DBA

[mclean]

When I called around a couple years ago about licensing and permits. I was told all I needed was to register my trade name with the State Dept of Revenue. No license required (or available) for janitorial service. No tax id required unless I sold supplies. I use a personnel checking account and have had no problems depositing checks made out to my trade name.
Should I get a DBA also?

[libby]

A DBA Will insure that no one can use the same name as you have established for yourself. I would strongly recommend getting one. Its only $10.00 in our county and its good for 5 years I believe. Also if anyone else is already using your business name they can legally make you stop. That's a big risk if you have money tied up into business cards, phone ads, etc... Its worth time and $10.00 & can be done at your local courthouse.

[russo]

no tax id if you are filing under your ss number and you have no employees.

[mclean]

Thanks for the info.
I did some research and found out the dept of revenue was for tax purposes only and I needed to register my trade name with the Secretary of State to protect it. I filed today Cost $125.00 paper $25.00 electronic
The only thing required for a sole proprietor is the Dept of Revenue trade name registration.
But it does not protect your name.

[russo]

sm and r marks will help protect trade names and trade slogans. i think you can do it at your state department of elections and corporations. i heard it takes a year for the paper work to go through. i don't know anyone who protects trade names except a t-shirt company i do business with occasionally. if you have an llc, your company name is automatically a protected trade name. nobody else can have it but an llc would have to register trade slogans (sm) like " Innovative Carpet Cleaning Solutions" if you do not any carpet cleaning firm may have this slogan.

[mclean]

I plan on LLC later after I get going.
Do you think I should do it now
The trade name reservation with the secretary of state I did is required for the LLC.