In order to start a business in North Carolina, careful planning and preparation are required, including filing for a business name. We will describe the procedures for registering a business name in North Carolina in this post and respond to some associated queries. In North Carolina, how do I register a business name?
1. Pick a Name for Your Company: The first step is to select a distinctive name for your company. The name shouldn’t be the same as any brand-name company in North Carolina.
2. Verify Availability: After selecting a name, you must confirm that it is available. You can do this by conducting a website search for the North Carolina Secretary of State. You can continue with the registration process if the name is available.
3. Register the Name: You must submit an Application for Reservation of Business Entity Name to the North Carolina Secretary of State in order to register the name. This application has a $30 filing fee and is good for 120 days.
4. Submit the Articles of Incorporation: After reserving the name, you must submit the Articles of Incorporation to the Secretary of State of North Carolina. This requires a filing fee of $125. The business’s name, registered agent, and purpose are all listed in the Articles of Incorporation.
How Do I Get a DBA After That?
A DBA (Doing Business As) is referred to as a trade name in North Carolina. You must submit a Trade Name Registration with the North Carolina Secretary of State if you want to conduct business under a name other than the one that is registered with the Secretary of State. The registration price is $26, which must be paid. The Trade Name Registration can be submitted online or by mail.
The type of trademark and the quantity of classes you wish to register are two variables that affect how much it will cost to register a name as a trademark in North Carolina. In North Carolina, a trademark application costs $225 per class to file. This cost does not, however, cover any legal fees or other costs related to the trademark registration procedure.
You must submit a Certificate of Withdrawal of Registration of Trade Name to the North Carolina Secretary of State in order to terminate a DBA in the state. This certificate must be filed for a price of $10. This certificate can be submitted online or by mail.
In North Carolina, an LLC is permitted to use numerous DBAs or trade names. For each DBA, you must submit a separate Trade Name Registration, nevertheless. It is crucial to understand that a trade name does not give your company name any legal protection. You must file a trademark application in order to safeguard your company name.
Finally, it should be noted that registering a business name in North Carolina is an essential first step. You can make sure that your business name is correctly registered and protected by following the instructions provided in this article. When it comes to trademarking and other legal issues, always seek legal counsel.