Registering your DBA and doing business under that DBA name is not the same as registering your business as a legal business entity. If you register a DBA without first forming as an LLC, corporation, or some other legal entity type, the state you're doing business in recognizes your business as a sole proprietorship.
Call. The Texas Secretary of State's office will also answer business name availability questions at 512-463-5555. This hotline is staffed Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Time.
How long does it take to file a DBA? Depending on the jurisdiction, most DBA filings take 1-4 weeks with some exceptions. Is filing a DBA the same thing as filing for a Trademark?
You do not need to have a DBA for your LLC. You can operate the LLC under the name of the LLC. However, many LLCs have names that would convert to poor brands and make marketing more difficult. In such cases, a DBA can help you create a strong brand identity.
How to do a business name search in California: Visit the California Business Search. Scroll down and enter all or part of your business name in the Search bar. Click the down arrow for Advanced Search. Filter by keyword, exact match, or “begins with.” Click “Search.”
Texas LLC Name Requirements Your business's name must end with one of the following: Limited Liability Company. Limited Company. LLC.
Legal Name vs Tradename Your LLC name does not have to be your business name or match your website name for marketing purposes. But for the legal and financial aspects of doing business, you should use the exact LLC name registered with your state. Here's how it works.
First, the name must include the words “Limited Liability Company” or one of its abbreviations, such as “LLC” or “L.L.C.” This requirement helps clarify the legal structure of the business to the public. Second, the name must be distinguishable from other LLC names already on file with the Texas Secretary of State.
The short answer is no, you do not. But you do need to use it in traditional places where a company name would be found in order to enjoy the limited liability.
Doing Both: Having an LLC and a DBA An LLC needs to register for a DBA if it uses a different name from the official name on its Certificate of Formation. As stated above, an LLC might want to apply for a DBA to distinguish and market different services it provides.