Registering a Fictitious Name with the State of Pennsylvania

How do I register a fictitious name with the state of Pennsylvania?
Your Pennsylvania fictitious name can be filed online or by mail with the Department of State. You can file online with the PENN File website or you can complete the Registration of Fictitious Name form.
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You must register the name you are using for commercial purposes with the state of Pennsylvania if it is different from your legal name. Filing a “Fictitious Name Registration” or “Doing Business As” (DBA) registration” is the common name for this procedure. We will walk you through the process of registering a fake name with the state of Pennsylvania in this article and provide answers to some frequently asked questions.

Pennsylvania’s fictitious name registration procedures

The first step in registering a fake name in Pennsylvania is to choose a name that is not currently in use by another company. You can use the online database of the Pennsylvania Department of State to see if the name is available.

Once you’ve decided on your company name, you must submit a Fictitious Name Registration form to the Pennsylvania Department of State. The form can be submitted electronically or via mail. You will be required to enter information about your company, including your name, address, company name, and kind of company.

Step 3: Issue a notice – Following the submission of the registration, you are required to issue a notice of your fake name registration in two newspapers in the county where your company is based. For three weeks in a row, the notice must be published once every week, and you must obtain proof of publication from each newspaper.

Step 4: Renew the registration. In Pennsylvania, registrations for fictitious names are good for five years. To keep using your fictitious name, you must renew your registration before it expires.

How long does it take in Pennsylvania to register a fictitious name? Depending on the method of filing, Pennsylvania’s fictitious name registration processing times can vary. If you register online, it is quickly processed, and you will get an email of confirmation. It could take up to two weeks for the registration to be processed if you mail in your application. How Much Does a DBA in Pennsylvania Cost to File?

Pennsylvania charges $70 for the filing of a fictitious name registration. The cost of publishing the notice in two newspapers is also included in this fee. Do I Need a DBA in Pennsylvania for My LLC?

You do not need to submit a fake name registration if your company is run under the same legal name as your LLC. However, you must submit a fictitious name registration if you are using a name other than your LLC’s legal name. Is a DBA Required in Pennsylvania?

Yes, if a company operates under a name other than its legal name, Pennsylvania requires that it register its fictitious name. Fines and other legal repercussions may occur from failing to register a false name.

Finally, registering a fictitious name in Pennsylvania is a straightforward procedure that can be finished online or by mail. A registration notice must be published in two newspapers in the county where your firm is located, and you must make sure the name you select is not currently being used by another company. To continue using your fictitious name, remember to renew your registration every five years.

FAQ
Do you have to renew your LLC Every year in PA?

Yes, an annual report must be submitted by LLCs to the Pennsylvania Department of State each year. Each year’s annual report is submitted on April 15th. Additionally, every ten years, LLCs must update their state registration.

What is the difference between a DBA and LLC?

A DBA (Doing Business As) does not protect the business owners from limited responsibility because it is not a legal entity. It is merely a means by which a business may conduct operations under a name other than the owner’s legal name. In contrast, an LLC (Limited Liability Company) is a legal entity that offers its owners limited liability protection, which means they are not held personally liable for the debts and liabilities of the business. An LLC also files its own tax return and has its own tax identification number.