How to Get a DBA in Florida

One of the first steps you should do when starting a business in Florida is to register it with the government. A DBA, or “Doing Business As” registration, is one sort of registration that you might need to take into account. A business that conducts business under a name that is not its legal name is referred to as a DBA in legalese.

A DBA is a registration that enables a business to conduct operations under a name other than its legal name. For instance, if your company is called “John Smith Enterprises, LLC,” but you prefer to go by “Smith’s Cleaning Services,” you would need to file a DBA.

DBAs and LLCs are both forms of business registration, although they are extremely distinct from one another. A Limited Liability Company, or LLC, is a separate legal entity from its owners. It gives its owners, referred to as members, some degree of limited liability protection. Contrarily, a DBA is just a registration that enables a company to conduct business under a name that is distinct from its legal name. It offers no liability defense or independent legal entity.

Depending on the county where you are registering, different counties in Florida charge different amounts for DBAs. It costs between $50 and $100 in most areas. To find out the actual cost, contact the county clerk’s office in your area as certain counties may charge more or less.

In Florida, there is no difference in price between filing and registering a DBA. The county clerk’s office in the county where your business is located is where you must make the payment.

In conclusion, registering your business under a name other than your legal name is required in order to obtain a DBA in Florida. County-specific registration fees range from $50 to $100 on average. Remember that a DBA offers no liability protection or independent legal organization, so if you require extra security, you might want to think about creating an LLC or another type of legal structure.