- [Instructor] A DBA, or a doing business as,
is essentially a nickname for your company.
In Ohio, a DBA is also called a trade 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 Ohio.
(gentle music)
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 Ohio on your own.
One, complete name searches.
First, note that there is a difference between a trade name
and a fictitious name in Ohio.
Trade names must be distinguishable
from other business names,
while fictitious names don't have to be.
Because of this,
trade names can help keep your name protected,
whereas fictitious names cannot.
This guide will focus on Ohio trade name registration.
When determining what you want your DBA name to be,
you'll want to make sure
you follow Ohio naming requirements.
For more details, check out our video,
"How to Name Your Business in Ohio"
or our naming guides linked below.
Next, you want to make sure the name is available in Ohio.
The first the most important search
is with Ohio Secretary of State 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 Ohio
on howtostartanllc.com linked below.
Searching is free.
To learn more, visit Ohio naming guides
linked in the description below.
After confirming your name is available in Ohio,
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.
For all business structures in Ohio,
you can register your DBA with the Secretary of State.
You can file online at Ohio's online business portal,
or you can complete the name registration form
and submit it by mail.
The application will ask for your new DBA name
and legal information about your business, such as,
whether you are filing for a trade name
or a fictitious business name,
the applicant's business structure, such as,
partnership, LLC, et cetera,
the general nature of the business,
and the business owner's names and addresses.
Filing fees vary, so check out our pages linked below
for more detailed information.
And with that, you'll have a DBA in Ohio.
Keep in mind that your Ohio DBA needs to be renewed
every five years.
Renewal is done by submitting a renewal form by mail.
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 assist 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,
check out the pages linked below.
And for our more detailed guide,
visit startupsavant.com.
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 in starting your small business.