Business Registration in Maryland: A Comprehensive Guide

One of the first steps you should do if you intend to open a business in Maryland is to register your company. Getting a business registered might be stressful, especially if you are unfamiliar with the applicable laws. In this article, we’ll address some of the most frequently asked questions about registering a business in Maryland, such as how long it takes, whether you need to include an LLC in your business name, the distinction between a DBA and a trade name, and what a trade name in Maryland is. The distinction between a trademark and a copyright will also be covered. In Maryland, how long does it take to register a business?

The complexity of your company and the type of business structure you select will both affect how long it takes to register a business in Maryland. Typically, registering a business in Maryland takes one to four weeks. The procedure of online business registration can be finished in a few days. However, if you submit a paper application, it can take longer to process. Do You Need to Include an LLC in Your Business Name?

You must add “LLC” or “L.L.C.” in the name of your company if you choose to register it as a limited liability company (LLC). This requirement is to make it clear to the public that you and your business are independent legal entities. You are not needed to use a suffix in your business name, however, if you decide to establish your company as a sole proprietorship or a partnership.

DBA refers to “doing business as,” whereas a trade name is the legal name by which a company is known. A DBA is a made-up name that a company employs for marketing and promotion. Without altering its legal name, a company can use this alternate name to identify itself. The name a business uses to identify itself in all legal documents, such as contracts, licenses, and tax forms, is known as a trade name, on the other hand. The Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation is the place where a business in Maryland can register a trade name.

A trade name in Maryland is the name used to do business. The Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation accepts trade name registrations. You must register a trade name with the state if you intend to use it for your company. A trade name can only be used by one company in the state at a time by registering it. Additionally, it shields your company from future legal battles.

There are two different types of intellectual property protection: copyright and trademark. Original works of authorship, such as literary, musical, and creative works, are protected by copyright. It grants the owner the sole authority to exploit and disseminate the work. The source of a party’s goods or services can be identified and separated from those of other parties using a trademark, which can be a sign, word, or phrase. To prevent other parties from utilizing a mark that could lead to consumer confusion, trademark protection is applied.

In conclusion, if you have the correct knowledge, registering a business in Maryland can be a simple procedure. The complexity of your company and the type of business structure you select will both affect how long it takes to establish a firm. Keep in mind that you must include “LLC” or “L.L.C.” in your company name if you choose to register your company as an LLC. A DBA is a made-up name that a company employs for marketing and promotion, whereas a trade name is the legal name under which a company conducts business. Last but not least, there are two distinct forms of intellectual property protection—copyright and trademark—that provide various levels of legal protection.