A DBA, which stands for “Doing Business As,” is essentially a fictitious name registration, also known as an assumed business name. It allows a company to operate under a name other than its registered name.
Business owners often choose to operate under multiple names for several different ventures.
Example:
ABC Company, Inc. provides landscaping and construction services.
It operates its landscaping services under the name ABC Landscaping and its construction services under the name ABC Construction. By using different “Doing Business As” (DBA) names, ABC Company effectively manages its various business entities. This allows foreign business owners to conduct business under a name other than their legal name by filing a DBA.
Depending on the state, a foreign business may need to file DBA forms with a local or county clerk’s office, state agency, or both.