- [Narrator] A DBA, or Doing Business As,
is essentially a nickname for your company.
In Wisconsin, 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 Wisconsin.
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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 Wisconsin 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
Wisconsin naming requirements.
For more details, check out our video,
"How to name your business in Wisconsin"
or our naming guides linked below.
Next you'll want to make sure the name
is available in Wisconsin.
Note that when you register your trade name,
you are essentially letting other business owners know
that the name is in use.
Your trade name isn't protected from being used
by other businesses.
The first and most important search is
with the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions'
online UCC system 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 Wisconsin on how to start an llc.com, linked below.
Searching is free.
To learn more, visit Wisconsin Naming Guides,
linked in the description below.
After confirming your name is available in Wisconsin,
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 Wisconsin,
you register your DBA with the
Department of Financial Institutions.
You can file online at Wisconsin's online filing
system website, or you can complete the Registration
of Trade Name form, which must be notarized.
You can submit the form by mail or in person.
The application will ask for your new DBA name
and information about your business,
such as your business address,
the date the name was first used,
and whether it's a new registration or a renewal.
Filing fees vary, so check out our pages linked below
for more detailed information.
And with that, you'll have a DBA in Wisconsin.
Keep in mind that your Wisconsin DBA needs
to be renewed every five years.
You can either renew online,
or complete the registration form and check the renewal box.
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 a more detailed guide, visit StartupSavant.com.
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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 road blocks,
leave a comment below.
Good luck in starting your small business.
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