Business Certificate Question

[nicksan]

Quick question.

If I use a nick name as part of my business name, for instance "Nick Nishizaka Photography" where "Nick" is not my legal name...though I've been called that for 20+ years, do I need to legally file for a D/B/A Business License?

Passports, Driver's License, etc...they all have my legal Japanese first name.

How strict are they when it comes to that?


Just wondering, because I am thinking about business cards, web domain name, etc...keep things legit and don't want screw anything up.

[Karl Johnston]

Your name doesn't have to be a part of your business name at all, it's just a license that gives you the right to conduct business. Your legal name goes on the license to conduct business, not your nickname. But your nickname (or your legal name) doesn't have to be a part of your displayed business name.

There are many places (like me) that call their business or identify their business using a different name (Karl Johnston Fine Art Photography) opposed to Synergy Studios; which is the name of the business.

When I was a kid I worked at a place called "Charles' Video Palace" but it was just called "Charles' Place" on the documents, on the signs, on the ads, etc. you get the idea.

[Tom Foolery's Dad]

The DBA can be any name at all. Your legal name has nothing to do with it other than having you listed as the business owner.

You can have the DBA named Awesome Photography if you wanted. So you'd be fine with Nick on there.

[Svetlana]

My name is Svetlana Yanova but my business name is Lana Gurevich Photography, where Lana is short from Svetlana as not all people can pronounce it, and Gurevich is my maiden name.

[shaggymatt]

I just went with my name as there was an additional fee for the DBA. But as others said it can be whatever you want!

[bwolford]

To answer your question, if your advertised name does not match the legal name of your business, you must file a DBA. If both your business and advertised name are the same, you don't need to file a DBA, regardless of what you call yourself personally.

[nicksan]

But the thing is, if I am just going to use my legal name, then I don't actually have to file for a business license.

So my was if I use "Nick Nishizaka Photography", do I HAVE TO file for a D/B/A since the first name "Nick" isn't my legal name. I mean, everybody calls me as "Nick" (well...except my wife), even at work. But I guess it's a matter of legality...I don't have any ID that has Nick as my first name so.

If I am going to file...then yeah...I'll just file under "Nick Nishizaka Photography". But the idea was to avoid the $150 or so it would take to do so...


Your name doesn't have to be a part of your business name at all, it's just a license that gives you the right to conduct business. Your legal name goes on the license to conduct business, not your nickname. But your nickname (or your legal name) doesn't have to be a part of your displayed business name.

There are many places (like me) that call their business or identify their business using a different name (Karl Johnston Fine Art Photography) opposed to Synergy Studios; which is the name of the business.

When I was a kid I worked at a place called "Charles' Video Palace" but it was just called "Charles' Place" on the documents, on the signs, on the ads, etc. you get the idea.

[nicksan]

OK, this makes sense. The law is the law!
So it sounds like if I want to use the first name "Nick", then I would need to definitely file, since that is not my legal birth name.

To answer your question, if your advertised name does not match the legal name of your business, you must file a DBA. If both your business and advertised name are the same, you don't need to file a DBA, regardless of what you call yourself personally.

[Tigershark]

wow your DBA fees are high, I think our state was 15.00 Of course DBA is different from incorporation fees. You will most likely need to do so and provide a copy to your bank as well in order to cash the checks at least down here I had to, good luck.

[nicksan]

Yeah, $100 to file, $9 for extra certificates. (For the bank and for myself)
Plus, $9 per form to purchase. So ~$150.

I don't think getting a bank account is mandatory, but maybe recommended to make book keeping easier.

I guess I'll just have to bite the bullet and do it. This way there are no mistakes.

wow your DBA fees are high, I think our state was 15.00 Of course DBA is different from incorporation fees. You will most likely need to do so and provide a copy to your bank as well in order to cash the checks at least down here I had to, good luck.

[DDCSD]

Actually, many states only require that your last name be in the business name to avoid a DBA/fictitious name. Most of the time you can have about anything else in the name and the only part that matters is the surname.

You will want to check with your state though, NY is pretty screwey and wants your money, so they would probably tell you that you have to get it anyways. ;)

South Dakota charges $10. :)