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Filing a Massachusetts DBA is a great idea for separating your legal name from your business name or branding purpose. This guide will help you through the process step by step. So read on for all the information you need to file MA DBA.
Important! Please keep in mind that DBA is not a business structure, so it won’t protect you from liabilities, lawsuits, or any other unforeseen situations. DBA stands for Doing Business As. – often precedes the name under which a business operates, which is not the legal name of the business.
Therefore, before starting, make sure you understand the difference between informal business structures such as sole proprietorship and formal ones like corporations and LLCs.
To register or renew the trademark, trade name, or service mark for your company in Massachusetts you need to file the application to the Secretary of State. Here is what you need to do:
Massachusetts Business Entity Search
Your company’s trade name should be unique and have not been acquired by any other entity in Massachusetts. Moreover, this name must also meet the business name requirements of Massachusetts.
First, you have to search theMassachusetts city and town directory for the DBA, Business, & Fictitious names. Check the portal thoroughly to know whether the name that you wish to have for your business has already been taken by someone or not. Make sure, this exact name isn’t already in use.
Note: You can also find a complete guide on business name search here.
Once you are done searching, the next step is to review the naming requirements of the state of Massachusetts. In general, your DBA should not include:
- LLC, Incorporated, Corp, etc., or any business entity suffix unless the business is actually an LLC or corporation.
- Words that suggest that the company is organized for an unlawful purpose
- Particular words such as Bank, Attorney, University require additional paperwork and a licensed individual, such as a doctor or lawyer, to be part of the business.
Register Your Massachusetts DBA
Businesses in Massachusetts are required to file an assumed business name application with the city clerk’s office(s) where the business is conducted or business orders are transacted.
Massachusetts City and Town Directory helps you find your county clerk’s contact information.
Top Tip:
Instead of doing it yourself, save some time by hiring a reliable formation service like ZenBusiness. You can see editors’ Review on ZenBusiness to decide if it’s the best choice for your company.
The following information must include in the Massachusetts trade name form:
- Your business name and adress
- Owners/partners of the business and addresses
- Entity type (eg; LLC, sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation)
- Trade name’s description
Renew, Change or Withdraw Your Massachusetts DBA
Renew Your Fictitious Name With the State
The expiring duration of the Certificate of Massachusetts Assumed Business Name varies depending on the city where you filled your business formation certificates. So renew it If you wish to make changes in your Massachusetts assumed business name, you can do it by filling it with the respective city clerk.
Change Your Fictitious Name
If you wish to make changes in your Massachusetts assumed business name, you can do it by filling it with the respective city clerk.
Withdraw Your Fictitious Name
You can cancel your Massachusetts assumed business name, you can do it by filling it with the respective city clerk.
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