A Massachusetts DBA is any name your business operates under that's different from your legal business name. Any type of business—Massachusetts sole proprietorship, general partnership, LLC, or corporation—can use a DBA to establish or rebrand their business's image, boost brand awareness, and increase credibility.
A Massachusetts LLC is similar to a corporation but less formal. The owners are referred to as “members,” whereas the owners of a corporation are its “shareholders.” Members of an LLC are taxed like a sole proprietorship, partnership, or S Corp, with income from the LLC passing through to the LLC members.
An LLC with two or more members will be treated as a partnership if it's treated as a partnership for federal tax purposes. An LLC will be treated as a corporation for Massachusetts income tax purposes if it is classified as such for federal tax purposes.
In summary, LLCs offer more flexibility in management and taxation, while corporations have a more standardized structure that may be better suited for businesses seeking outside investment.
Specifically, a domestic LLC with at least two members is classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes unless it files Form 8832 and affirmatively elects to be treated as a corporation.
LLCs can have an unlimited number of members; S corps can have no more than 100 shareholders (owners). Non-U.S. citizens/residents can be members of LLCs; S corps may not have non-U.S. citizens/residents as shareholders.
Most states require companies using an assumed name to register, however, 13 states (Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Kansas, Maryland, Mississippi, Nebraska, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Wyoming) do not have a state filing requirement.
You must file a business certificate (sometimes called a DBA or “doing business as” name) if your business operates under any name other than its legal name. The “legal name” is the official name used when incorporating or, in the case of a sole proprietor, the owner's legal name.
Alphabetize single letters in business names separately, ignoring any punctuation that may appear between them. A company named "J & J Consulting" should be filed before one named "JM Auto Body." Use the last name to alphabetize businesses that include an individual's name.
But the law in most states is that unless the DBA name is registered — which is done by making a filing in the state — a sole proprietor/person can only do business under his or her own name, and corporations and LLCs can only do business under the name on their formation document.