Instant DBA Name Search

A DBA, also called Doing Business As, is a registered alias that an individual or business uses rather than their legal name. It allows businesses to market under a different name while preserving the legal name for contracts and official documents. Depending on the state, a DBA may also be called a trade name, fictitious name, or assumed name.

Note that a DBA is not a legal business entity. It does not create a separate legal structure like an LLC, corporation, or partnership does. Regardless of the naming convention used in a state, a DBA is a name registration that generally allows a business to operate under a different name than its legal one. It does not create liability protection, tax status, or separate legal existence for the owner.

The primary purpose of a DBA is consumer protection. When a business uses a name besides its legal name, most states require that name to be registered through a DBA filing. This step ensures that the public has a way to identify the actual person behind the business. Hence, a DBA creates a public link between the business name and the real owner.

Not all businesses require a DBA; however, many choose or are legally required to file a DBA registration depending on how they operate. Typically, when a business operates under a name other than its legally registered name, most state and local laws require disclosure to the public.

The two primary groups that typically file DBAs are:

It is important to note that a DBA is not a substitute for forming an LLC or corporation. It only registers an operating name and does not provide liability protection, legal separation, tax status, or the other legal benefits of a formal entity.

Therefore, filing a DBA alone does not protect your personal assets if your business is sued or falls into debt. Persons who want liability protection should consider forming an LLC or corporation.

The table below contrasts DBAs with LLCs and corporations on certain important key factors.

For registered business entities such as limited liability companies or corporations, a DBA is not used to form the company. A DBA is a public-facing brand name that LLCs or corporations can use for branding, marketing, storefronts, or product lines.

For example, a company named Gravitas Holdings LLC that is a legal entity registered with the state may own and operate a fast-food franchise in Atlanta. For the purpose of marketing, Gravitas Holdings LLC may file a DBA to operate publicly as "Local Burger Joint".

In such a case, while Gravitas Holdings LLC is the true legal owner of the business, "Local Burger Joint" is the name customers see on signs, menus, and advertisements. All contracts, bank accounts, tax reporting, and liabilities still legally trace back to Gravitas Holdings LLC. If a liability claim arises, the LLC's limited liability protections apply to the business activities conducted under the Local Burger Joint name.

Businesses file DBAs for many reasons, including the following:

• Bank compliance: Many banks require a DBA certificate to open a business bank account in the trade name. A DBA lets the bank accept deposits, issue checks, and sign contracts under the public name.
• Branding and professionalism: A DBA allows a business to use a marketable, memorable name instead of an owner's personal name or a formal corporate name, which helps attract customers and build trust.
• Legal and regulatory compliance: In many states, it is unlawful to operate under a trade name without registering it. Therefore, filing a DBA satisfies local disclosure rules.
• Business flexibility and expansion: A single legal entity (an individual, LLC, or corporation) can launch multiple DBAs to run different brands, product lines, or storefronts without creating separate legal entities for each.
• Simpler than forming a new entity: For testing new markets or brands, a DBA is faster and less expensive than forming a new LLC or corporation, while still enabling separate marketing and banking under the new name.

A DBA record search is generally conducted for two reasons:

• Compliance check: In a compliance check, an individual searches DBA records before filing for a DBA name to confirm that your chosen trade name is not already registered in the relevant county or state.
• Verification: DBA records may also be searched to find the identity of the true legal owner of the business under an assumed name. This is important when deciding with whom to contract, where to send payments, or whom to sue if something goes wrong.

A DBA record typically lists the key information that links an assumed name to the true legal owner of a business. This information is the primary mechanism for consumer transparency.

Typical information that can be found in DBA records includes the following:

• Registered DBA name: The exact trade name or assumed name.
• Legal owner name: The individual's full name or the registered business entity that filed the DBA.
• Owner type: This information indicates whether the owner is a sole proprietor, partnership, LLC, corporation, or other entity.
• Filing date: The date the DBA was filed or recorded.
• Filing jurisdiction: The county or state office where the DBA is registered.
• Registration or record number: The unique ID assigned by the filing office.
• Address for service or owner address: The contact or mailing address for the owner or business.
• Status: This indicates the current standing of the DBA (whether active, expired, or cancelled) and any renewal/expiration information.

Although DBA naming rules vary by state and county, there are common restrictions and principles guiding the choice of DBA names that may be used. These principles are established to prevent fraud, protect the public, and maintain clarity in the business registry.

Common restrictions encountered when choosing and filing a DBA include the following:

• Restricted Suffixes: You cannot include legal entity designators such as LLC, Inc., or Corp. in your DBA unless your business is legally organized as that entity.
• Misleading or Prohibited Terms: You cannot imply a government, banking, or licensed professional affiliation (such as Bank, Federal, Treasury, Municipal, Police, Attorney, CPA, or Trust) or suggest the business is regulated or licensed when it is not.
• Name Uniqueness: The chosen name must be distinguishable from names already on file in the relevant jurisdiction.
• Prohibited or offensive words: Names containing obscene, defamatory, or otherwise illegal language are commonly prohibited.
• Use of personal names and deceptive phrasing: Using another person's name typically requires that person's consent. Hence, names that create a false impression of ownership or endorsement are often restricted.
• Trademark conflicts: Even if a DBA is accepted by the local filing office, it cannot lawfully infringe a registered trademark. A name that conflicts with a federal trademark may expose the filer to legal challenge.
• Formatting and character limits: Filing forms may limit punctuation, symbols, and length, as unusual characters or excessive length are disallowed.