How To Register A Fictious Name In Washington

If you own a business and would like to use a unlike name than your legal business proper noun in the state of Washington, you will demand to register a DBA name. Also chosen an assumed proper name, fictitious business concern name, or merchandise name, DBA names are usually used when you want to apply multiple names for one business, or if y'all are a sole proprietor wanting to be recognized as something other than your legal name.

Although nosotros don't currently offer DBA registration in Washington, this guide will cover the basics of what a DBA name is equally well as the rules for choosing, registering, and maintaining 1 in the Evergreen State.

What is a Washington "doing business every bit" (DBA) proper noun?

A DBA proper name does not found or create a separate legal entity for your business organisation. Hence, information technology won't accept any bearing on how your concern is taxed. Think of a DBA proper name as an alias for your business.

Beneath are the 2 primary categories of businesses that typically utilize DBA names:

Sole proprietorships and partnerships: These businesses use DBA names then that they can have a legal business name. Without a DBA proper noun, they will accept to use their personal names.
Corporations and LLCs: DBA names are used by corporations or LLCs to introduce a new line of business or marketplace new products or services that their current business name does non represent.

Hither are other benefits of a DBA that yous tin take advantage of:

Business organisation bank account: Well-nigh fiscal institutions will require sole proprietorships and partnerships to obtain a DBA name before they can open up a business organisation bank account.
Privacy: Sole proprietors and partnerships tend to register for DBA names to continue their personal names from public records. A DBA name allows them to list a dissimilar business organisation name instead.
Descriptive brand proper name: A sole proprietor or partner will utilize a DBA name to craft a more descriptive proper noun for their concern. For case, "Dylan Spud," as a business organization name, does not communicate what the business organization offers, but "Dylan's Custom Furniture" will.
Business expansion: Corporations and LLCs utilize DBA names when they're expanding to new territories where their business organization names are in employ or might exist confusing. For case, "Seattle's Moving Services" may not be well-received in Tacoma, so the owner may annals for a DBA proper name to apply "Tacoma's Moving Services."

Read on for a detailed overview of how to obtain and maintain a DBA proper noun for your Washington business organization. The relevant information volition be divided into sections below.

How do I register a Washington DBA name?

The state of Washington has a adequately easy procedure for trade proper name registration. Below is a walk-through of the steps.

To check if your desired DBA proper name is non in use, search the Department of Acquirement's business lookup database for general licenses.
Search the Secretary of Country Corporation Registration Data for registered corporation and LLC names.
To ensure you are non infringing on any registered trademark, cheque the U.S. Patent and Trademark Role (USPTO).
Before filing the Business License Awarding, you lot must file with the Washington Secretary of State if you have a formal business organisation construction, such as a corporation, partnership, LLC, or limited liability partnership.
File a Business License Awarding online with My DOR. List the DBA name you want to annals in the "Endorsement and Fees" section. The fee for each name is $5. You also demand to pay a nonrefundable Concern License Application processing fee of $19 for each awarding. If you're opening a business for the first fourth dimension, there may exist additional fees. Use this to calculate your total price. Registration tin can too be done through the mail. Send your application with whatever supplemental documents and the payment to:
Business Licensing Service
P.O. Box 9034
Olympia, WA 98507-9034
If your application is approved, you will receive your business license with your trade proper noun registration from the Washington Department of Revenue.

How practise I choose a Washington DBA name?

Businesses adopt DBA names or trade names for various reasons. One of those reasons is to create a distinct business name that describes the products or services offered. Some businesses employ their names to reflect and communicate the values of their company. Still, others utilize a DBA name to establish an alternate name for a specific line of their business concern.

In the state of Washington, you are legally required to register a trade proper name to operate under a different name other than your legal name every bit a sole proprietor or partnership. The aforementioned goes for corporations, LLCs, or limited partnerships if they want to conduct business under a name other than registered with the Washington Secretarial assistant of State.

And even though DBA names are not sectional, and registering does non protect it from being used by other local businesses, information technology is nevertheless in your best interest to pick a DBA name that is distinct and not likewise similar to ones already in use.

