What does doing business as (DBA) mean?
A DBA, short for doing business as, is a name your business uses that isn't its legal name. Most states require you to register one if you use it. It lets you trade under that name, but it doesn't create a company or give you legal protection for the name.
Updated November 1, 2026
When you need one
You need a DBA when the name customers see differs from your legal name. A sole proprietor who trades as Sunrise Cleaning is one example. An LLC with a dull legal name that runs a store under a catchier one is another. Florida's law defines a fictitious name as any name someone does business under other than their legal name.
You may also hear assumed name, fictitious name or trade name. They describe the same idea.
Where you file
It depends on the state. Florida registers fictitious names with its Division of Corporations, and a registration lasts through December 31 of the fifth calendar year. California sends you to the county. You file within 40 days of starting to use the name, then publish a statement in a newspaper within 45 days of filing.
DBA rules by state shows what applies where you are.
What a DBA doesn't do
A DBA isn't a company. A sole proprietor with a DBA is still a sole proprietor, and the SBA describes that owner's liability as unlimited.
It doesn't protect the name either. Florida's statute says registration is for public notice only and creates no presumption that you own the name. The SBA says a DBA gives no legal protection by itself and that trademark law still applies to it. So you can register a DBA and still get a complaint from a brand with an earlier claim.
DBA, LLC or trademark
These solve different problems. A DBA lets you use a name. An LLC separates your personal assets from the business. A trademark gives you rights in a brand name for specific goods or services. Plenty of businesses use more than one, such as an LLC with a DBA and a trademark on the DBA name.
Before you print signs, check the name for conflicts.
Using it day to day
Registering lets you market, invoice and take payments under the name. The SBA says a DBA and an EIN let you open a business bank account. An LLC should still sign contracts in its legal name and can add the DBA next to it, so it's clear who is bound. We can file a DBA for your company.
Questions
Can an LLC have a DBA?
Yes. An LLC can trade under a name that differs from its legal name, as long as it registers where that's required.
Do I need a new EIN for a DBA?
Generally no. A DBA is a name, and the IRS says changing your business name doesn't call for a new EIN.
What happens if I don't register a DBA?
It depends on the state. In Florida, a business that hasn't registered can't bring a lawsuit in state court until it complies, and failing to register is a noncriminal violation.
Does a DBA stop someone else from using the name?
No. Florida's law says registration doesn't reserve the name. To stop others from using a brand name, you need trademark rights.
Does a DBA expire?
In many places, yes. Florida's expires at the end of the fifth calendar year and can be renewed for five years at a time. Check the rule where you filed.
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