Small Business Guys: Doing Business As (1 Viewer)

[sublimeone]

I want to start referring to my business slightly differently since I was able to acquire a shorter domain name. I am not completely clear how DBA's work...

Let's say the legal business name is "Smith Builders Company, LLC" and I want to refer to my business as "Smith Builders" - do I need to file an DBA for something like this? The only places I would be shortening the name would be on the web and any marketing materials I put together.

TIA

 

[BobbyLayne]

I want to start referring to my business slightly differently since I was able to acquire a shorter domain name. I am not completely clear how DBA's work...

Let's say the legal business name is "Smith Builders Company, LLC" and I want to refer to my business as "Smith Builders" - do I need to file an DBA for something like this? The only places I would be shortening the name would be on the web and any marketing materials I put together.

TIA

Usually people use a d/b/a because for a sole proprietor it's the simplest and least costly way to use a business name. You can get a d/b/a by filing with the county clerk or the state (it varies by jurisdiction.) For example, if I was cobbler, when I filed my personal income taxes, the Schedule C name would list Bobby Layne d/b/a 40th St Shoe Repair.

But it doesn't sound like you need a d/b/a, you already have a separate business entity. You can accomplish what want to do with a simple explanatory line:

Smith Builders Company, LLC ("Smith Builders")

and thereafter refer to your company by the shortened nickname.

 

[Fat Nick]

I want to start referring to my business slightly differently since I was able to acquire a shorter domain name. I am not completely clear how DBA's work...

Let's say the legal business name is "Smith Builders Company, LLC" and I want to refer to my business as "Smith Builders" - do I need to file an DBA for something like this? The only places I would be shortening the name would be on the web and any marketing materials I put together.

TIA

My old small business was as a franchisee. Our corporate name was the name legally on our S-corporation filing. We had to put a DBA for the franchise name. I don't remember "filing" for a DBA. Anywhere we were representing in the capacity of our corporation (basically, only on my business card, and checks), I had "the company name, DBA The franchise name."

I could've just skipped a step that was otherwise required, but I never had any issues.