How to Change Your DBA in Massachusetts

How do I change my DBA in Massachusetts?
To change your business’s name, obtain a form from your county clerk and pay the registration fee. The DBA form typically asks for your business information, personal contact information and any previous names under which the business operated. The typical registration fee is approximately $25 as of 2011.

A DBA (Doing Business As) in Massachusetts refers to a name that a company employs in addition to its legal name. A new registration must be submitted to the Corporations Division of the Secretary of the Commonwealth in order to change your DBA. The following steps will show you how to modify your DBA in Massachusetts:

Select a New DBA Name in Step 1 Prior to altering your DBA, you must select an available new name. The online database maintained by the Corporations Division allows you to look up available names. It’s crucial to pick a name that’s not being used in Massachusetts by another company already.

Step 2: Register a New Vehicle

You must submit a new registration form to the Corporations Division once you have decided on a new name. This can be done by mail or online. A new registration must be filed for $30. Your present business name, your new DBA name, and your contact details must be provided.

Step 3: Refresh Your Company Records You must change your business records to reflect your new DBA name after your new registration has been approved. Update your website, business cards, and all other marketing collateral as necessary.

DBA pays taxes, right? DBAs don’t pay taxes on their own. Taxes must be paid by the business entity to which the DBA is connected. You would report your business income and costs on your personal tax return, for instance, if you were a sole proprietor with a DBA.

Does the State require the registration of sole proprietors? Massachusetts does not require sole owners to register with the state. You must, however, register your DBA with the Corporations Division if you are utilizing one. How Much Time Does It Take to Obtain a DBA? A DBA is normally granted in Massachusetts within one week. However, processing timeframes could change based on how many applications are being handled at once. How Should You Spell DBA in a Letter?

When composing a letter, you must first put your legal business name in parentheses, then your DBA name. As an illustration, “John Smith, doing business as Smith’s Plumbing (DBA Smith’s Plumbing).” By doing this, you may better distinguish your company from others with names that are identical to it.

A new name must be chosen, a new registration must be submitted, and your business records must be updated in order to change your DBA in Massachusetts. Keep in mind that DBAs do not themselves pay taxes, and that sole proprietors who use DBAs are required to register their DBA with the state. The process of obtaining a DBA usually takes a week, and when writing letters, you must mention both your official business name and your DBA name in brackets.