An introduction to the process of registration of the business name
The registration of your business’s name signifies that the state or local government registers it on a registry , so that no anyone else has the right to use it. It also makes it easier for clients to find your company. In accordance with the business structureyou have, you might be able to attach the name of your business on the application form to register your company. In other situations you will need to create a separate application.
There are four ways to register your company’s name:
- Registration of an official name for a legal entity
- Trademarking your company’s name
- Filing for an DBA
- Registration of a domain name
Registration of an entity’s name
The name of your entity is the way that the state recognizes your company. It’s typically registered with the creation of an entity that is legal on a state-wide level. If you’re planning on forming an LLC, a limited partnership LLC or a company the name of your business entity is automatically registered once you file your declaration of limited partnership and articles of organization, and articles of incorporation to your state’s filing office. This will prevent any other LLCs, limited partnerships, or corporations from filing with your state from using the identical name.
Trademarking your business ‘ name
A trademark is a term that is a phrase, design or other symbol that signifies and differentiates your products from those of other businesses. For example, if you were a business that made drinks and you wanted to name your company “Joe’s Beverage” and one of your products “Joe’s Brew,” registering those names as trademarks in your state could aid in stopping other beverage companies or similar products from the identical state from using the identical names.
If you intend to promote products or services throughout the nation or internationally You must apply for trademark protection at the federal level as well. The registration of your business’s trademark with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) will notify all of the world that the name is already in use, and makes it simpler to defend your company name from infringement by others.
Making a request for the designation of DBA
You may apply for an “Doing Business as” (DBA) in the event that you choose to start a business under an alternative name to your legal name. Also known as a “trade name,”” “fictitious corporate identity” or “assumed name,”” DBA gives you more flexibility in the name you use for your business. For instance, if your identity will be Hannah McCarthy and you decide to operate your business as “Hannah McCarthy,”” you’re not likely to requirement to register an DBA. However, if you want to conduct business under the name “Hannah’s Professional Services” then you’ll need to sign up for with a DBA.
In order to register to become a DBA it is necessary to first establish the requirements on the specific location you are in. The requirements vary based on your company’s structure municipal, state, or county. Therefore, be sure you check with the local government office as well as web site.
Domain registration
If you’d like your company to be online then you must get a domain registration. The registration of a domain name is simply the process of reserving a domain for a specified period of time typically one year. A suitable domain for your company typically has the name such as veganbytes.com. After you have registered the domain, it is inviolable. anyone else will be able to copy or use it for as the domain name is registered and renewed it regularly.
Domain names can be registered through Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers-approved registrars. Because registration processes are centralized and controlled by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, domain names differ from trademarks as well as business names due to the fact that the legal owner of a domain name usually has the power to stop another person from using the domain name without making a claim in court. However, anyone can purchase the domain name using the use of a different top-level. For example, if you have the domain myrtlesturtles.com Other people or businesses can typically purchase myrtlesturtles.org as well as myrtlesturtles.net.
Examples of registrations for business names
Here are a few examples of registrations for business names:
- Tiger’s Classic Cars, LLC. (Limited Liability Corporation)
- John’s Vintage Resale (DBA)
- EQUF Appliances, Inc. (Corporation)
- Smith Investments, LLC. (Limited Liability Corporation)
- MeBags(r) (Trademark)
- Yacks and Lane(tm) (Trademark)
Business Name FAQs
Here are a few of the most frequently asked queries concerning the registration of a business name:
What should I bear in mind when selecting the name of my company?
When you are looking for the ideal name for your company Keep these considerations in your mind:
- Is the name you’d like to use is available?
- Does your business name you are planning to use be protected by trademarks?
- If you design a site for your company does it have a comparable domain name readily available?
- If you’re planning to create the form of a limited partnership, LLC (or corporation), are you in compliance with the state’s rules to name your company?
How do I know whether the company name I’ve chosen is eligible and can be utilized?
There are numerous methods of determining the availability of a company name that you’re planning to register is already in use. Here are a few:
- Perform a quick screening by using an online search engine.
- Visit your county’s clerk’s office and verify that the name you’re planning to use is already listed on this list. fake names for businesses in your county.
- Make use of the USPTO’s trademark database.
- Contact the office of your state’s filing.
Which is the official name for my company?
