Your New Entity

Doing Business As (DBA)
Overview
For more detailed information on these topics, visit the Education Center
- A DBA is not a type of entity or form for operating a business. It refers to a fictitious business name that one uses to describe the business that is being conducted. It is sometimes used as if it were synonymous with a sole proprietorship that has unlimited liability. For example, some incorporation services or so-called asset protection companies will refer to the risk of operating as a DBA.
- In fact, any type of entity (including limited liability entities such as corporations and an LLC) may, and often do, file a DBA to register one or more trade names in which the entity engages in business.
Learn More About
Featured Articles
- Considering LegalZoom™? Choose Nationwide Incorporators and Get Much More for Much Less! (No Fine Print Needed!) (Updated September 2018)
- LegalZoom™ Exposed: The Important Details They Don't Want You to Read!
- Choosing the Best Type of Entity and Tax Classification for Your Business - A 2015 Update
- Using a LLC for Real Estate Investments: Traps for the Unwary
- How to Choose the Right Business Entity
- LLC Advantages and Disadvantages
- Personal Liability and the LLC: Insights from State Statutes and Court Decisions
![]() |