal Revenue service.

Register A Business Name | Register With State

Depending on the type of business that you have, you will have to obtain Tax IDs and permits from your state’s revenue agency.

If you sell products within you state, and you register a business name, you are required to collect sales tax, and may be required to obtain a sales tax permit or a vendors license.

These are four critical steps to register a business name so make sure to carefully follow them to avoid legal issues in the future.

Register A Business Name | What You Need To Know

December 24th, 2011

Register A Business Name

A business name is the name of title under which a person, or any other legal entity trades and does business that is why it is so important to register a business name when starting your business. When you have a business name, it now gives your customers the ability to make a connection to your specific business as well as your business brand.

Your business name is a very valuable assets and will be with you for the life of your business. So it’s important to register a business name.

Register A Business Name | Tips to Consider

When registering a business name, here are some tips to consider:

- How will the name look on a business card or other advertisement material?

- How does the business name sound and is it easy to pronounce?

- Does your business name distinguish you from competitors?

- Is your business name memorable?

You should come up with a few options for your name, then the next step is to research the names that you picked.

Register A Business Name | Business Name Availability

Since businesses can establish a trademark by operating under a given name, it is critical that you check both registered and unregistered possible trademarks to avoid legal issues when you register a business name.

The first step is simply doing some research in the search engines like Google. After your initial research, you would need to use a service to search official databases for your business name in the state database that you wish to do business in.

Register A Business Name | Reserving A Business Name

After you pick the business name, do your research on the availability then it’s time to register a business name and reserve the business name.

At this point, you can either go ahead and register a business name as well as forming your business structure OR simply reserve the name until you are ready to form your business structure.

Make sure to carefully consider these things when you register a business name.

LLC’s and fictitious names?

March 25th, 2012

Register A Business Name

Question by v.e.n.d.e.t.t.a: LLC’s and fictitious names?
ok lets say my company was named “Blah LLC” would i need to register a fictitious name if i wanted to do business as “Blah Studios”? and when i bill clients would i bill them as “Blah LLC” or “Blah Studios”

Best answer:

Answer by Michael F – CEO
yes – generally called a DBA – Doing Business As

Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!

LLC forming question…?

March 21st, 2012

Register A Business Name

Question by Yazz: LLC forming question…?
okay let’s say you open an LLC…and give your company the name “AAA Company”…do you have to display the “LLC” part in the company name? or can it be left out?

Also…if you have the AAA a special way (design) and would like to have that be a trademark for your company, so let’s say you decide to do another form of business with the same exact name so now instead of AAA Real Estate its AAA Photography…can you register/copyright that AAA design and do that? or what would be the best way?

Best answer:

Answer by MacConsults
Forming business entities are done through your state and not on a federal level. So most questions about starting a business are not standard because states create their own rules. That being said most state require that you put LLC or something similar in the name. You must also use LLC when displaying that name. Most states also allow you to file d.b.a.’s (doing business as). This allows you to use a name without the LLC.

We can assist with your company formation.
McMillan Consulting
mccobiz@yahoo.com
410-775-6226

Give your answer to this question below!

LLCs and fictitious names?

March 14th, 2012

Register A Business Name

Question by v.e.n.d.e.t.t.a: LLCs and fictitious names?
ok lets say my company was named “Blah LLC” would i need to register a fictitious name if i wanted to do business as “Blah Studios”? and when i bill clients would i bill them as “Blah LLC” or “Blah Studios”

Best answer:

Answer by npwinder
either way should probably be fine. I would probably go with blah studios since they know for fact thats who they are doing business with.

another option would be:
Blah LLC
dba blah studios.

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Q&A: What name and address can you put on a 1099?

March 12th, 2012

Register A Business Name

Question by 1099Asker: What name and address can you put on a 1099?
I’ve started to do business as a plumber but my name is very difficult to understand, pronounce and write, so my business name is called “Terence Douglas”. I use “Terence Douglas” as my professional name as well to make things easy to me and my clients (it’s perfectly legal to use a different professional name that is different from your real name as long as you are using it consistently). None of my clients know my real name as they only call me “Terence” or “Terence Douglas”. I got my 1st 1099 as a contractor and just realized that the form requires a “Name” and “Address”. Since I created my LLC with a Registered Agent I was wondering if I could use my registered agent name/company name and address as the name and address to put on the 1099? I don’t need my clients to be confused by my weird name.
Any help on that would be greatly appreciated.

Best answer:

Answer by thomas
to the best of my knowledge, as long as you are doing business under that name legally, its fine. the tax id number is the important part. i would check with the person who files your taxes to double check. or if you do it yourself, call a personal accountant and just ask.

Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!

Starting a Business?

March 6th, 2012

Register A Business Name

Question by arisonius3: Starting a Business?
I would like to start a small business helping people with general computer tasks ( installing software, upgrading hardware, formatting, etc., ) but am not quite ready to shell out the money to get an “official buisness name” from the secretary of state. I live in Michigan. Is it illegal for me to ‘start’ a business without registering it right away? I don’t want to pay for something I’m not 100% sure will work.

Also, does anyone know a good site for free business cards? I’ve heard VistaPrint.com, but I’ve also heard they are scammers. Any help on this also would be appreciated.