The legal name for your company can be described as the official name used by the person or entity that is its owner. If you’re the sole proprietor of your company, the legal name is the full legal name. If your business is structured under a general partner the legal title is that stated in your partnership agreement. If your company has been registered under the name of a company or LLC or limited partnership, the legal name is the one you have registered with your state’s filing office.
Simple ways to register the Business Name
The formation of specific companies, filing the assumed business name or signing trademarks could give you the protection of your business name.
After selecting a name for your business for your company You will need to secure it in order to stop other people from using the name. There are a variety of ways to achieve this.
Deciding on the most effective method to incorporate a business name is based on many factors, such as the structure of the company, the geographic area where the company is operating and the amount of protection required.
How do you register a business Name
The three ways that a company could register its name are:
- Create a business entity, like a corporation, or limited liability corporation (LLC).
- The business name is registered in the form of an assumed title, or DBA (“doing business under”).
- The business name can be registered as a trademark registered in the United States.
Some businesses may not be able to employ all three techniques, and some might utilize more than one.
The options are contingent on whether the company is organized as an sole proprietorship, any kind of partnership, LLC, or an organization.
To demonstrate the possibilities for a business, we’ll look at the different options for the fictional business. In our case, Robert Hansen opens a residential rental company after purchasing a home to serve this for this purpose. He starts out with a sole-proprietorship, and utilizes as the business company name “Robert Hansen Property Rentals” for the company. Over time, Robert acquires more properties and decides to create to name the business.
Establishing a Business Entity
Another alternative one option for Robert is to form an LLC or a corporation. In order to do this you must file certain paperwork for registration with an state agency. The company must select the legal name for its business.
State law bars a company not to choose a trademark which is already in use by another business. Thus, one of the steps in choosing the right name requires reviewing the state’s official records to ensure that a different company isn’t already using the name you want to use.
Robert is interested in using”Sunrise Properties” as his trademark “Sunrise Properties” and decides that the name can be used. He may submit articles of incorporation under the name “Sunrise Properties, Inc.” or you could also file an article of organization with”Sunrise Properties LLC. “Sunrise Properties LLC.” This would stop other companies to use the same trademark “Sunrise Properties” in his state.
A corporation or LLC is only a way to protect the state where it is registered. When Robert chooses to extend his business into a different state, he might be eligible to register his company within the state of expansion as long as the name isn’t already registered in that state.
Registration of an assumed name
Partnership, sole proprietorship or LLC that conducts business under a different name that its name, has to be registered under the name of the other entity in the form of an assumed title.
It is usually done by an agency of the county, though it could be a state agency in certain states. It is known as an fictitious name in certain locations, and is commonly known as an “doing business under” as well as a “dba” identity.
If Robert would like to operate in a sole-proprietorship it is possible to trademark with the company name “Sunrise Properties” as an assumed name. Robert can then go by his brand name “Sunrise Properties.”
If you look up the official records, you will be able to determine that the company is “Robert Hansen DBA Sunrise Properties.”
Name registrations are not restricted only to sole proprietorships. Let’s say Robert creates Sunrise Properties, Inc. and decides to launch an outdoor maintenance business with an alternative name. In this instance, Sunrise Properties, Inc. may be able to be able to register “Sunrise Lawn Service” in the form of an assumed title. The name would be “Sunrise Properties Inc. and dba Sunrise Lawn Services.”
As opposed to forming a company (or LLC), let’s say Robert decides to accept Laura Deever as his partner. They could register “Sunrise Properties” as their assumed name. Another instance, they may mix their surnames and create “Han-Dee Properties.”
The assumption of name registration generally only safeguards the name within the county in which it was registered. If the company plans to expand into multiple counties it is required to register for each county.
Trade Name and Trade Mark Registration
The protection of a trademark, trade name protection, also known as service mark could be granted on a nationwide basis. The conditions for registration differ from state to state. This registration is required in each state in which the business is located.
An even more intricate and, in general, more costly method of registering a name for a business is to register it as a trademark at the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
This protects the name across the nation. any business name. The federal trademark registration process requires a thorough search to be sure that the name isn’t already been trademarked. In addition, there are strict specifications and restrictions on the right to trademark a name for a business.
Finding the most effective method or the best way to protect your brand name, you must consider the method you choose to organize your business and the kind of products or services you provide, as well as the geographical location of your business activities.
For many small businesses operating in a single state, forming an LLC or corporation may be sufficient to protect them.
