- [Instructor] A DBA or Doing Business As,
is essentially a nickname for your company.
In Kentucky, 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 an 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'll go over the steps
you need to take in order to form a DBA in Kentucky.
(upbeat 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 for a DBA on your own.
Let's take a look at the steps
to forming a DBA in Kentucky on your own.
One, complete name searches.
When determining what your DBA name to be,
you'll want to make sure you follow
Kentucky naming requirements.
For more details, check out our video,
How To Name Your Business In Kentucky,
or our naming guides linked below.
Next, you'll want to make sure
the name is available on Kentucky.
The first and most important search
is with the Kentucky 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 Kentucky on how to start on LLC.com linked below.
Searching is free.
To learn more, visit Kentucky Naming Guides
linked in the description below.
After confirming your name is available on Kentucky,
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 a 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 your required to file a Certificate of Assumed Name
with the appropriate County Clerks offices.
Knowing which county to file in is simple.
You must file in any county
where your business conducts or transacts 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 link below.
Many counties in Kentucky do not provide
a Certificate of Assumed Name Form.
However, they all must meet certain criteria
as outlined by the Kentucky State Statutes.
The form must include the name being assumed,
must include the real name, and address of the individual
or entity assuming the name.
And must be filed in the county
where the entity has deemed a resident.
You can find the generic form
that meets these criteria linked below.
If your business is an LLC, corporation,
partnership, trust, or foreign entity,
you're required to file your DBA
with the Kentucky Secretary of State.
You can print a copy of the
Certificate of Assumed Name Form,
and submit it by mail or in person.
Filing fees vary, so check out pages linked below
for more detail and information.
And with that you'll have a DBA in Kentucky.
Keep in mind that your Kentucky DBA
needs to be renewed every five years.
Your can either renew it online,
or complete the Certificate of Renewal of Assumed Name Form
and mail it in.
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 addition $50- $150.
However, there are several benefits to working with a pro.
A higher professional files a DBA for you,
keeps you up to date with renewals,
and assist with publications.
DBAs or Doing Business As,
are also know 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 names
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're 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 states 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.