Many people who decide to run a business themselves start by forming a sole proprietorship. In order to register your sole proprietorship, you'll need to file a DBA with the state or county if you're going to use a company name.
What is a DBA? It stands for “doing business as” and tells the public that you, as a sole proprietor, will conduct business under a company name. It’s sometimes also referred to as a “fictitious business name.” For example, if John Doe does business under the name ACE Pool Maintenance, he would need to file a DBA for the company name “ACE Pool Maintenance.”
If, on the other hand, John Doe is a consultant or independent contractor and does not use a company name, then there is no need to file a DBA. Instead, he would only need to obtain a local business license.
If you plan on using a company name for your sole proprietorship, LegalZoom makes it quick and easy to file a DBA. We can also help with business licenses. We’ll prepare your DBA statement and file it with the appropriate government office, making your sole proprietorship official. If required, we even perform a name search and publish your DBA in an authorized newspaper. Start your Sole Proprietorship today with LegalZoom.
