A fake name is a name that a person or company adopts in place of their legal name. It is often referred to as a DBA (doing business as) name. Making a company name more memorable or descriptive is sometimes done for marketing reasons. A fake name is not the same as a legitimate business name, like an LLC or corporation, but rather the name under which that entity does business.
Businesses may need to register their fake names with the state government in some states. This will help to prevent fraud and deception by letting the public know who is really running the company. Not all states, meanwhile, demand the registration of fictitious names.
Many companies decide to utilize numerous fictional identities, particularly those with many products or services. For instance, a business that sells both apparel and home décor can decide to give each product line a different fictional name. While using numerous fictitious names is possible, it is crucial to make sure that each name is registered with the correct government body.
Additionally, more than one fictitious name may be used in an LLC. Businesses who seek to develop unique branding or marketing initiatives for each good or service may find this to be advantageous. However, the LLC must be listed as the proprietor of each fictitious name when it is registered with the state government.
Many companies ponder if they can enclose “Inc” in their DBA name. The quick response is no. The legal term “Inc” is exclusively applied to corporations; it is not applied to fictitious names. However, if a company is lawfully registered as such, it may use other legal designations, such as “LLC” or “Ltd,” in its DBA name.
A DBA name may be trademarked, but it is not usually necessary. Trademarks are used to safeguard a company’s or product’s distinctive branding. A company may want to consider trademarking its distinctive and identifiable DBA name if they want to stop others from using it.
No, a sole proprietorship and a fictional name are not the same thing. In a sole proprietorship, the owner and the company are seen as existing as one and the same. Simply said, a fictional name is a moniker that a company employs for marketing initiatives. Although using a fictional name is customary for sole proprietors, they are not the same thing.
A fake name, then, is a name that a company or person employs in place of their legal name. Using numerous fictitious names under one LLC is possible, but each name needs to be registered with the correct government body. Other legal designations may be used instead of adding “Inc” to a DBA name, albeit it is not permitted. It is feasible, although not always necessary, to trademark a DBA name. Finally, a sole proprietorship is not the same as a false name.
A business may employ a name that differs from its official name; this is known as a fictitious name. A “DBA” or “doing business as” name is another term for it. A corporation, on the other hand, is a legal body founded and registered with the state to carry on business. A corporation’s legal name is distinct from any fake names it might employ. The primary distinction between the two is that a corporation is a legal body that may enter into contracts, sue and be sued, and provides limited liability protection for its owners, but a fictitious name is merely a name that a business employs for branding and marketing purposes.
The terms “Fictitious Business Name” (FBN) and “Doing Business As” (DBA), respectively, are used. It’s a moniker a company employs that differs from its official name. Without having to alter its legal name, this enables a business to operate under a name that is more recognizable or marketable. Businesses must register their FBN or DBA with the relevant government body in several states.