Do You Need a Business Name for a Sole Proprietorship?

If you’re launching a sole proprietorship, you might be wondering whether you need a company name. Because a sole proprietorship is not a separate legal entity from its owner, the answer is no, you do not need a different business name. As an example, “John Smith Plumbing” or “Sarah Lee Consulting” are both acceptable business names that you can employ. However, you must file a “Doing Business As” (DBA) name registration with your state or local government if you wish to use a different name for your company.

You cannot have two businesses with the same trading name. To avoid ambiguity and legal concerns, each firm needs to have a distinctive name. Having the same name as another business might result in trademark infringement and other legal issues. To make sure that no similar or identical names are already in use, it is crucial to do a comprehensive search before registering a business name in order to prevent this.

The official name of a corporation that is registered with the state is its company name. It is the name that is used to identify the business and is used on contracts and legal papers. On the other hand, a business name is the name that it employs for branding and marketing. It could be the same as the name of the business or a different name applied to particular goods or services.

Then, in Ohio, Do I Need a Business License to Sell Online? Yes, a business license is required in Ohio if you sell goods or services online. All businesses, including sole proprietorships, must get an operating license in Ohio. Your business’s location and type of license will determine what is needed. Additionally, you might need to register for local and state taxes and acquire any required licenses or certificates. Trade names in Ohio expire, right?

In Ohio, trade names, commonly referred to as DBA names, do not expire. As long as you use your registered trade name for your firm, it will continue to be legal. To keep your registration current, you should renew it on a regular basis and update any changes to the information about your company, such as a change in ownership or address.

A separate business name is not legally necessary for a sole proprietorship, but it may be advantageous for branding and marketing reasons. It’s crucial to distinguish between a company name and a business name since two companies cannot share the same trading name. Online sales in Ohio require a company license, and owners must maintain their trade name registration.