How To Register Dba In Pa

If you own a business concern and would like to use a different name than your legal business name in Pennsylvania, you will need to register it with the country past filing for a "doing business organization equally" or DBA name. DBAs are likewise called causeless names, fictitious business names, or trade names. These names are typically used when you lot want to employ multiple names for i concern, or if you are a sole proprietor wanting to be recognized every bit something other than your own personal legal proper noun.

Although we don't currently offer DBA registration in Pennsylvania, this guide volition comprehend the basics of what a DBA name is as well as the rules for choosing, registering, and maintaining one in the Keystone Country.

What is a Pennsylvania "doing business every bit" (DBA) name?

When you form a Pennsylvania business organisation, yous're required to register a name with the commonwealth'southward Section of Land. This name is the legal proper name under which y'all can exercise business. If you want to operate nether a proper noun different from your company'southward legal name, yous demand to file a DBA name registration.

A Pennsylvania DBA name is known as a "fictitious name." The Fictitious Names Act of 1982 was established and so that business organisation owners can ever exist identified. The commonwealth defines a fictitious proper noun as "any assumed proper noun, style, or designation other than the proper name of the entity using such name." Entities that tin register a fictitious proper name include:

Associations
Business trusts
Corporations
Individuals
Joint adventureships
Articulation-stock companies
Partnerships
Syndicates

Entities besides include whatsoever other group of organizations or persons, whether they're organized or formed under Pennsylvania law or whatsoever other jurisdiction. It's important to notation that a DBA proper name isn't a business entity type, such as a limited liability company (LLC). Information technology's simply an alias — a proper noun that a business assumes for a specific reason.

Sole proprietorships, partnerships, LLCs, and corporations take a variety of reasons for using a DBA proper noun. No affair which type of business y'all operate, anybody files the same application for the registration of a fictitious proper name with the Pennsylvania Section of State. Here are some advantages a business may gain from using a DBA name:

Professionalism: If a sole proprietor or a partnership wants to accept clients make out their checks to a business proper name instead of their ain personal name, they need to have a DBA so they can open up a business bank account with that name.
Simplicity: An LLC's or corporation's legal name must include specific designators in Pennsylvania. A DBA proper name can be used to drop the designator "LLC" or "Corporation" from the name or create a simpler variation of the legal name that's easier to marketplace.
Flexibility: If an established entity wants to do business concern under multiple names, a DBA proper noun allows for that flexibility. A business can launch a new production or co-operative under a different name afterwards registering for a DBA name. This procedure also allows them to avoid forming a new entity each time they want to expand.

Are you interested in using a DBA name for your business organization? Follow our guide below on how to obtain and maintain a DBA name in Pennsylvania.

How do I annals a Pennsylvania DBA name?

While the registering of a DBA name in Pennsylvania doesn't create whatsoever exclusive right to the name, it'south important to file the name for legal purposes. Information technology besides records the proper name in the Section of State's searchable database, which can discourage others from using it.

You can register a Pennsylvania DBA proper noun online or by mail. To register online, log in to the PA Business 1-Stop Shop with your PA Keystone Login username and password. Navigate to the "Registration of Fictitious Name" form, fill up it out, and submit information technology as detailed in the account direction system. You will exist required to submit a fee with your application.

To register a Pennsylvania DBA name by mail, complete these steps:

Open the "Registration of Fictitious Proper name" awarding.
Enter the proper name and mailing address or the email address of the person who is to receive the approved application.
Enter the fictitious name.
Enter a brief statement most the nature of your business.
Enter the address of the master place of business.
Enter the names and addresses of each individual interested in the business.
Name each entity interested in the business, including their form of organization, organizing jurisdiction, principal office address, and Pennsylvania registered office.
Name any agents who are authorized to brand amendments or withdrawals.
Name any agents who can cancel the registration.
Sign and date the application.
Print the application and identify it in an envelope.
Include a check for the required fee made payable to the Pennsylvania Section of State or attach proof of a veteran's or reservist'due south status to qualify for a veteran/reservist-owned small business fee exemption.
Mail the completed application and fee payment to:

Pennsylvania Department of State
Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations
P.O. Box 8722
Harrisburg, PA 17105-8722

Delight note that the department prefers the application to be typewritten. If information technology's handwritten, the print must be legible in blue or black ink. Should you have any further questions about completing the DBA name registration application, refer to the 3rd page of the application or call the Pennsylvania Department of State at (717) 787-1057.

How do I choose a Pennsylvania DBA proper noun?

Choosing a DBA proper name tin be as simple as dropping an entity designation, such as "LLC," or as complex as creating an entirely new name. When deciding on a proper name, call up about how the name will be received by future clients or customers. Some questions to ask yourself include:

Is it a memorable proper name that conveys the nature of your business organisation?
Could the name easily be used for marketing or advertising purposes?
Does the proper name translate well to apply equally a website address?

Another factor to consider is whether your potential DBA name is already in employ in Pennsylvania. In almost states, your DBA name doesn't need to be unique, and registering a DBA doesn't create name buying rights. This rule is true in Pennsylvania, too.

While whatever private or entity can register a DBA name in apply, it isn't the best move. Information technology tin can cause many issues; for case, 2 businesses using the same or similar DBA proper noun tin confuse brands. You want to set yourself apart from the competition, and so it'south wise to practice a Pennsylvania name search when choosing a DBA name.

Choosing a DBA proper noun in Pennsylvania is also guided by state law, so the name:

Must exist distinguishable from the proper name of whatever other association registered with the Pennsylvania Department of Country.
Must be different from any administrative section, board, agency, or commission in Pennsylvania.
Tin can't exist the aforementioned every bit a proper name already registered or reserved by a person who holds the sectional rights to information technology within the commonwealth.
Tin can't include "Corporation," "Incorporated," or "Limited" unless the entity is a corporation.
Can't include "LLC," "Express," or "Express Liability Company" unless the entity is an LLC.