To verify if your desired Washington DBA name is bachelor, cheque the Department of Acquirement's database for full general licenses. Too, conduct a proper noun search via the Secretarial assistant of Country Corporation Registration Information for registered corporation and LLC names. If y'all plan to trademark your name, you may besides want to bank check the U.Due south. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for federally registered names.

The state of Washington also has naming requirements, namely:

Your trade proper name should not include any business organization entity suffix, such as "LLC," "Inc.," or "Corp." if your business organization is non an LLC, corporation, etc.
Your merchandise proper name should not include the following words or phrases if your business organisation is not organized for the said purpose: "Bank," "Banking," "Banker," "Trust," "Cooperative, whatsoever combination of the words "Industrial" and "Loan," whatsoever combination of whatsoever two or more of the words "Building," "Savings," "Loan," "Dwelling house," "Clan," and "Society," or any other words or phrases prohibited by any Washington country statute.

How do I manage ongoing DBA name compliance in Washington?

The country of Washington does not require a renewal for your DBA name, then it is valid indefinitely until you lot make up one's mind to modify or abolish it.

In that location are 2 ways to change your DBA proper noun:

File online
Past mail: Fill out the registration class and tick the box next to "Alter merchandise name." List your new DBA name nether the endorsement section. Ship the form with payment of $24 to the Business Licensing Service.

There is no fee to cancel your DBA name. You can withdraw your registration through i of the post-obit channels:

File online
Email the Business Licensing Service at BLS@dor.wa.gov
Fax a letter requesting the cancellation to 360-705-6699
Mail service a letter requesting the counterfoil to:

Business Licensing Service
P.O. Box 9034
Olympia, WA 98507-9034

Nosotros Can Help!

While we don't currently support DBA registration in Washington, we can help you create 1 in states we do support, including: Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, Due south Dakota, Texas and Utah. We tin can make creating a DBA name in another state simple.

The content on this page is for informational purposes only, and does not found legal, tax, or bookkeeping advice. If you have specific questions about any of these topics, seek the counsel of a licensed professional.

Washington DBA FAQs

How much does it cost to register a Washington DBA name?

Fees are subject to change over time. Bank check the Secretary of Country'southward website for the nearly electric current fee schedule regarding DBA registration and renewal.
What is the processing time to register a Washington DBA?
Online applications are processed within 10 business days. Paper applications are processed within three to six weeks.
Exercise I demand a DBA proper noun for my Washington business concern?
Not all businesses benefit from registering a DBA proper noun. If you are a sole proprietor or partnership, yous might desire to adopt one to annunciate your business under a proper name that is not your personal name. Similarly, corporations and LLCs utilize DBA names when introducing new products or services that their electric current business proper name does not represent.
If I register a DBA name in Washington, tin some other concern use the same name?
Unfortunately, registering a DBA name in Washington does not provide you lot exclusive use of information technology. Information technology'due south also worth noting that DBA names do not override trademarks. If you lot don't want others to use your proper name, a trademark is the most practical way to protect your brand.
Tin a business concern in Washington accept multiple DBA names?
Yeah, a business concern in Washington can register for an unlimited number of trade names.
Is a DBA name the same thing as a fictitious business name in Washington?
The country of Washington uses the term "trade proper name" to refer to DBA names, but they are essentially the same thing.
Do I need a DBA name in Washington if I apply my own name for a sole proprietorship?
As a sole proprietorship, you lot don't need to register a DBA proper name if y'all programme to use your own proper noun. Even so, if you plan on operating under a different name, y'all would need to register for a DBA name.
Will using a DBA name affect how my business is taxed in Washington?
A DBA name is not a business structure. It will non create or establish a new legal entity. Hence, it volition not impact how your business is taxed at the local, state, or federal level.

Do y'all need additional guidance on business formation in Washington? Connect with ZenBusiness to learn how nosotros can help you speed up the procedure. Our experts in business formation and compliance will take the stress out of starting and growing your Washington small business organisation.