- [Instructor] A DBA or doing business as
is essentially a nickname for your company.
In Maryland 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 offered 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 Maryland.
(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 form a DBA on your own.
Let's take a look at the steps
to forming a DBA in Maryland 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
Maryland naming requirements.
For more details check out our video
How To Name Your Business in Maryland
or our Naming Guides linked below.
Next you'll want to make sure the name
is available in Maryland.
The first and most important search
is with Maryland Business Express.
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 Maryland on How to Start an llc.com linked below.
Searching is free.
To learn more visit Maryland Naming Guides linked
in the description below.
After confirming your name as available in Maryland,
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 Maryland,
registration is done through the state.
To register a Maryland DBA,
you need to submit an application to the
Department of Assessments and Taxation.
Thankfully, this is a simple and straightforward process.
You can file online at Maryland's Business Express website,
or you can complete the trade name application form.
This can be done online with Maryland's Business Express
website or by filling out the trade name application form
and submitting it by mail or in person.
Filing fees vary so check out our pages linked below
for more detailed information.
The application will ask for the new DBA name
you would like to use for your business,
as well as other basic information about your business,
such as the legal name of the owner of the trade name,
an unincorporated account number
if owner is a sole proprietorship or partnership.
And a description of typical business activity.
And with that, you'll have a DBA in Maryland.
Keep in mind that your Maryland DBA needs
to be renewed every five years.
It can be renewed anytime during
the six months proceeding the expiration date.
You can do this online by following the link below.
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're using
as their business name.
DBS 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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