If a sole proprietorship, corporation, or partnership wants to use the give-and-take "Company" or whatsoever variation of it, they are allowed to exercise so. The DBA name as well doesn't need to include a corporate designator, such every bit "Corp." or "Corporation." You'll likewise demand approving from specific departments or boards to use any of the following words:

"College," "University," or "Seminary" (Department of Education)
"Engineer," "Applied science," "Surveyor," or "Surveying" (State Registration Board for Professional Engineers)
"Bank," "Banking," "Banker," "Trust," or "Credit Union" (Section of Banking)
"Architect" or "Architecture" (Architects Licensure Board)
"Annuity," "Assurance," "Benign," "Bail," "Casualty," "Endowment," "Allegiance," "Congenial," "Guaranty," "Indemnity," "Insurance," "Insurer," "Reassurance," "Reinsurance," "Surety," or "Title" (Insurance Department)

The proper name also tin't incorporate "Cooperative" or "Electric Cooperative" unless information technology's a cooperative corporation or electric cooperative. Lastly, using the number "911" isn't permitted unless your entity is authorized by police to provide emergency phone services for:

Ambulance
Emergency medical
Firefighting
Law enforcement

Pennsylvania statutes aim to protect entity names registered or reserved past others within the commonwealth. All the same, they don't protect multiple usages of DBA names. Pennsylvania laws also ensure that businesses are regulated. They protect consumers from fraudulent companies and assistance ensure entities aren't confused with legitimate regime agencies or services.

How do I manage ongoing DBA name compliance in Pennsylvania?

In Pennsylvania, you may need to advertise an official observe stating that you lot intend to file or have filed an application for the registration of a fictitious name. Advert is only required if an individual is listed on the application during step six in the above registration procedure.

The advertizement must be placed in two newspapers of full general apportionment in the county where your business will be located.
One of the newspapers must be a legal newspaper.
If at that place is just 1 paper in the county, annunciate in that publication.

To decide where to advertise, search the Department of State's list of county newspapers and legal publications. If you demand help finding a suitable publication, effort contacting the county courthouse or county bar association.

Later publication, the paper will send you a proof of publication known as an affidavit. This certificate isn't required to be sent to the Department of State; however, you lot should proceed it with your concern records.

If you fail to register a fictitious name in Pennsylvania, your business organization is considered an unregistered entity. As such, it can't apply the courts of Pennsylvania to enforce a contract that was entered into using the DBA proper name. Enforcement is prevented until registration, and the court may impose a $500 penalty on your entity.

A Pennsylvania DBA name will non need to be renewed to comply with state requirements. Should you lot need to brand any changes to your DBA name, you'll demand to file a "Fictitious Proper name Amendment, Withdrawal, Counterfoil" form online or by post with the required fee.

We can help!

While we don't currently support DBA registration in Pennsylvania, we can help yous create 1 in states we practise support, including Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, New Bailiwick of jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Texas, and Utah. We tin can make creating a DBA name in another state simple.

Disclaimer: The content on this folio is for informational purposes only, and does non constitute legal, tax, or accounting communication. If you take specific questions nigh whatever of these topics, seek the counsel of a licensed professional.

More Pennsylvania DBA FAQs

How much does information technology cost to annals a Pennsylvania DBA name?
Visit the Department of State's website for the most updated fee schedule for DBA registration. U.S. military veterans and reservists tin accept all fees waived if they tin can prove their status with whatever DBA proper noun application.
What is the processing time to register a Pennsylvania DBA?
The average processing fourth dimension to register a DBA proper noun in Pennsylvania is seven to x business days. It is faster to register online than to use through the mail.
Do I demand a DBA proper noun for my Pennsylvania business?
You lot need a DBA proper name for your Pennsylvania business if y'all program to operate nether whatever proper name that is different from your business'due south legal name. The Department of State and others need to identify who owns every business organization in functioning within Pennsylvania. If you wish to drib designators from your visitor's proper name or go along your proper noun private, registering a DBA proper noun might exist worth it.
If I register a DBA proper noun in Pennsylvania, can some other concern use the same proper name?
Registering a DBA name in Pennsylvania doesn't provide you with the sole rights to that proper noun. Another concern could apply the same proper noun, even though it's probably non in their all-time involvement to practice so. The only mode to fully protect your DBA name is to register a trademark with the commonwealth or at the federal level with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
Tin can a business in Pennsylvania have multiple DBA names?

Yes, a business can file multiple DBA names in Pennsylvania. Larger entities, such as corporations, frequently file more than one DBA proper noun equally their business grows. They apply DBA names to launch products, services, or branches of their business organisation.

For example, a restaurant owner may want to open another restaurant and brainstorm a catering service, too. They create ii split up DBA names: one for the new restaurant that offers a different cuisine than the original eating house and one for the sectional catering company.
Is a DBA proper name the same thing as a fictitious business name in Pennsylvania?
Yes, a DBA proper name in Pennsylvania is referred to as a "fictitious proper name." State laws and legal forms reference fictitious names instead of DBA names, merely it means the same affair.
Practise I need a DBA name in Pennsylvania if I use my own name for a sole proprietorship?
If you're the sole proprietor of a business, you only need a DBA proper noun if you lot plan to practice business under any name other than your legal name.
Will using a DBA proper noun affect how my business is taxed in Pennsylvania?
Since a DBA proper name doesn't establish any new business entity, it won't affect how your business is taxed at the local, land, or federal level.