When launching or operating a business, you'll need a name. While many entrepreneurs choose to form a legal entity like an LLC or C-Corp, which establishes a formal business name, others need or prefer to use a different name for their operations. This is where a DBA, or 'Doing Business As,' comes into play. It's a way for an individual or a legal entity to operate under a trade name, also known as a fictitious name or assumed name. A DBA is not a business structure itself, like an LLC or a corporation. Instead, it's a registration that signals to the public and government authorities that you are conducting business under a name that is not your personal name (if you're a sole proprietor or general partnership) or your registered legal business name (if you have an LLC or corporation). For example, if Jane Doe, a sole proprietor, wants to open a bakery called 'Sweet Delights,' she would file for a DBA for 'Sweet Delights.' Similarly, if 'Lovie LLC' decides to launch a new service under the brand name 'Startup Solutions,' Lovie LLC would file for a DBA for 'Startup Solutions.'
Start your formation with Lovie — $29/month, everything included.