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- [Narrator] A DBA or Doing Business As is essentially
a nickname for your company.
In Texas, a DBA is also called an assumed name.
DBAs are a great way to rebrand your company name,
to add new brands to your company,
or to change your company name completely.
For sole proprietors and partnerships,
DBAs offer the ability to operate under a name
that isn't the business owner's surname.
For more information on the specifics of what a DBA is
and how it can be used,
check out our other video linked below.
In this video, we will go over the steps you need
to take in order to form a DBA in Texas.
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There are two ways to form a DBA.
You can do it yourself, or you can hire a service
to do it for you.
Let's take a look at both options
and help you decide how to go about forming your own DBA.
One, do it yourself.
If you want to save money, you can form a DBA
on your own.
Let's take a look at the steps to forming a DBA in Texas
on your own.
One, complete name searches.
When determining what you want your DBA name to be,
you'll want to make sure
you follow Texas naming requirements.
For more details check out our video,
How to Name Your Business in Texas,
or our naming guides linked below.
Next you'll want to make sure
the name is available in Texas.
The first and most important search is with Texas'
Comptroller of Public Accounts website.
If the name is not available,
you'll have to adjust your name or use a different one.
We provide instructions to search your business name
in Texas on howtostartanllc.com, linked below.
Searching is free.
To learn more, visit Texas Naming Guides
linked in the description below.
After confirming your name is available in Texas,
we recommend doing a domain search
to see if your name is available as a URL.
Even if you don't plan on making a website today,
we recommend buying your domain
in order to prevent others from acquiring it.
Two, register your DBA.
After you've chosen an available name,
you'll want to register your DBA.
If your business is a sole proprietorship or partnership,
then you are only required to file at the county level.
You will need to know which county or counties you need
to file and assume the name in.
Knowing which county
to file a Texas assumed name in is simple.
If your business has an office or legal premises
of any kind, then you will find in the county
or counties where your business offices are located.
If your business does not have an office
or legal premises of any kind, then you must file
in any county where you might conduct business
or services in.
For specific instructions, you'll want to get in touch
with the county clerk.
You can find your county's contact information linked below.
If your business is incorporated,
you'll need to file with the Texas Secretary of State.
The first thing you'll want to do is get your hands
on Form 503, the assumed name certificate.
This legal form is available for download
on Texas Secretary of State website.
After you get your copy of the Assumed Name Certificate,
you can start by reading the instructions
on pages one through three.
The legal application will ask for your new DBA name,
and information about your business such as
the business' structure and file number,
where the business was formed,
the principle office address,
how long you will use the assumed name
with 10 years from the filing date
being the maximum in Texas,
and each county the assumed name will be used in.
Next, you'll need to submit a duplicate copy
of your Assumed Name Certificate to the Secretary of State.
You should not send the original form
and the form does not need to be notarized.
This can be done by fax, mail, or in person.
Filing fees vary so check out our pages linked below
for more detailed information.
And with that, you'll have a DBA in Texas.
Keep in mind that your Texas DBA needs to be renewed
every 10 years.
Option two.
The second way to form a DBA
is to hire a professional service
to create your DBA for you.
Hiring a professional service to file your forms
and do name searches will cost you an additional
$50 to $150.
However, there are several benefits to working with a pro.
A hired professional files your DBA for you,
keeps you up to date with renewals,
and assists with publications.
DBAs or Doing Business As are also known
as trade names, assumed names, or fictitious names
of a business.
Informal business structures like sole proprietorships
and partnerships can use DBAs as their business name
instead of their surnames.
Formal business structures, like LLCs and corporations
can use DBAs as a means to rebrand their name,
add new brands,
or change the name they are using as their business name.
DBAs are not a business structure
and are not separate legal entities.
They also do not provide asset protection
or liability protection to informal business structures.
For state specific guides on how to form a DBA
checked out the pages linked below
and for our more detailed guide,
visit StartupSavant.com.
(upbeat music)
Give the video a like if you found it useful
and subscribe if you'd like to see more.
And if you have questions or encounter any roadblocks
leave a comment below.
Good luck on starting your small business.