If you have formed an LLC but wish to conduct its business under a different name, you will need to formally register that name as a DBA, which is typically a simple process. If an LLC conducts business under a name other than the one that was registered for the LLC, it needs to register the other name as a DBA.

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.

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.

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:

When do I need to file a DBA?

When a business owner forms an LLC, but wants to operate and do business under the identical name (minus the “LLC”), then filing a DBA without the “LLC” in the name will be needed. Remember: There are 900 jurisdictions in which DBAs can be filed. Some states/counties allow LLCs and DBAs to exist with the “identical” name; others do not.

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.