Best answer:

Answer by Quanisha N
I would not take the chance of trying to start an official business without taking the legal steps. It’s one thing if you are just helping someone, but another if you say that you are a legit business.
And as the business cards go; these days you hardly get something for nothing so I wouldn’t trust it. But there is software that will easily allow you to create your professional looking business cards.

Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!

Different names on business card and legal documents?

March 4th, 2012

Register A Business Name

Question by ¬Running On Empty¬: Different names on business card and legal documents?
As I have a VERY long full name (no middle name just the First and Last), contains 3 spaces to complete the whole, and also it’s very hard to pronounce as well. I’m contemplating to put my “Nickname” (given by parents, which is easier to pronounce and everybody calls me so) + “Last name” (or might be the first few letters from last name). From my point of view there are some advantages and disadvantages to do so:

Advantages
- By NOT using the real full name, it’s easier for people to remember and pronounce.
- More secure for my identity theft.
- Look nice on the card.

Disadvantages
- I would have 2 different names which it would be very confusing when it comes to all kinds of legal documents: bank, contract, business registered, VAT and etc.
- People might question me why and then I have to explain to them.
- Some says it’s unprofessional.

If there are 2 different names: one on business card and others on legal documents would it be legit?
Is there anybody out there using this way?

Best answer:

Answer by Skeptic
If this is the US, then the banks I’ve dealt with had no problems with different names. Check with your banker. It’s common for people and corporations to have different common/public names and corporate names. It’s legit unless your intent is to defraud.

You might consider the possibility of organizing as an LLC to protect your personal assets. If you do, your lawyer can provide you with the nuanced details.

Add your own answer in the comments!

How to legally use somebody else’s DBA name in my company?

March 2nd, 2012

Register A Business Name

Question by : How to legally use somebody else’s DBA name in my company?
There’s a company (let’s call it “Big Company”) working in the IT consulting services area registered in NJ, it’s operating under DBA registered in NJ too, let’s call it “Big Name”. They have already built a great experience and customer base. I’m about to start my own business in the same area and we in general agree that it would be a good idea if I incorprate under my own name (let’s call it “Small Company”) also in NJ, but for all my client communication will use “Big Name” (i.e. clients will think they’re still dealing with “Big Name” brand) in return for exclusivity, i.e. all services I sell will be subsontracted only to “Big Name” and nobody else. This allows me to present myself as an established company for the clients and thus do a quick start. It also gives “Big Name” additional market expansion and business with literally zero investment.
Anyone can suggest what needs to be legally done/registered here in order to implement above scheme? It’s very important not to mix the risks of the two entities, i.e. Big Company’s clients can’t sue Small Company and vice versa.

Best answer:

Answer by escort500xl
Believe me, I’m not into business law but, it simply sounds very shady to me.

Unless of course you get permission initially from the original company FIRST, and then get clarification from the state, and maybe a lawyer as well.

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Can another local business represent themselves with a very similar business name?

February 27th, 2012

Register A Business Name

Question by Daniel H: Can another local business represent themselves with a very similar business name?
I own a small business called “PC Paramedics of (my city)” It has been a registered trade name for the last 2 years and I have operated the entire time. Some guy just created a similar company name, “CPUEMT- The Computer Paramedics” that operates less than within the same 25 mile radius as me. He is also advertising through the some of the same avenues as I am and has a Craigslist ad that is quite similar to mine. Is this legal? He’s not claiming to be part of my business, but I think that it would be very confusing for my customers and he could possibly trick them into going to his business! What can I do about this?

Best answer:

Answer by Peach
Only spam for you so far I see – it’s what you get for asking in this section, unfortunately.

You could probably take legal action, yes; I know that Monster Cable successfully sued another company with “Monster” in it. Monster Family Mini Golf, I think it was.

You do have a case.

What do you think? Answer below!

Can I use a business name that is registered in another state?

February 25th, 2012

Register A Business Name

Question by FrugalYankee: Can I use a business name that is registered in another state?
I want to start an LLC and prefer to use a neutral name. The name I would like to use is available in the state I want to register it in, but I’ve learned that an LLC with the exact same name exists in another state.
I don’t consider the name “unique” or distinctive – I’d rather not reveal the actual name I’m thinking of using but a similar name would be “White Oak Consulting LLC.”
As far as I know this other company has not trademarked the name – they’ve registered a domain name but don’t have a website and are using the domain name for email only. They are operating in a completely different area than what I intend to to.
Could this other company come after me with some kind of legal attack if I use the indentical name in a different state and engage in a different activity?

Best answer:

Answer by jwishz
You can use it if it is available in your state
Also check the US Patent & Trademark office to make sure it isn’t copyright protected there. If so, you can’t use it
www.uspto.gov

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I’m just starting a new business. How do I register it?

February 23rd, 2012

Register A Business Name

Question by Kim: I’m just starting a new business. How do I register it?
Do I need a tax ID and “official name”? If so where do I do this? I live in Oklahoma.

Best answer:

Answer by Amy
Ahhh Hello fellow Oklahoman!

For your official name, you need to mail in an application to register your “Doing Business As” form, and you can print off the Business Application with instructions from the OK Tax website. Click on Business Taxes on the lefthand side, then click on Business Registration Packet.

You may also need to register in your city. Contact the local Town Hall and ask them about requirements.

Hope this helps!

Add your own answer in the comments!