- [Narrator] A DBA or doing business as
is essentially a nickname for your company.
In Iowa, a DBA is also called a fictitious name
or 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 Iowa.
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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 Iowa 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
Iowa naming requirements.
For more details, check out our video
How to Name Your Business in Iowa
or our naming guides linked below.
Next, you'll want to make sure
the name is available in Iowa.
The first and most important search
is with Iowa 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 Iowa
on howtostartanllc.com linked below.
Searching is free.
To learn more, visit Iowa naming guides
linked in the description below.
After confirming your name us available in Iowa,
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
and is operating under a name
other than the owner's legal name,
then you are required to file a trade name form
with the appropriate County Recorder offices.
Knowing which county to file in is simple.
You must file in any county where you conduct
or transact business.
DBA filing guidelines and fees can vary by county.
Contact your county clerk for the specific steps to file.
You can find your county's contact information linked below.
If your business is incorporated like an LLC or corporation,
you are required to file your DBA
with the Iowa Secretary of State.
You can print a copy of the Certificate of Assumed Name form
and submit by mail,
or you can file online by following our link below.
The application will ask for your new DBA name,
information about your business,
and what state laws your business is subject to.
Filing fees vary so check out our pages linked below
for more detailed information.
And with that, you'll have a DBA in Iowa.
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.
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.
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