A Doing Business As (DBA) name, commonly referred to as an assumed business name, is a name that a company employs in place of the legal name of the person or entity that owns the company. If a business uses a name other than its legal name and conducts business in Indiana, an assumed business name is necessary. The definition of an assumed business name, the distinction between an LLC and an assumed name, whether a DBA is necessary in Indiana, and the cost of filing a DBA in Indiana are all covered in this article. LLC versus Assumed Name
An organization that offers its owners limited liability protection is known as a limited liability company (LLC). Articles of formation must be submitted to the Indiana Secretary of State in order to create an LLC. On the other hand, an assumed business name is only a name that a company employs in place of its legal name. A separate legal entity is not formed when an assumed name is registered, unlike an LLC.
If a company conducts business in Indiana under a name different than its legal name, a DBA is necessary. The owner of a company called “John Smith’s Landscaping,” for instance, would have to register that name as an assumed business name. John Smith wouldn’t have to file an assumed name if he owned an LLC called “Smith Landscaping LLC,” though. A certificate of assumed name must be presented. A company must submit a Certificate of Assumed Name to the Indiana Secretary of State in order to register an assumed business name in the state of Indiana. The form requests fundamental details regarding the company and the assumed name, including the legal name, the assumed name, and the company address. As of 2021, a Certificate of Assumed Name requires a $20 filing fee. The price of registering a DBA in Indiana
A Certificate of Assumed Name must be filed in Indiana and costs $20, as was already explained. The Indiana Secretary of State must receive payment of this non-refundable charge. Note that this cost is only for submitting the assumed name to the state. It is essential to check with the local government for the precise requirements and charges related with registering the assumed name in the county or city where the business is located.
An assumed business name, then, is a name that a company employs in place of its legal name. If a company conducts business in Indiana under a name different than its legal name, a DBA is necessary. A business must submit a Certificate of Assumed Name to the Indiana Secretary of State along with a $20 filing fee in order to register a DBA in Indiana. There may be additional fees involved with registering the name in the county or city where the business is located, and registering an assumed name does not constitute a distinct legal organization like an LLC does.
Yes, you must file an Assumed Business Name (ABN) or “Doing Business As” (DBA) registration form with the Indiana Secretary of State’s office if you are conducting business as a sole proprietor in Indiana using a name other than your own legal name. Law requires this registration to avoid consumer confusion and to safeguard the public from dishonest business practices.