Do You Need a DBA for Your Garage Business? Registering a Business Name
You’ve picked a great name for your garage business. Now what? If that name isn’t your own legal name (or your LLC’s registered name), you may need to register it as a DBA before you put it on signs, invoices and a bank account.
What a DBA is
DBA stands for “doing business as.” Depending on where you live, it may also be called a trade name, fictitious name or assumed name. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, a DBA lets you operate under a name that is different from your personal name or your company’s official entity name. A sole proprietor could sell as “Maple Street Woodworks” without forming a company, or an LLC registered under one name could sell under a catchier one.
Do you need one?
Most states require you to register a DBA if you use one. Where you file depends on your state, and sometimes your county or city. The SBA also notes that a DBA paired with an EIN can help you open a business bank account under your business name, which keeps your money separate and makes bookkeeping easier.
Rules, forms and fees vary a lot by state and county, so check your state’s business filing office and your county clerk’s website before you file.
What a DBA does not do
- It does not create a legal entity or protect your personal assets. That is a separate decision about your business structure.
- It does not give you exclusive rights to the name. The SBA points out that more than one business in a state can sometimes use the same DBA.
- It does not protect you from trademark claims if another business already uses a similar name for similar products.
Check the name before you commit
- Search the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s free trademark database for similar names in your product category.
- Search your state’s business name records.
- Check whether a matching domain name and social media handles are available.
Domain names, entity names, DBAs and trademarks are separate registrations. Owning one does not secure the others, so do the quick checks up front, before you order printed labels and signs. If you’re unsure, a local Small Business Development Center or an attorney can help.
More on Garage Business Blueprint
- Sole Proprietor or LLC? Choosing a Structure for Your Garage Business
- Getting an EIN and Opening a Business Bank Account for Your Garage Business
- Can You Legally Run a Business From Your Garage? Zoning, Permits and HOA Rules Explained
