How To Register A Company Name?

Forming certain business entities, filing an assumed proper name, or registering a trademark can afford you concern name protection.

Afterward choosing a concern name for your new company, you volition want to register it to preclude others from using it. There are several ways to achieve this.

Determining the best fashion to annals a concern name will take into consideration several factors, such as the business structure, the geographical expanse in which the company will operate, and the extent of protection needed.

How to Annals a Business Name

The three means a business may register a name are:

Class a business entity, such as a corporation or express liability company (LLC).
Annals the business organization name as an assumed proper name or DBA ("doing business organization every bit").
Register the business organization proper name as a federal trademark.

Non all businesses can utilise all three of these methods, and some may use more than than i.

The choices may vary depending upon whether the business organisation is structured equally a sole proprietorship, some form of partnership, an LLC, or a corporation.

To illustrate the possibilities, we volition explore the various options of a fictional concern. In our instance, Robert Hansen opens a residential home rental business organisation after buying ane house for this purpose. He begins by operating every bit a sole proprietorship and uses the name "Robert Hansen, Property Rentals" for the business organisation. In time, Robert acquires more backdrop and decides he wants a new name for his concern.

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Forming a Business Entity

One option for Robert is to create a corporation or an LLC. To do so, he must file sure registration documents with the appropriate state agency. This requires the business to cull its legal name.

Land laws prohibit a company from using a name that is already existence used by some other visitor. Then, part of selecting a name involves checking the state'southward records to be sure some other company is not already using the desired proper name.

Robert wants to use the name "Sunrise Properties" and determines that name is available. He might file articles of incorporation nether the proper name "Sunrise Properties, Inc." Or, he might file articles of organization under the proper noun "Sunrise Backdrop, LLC." This would forbid other companies from using the name "Sunrise Backdrop" in his state.

Creating a corporation or LLC only provides protection in the state of registration. If Robert decides to expand into another state, he may be able to register his corporation in the new state, providing the name is non already registered in that location.

Registering an Assumed Proper noun

Any sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, or LLC that does business nether a name other than its own, must register the other proper noun as an assumed name.

This is ofttimes done with a county agency, but may exist with a state agency in some states. This is called a fictitious proper noun in some locations and is too commonly referred to every bit a "doing business equally" or "dba" name.

If Robert wants to proceed operating every bit a sole proprietorship, he may be able to register the proper name "Sunrise Properties" every bit an assumed name. Robert could so use the name "Sunrise Properties."

Anyone checking the official records would be able to see that his business is actually "Robert Hansen dba Sunrise Backdrop."

Causeless name registration is not limited to sole proprietorships. Let'southward suppose Robert forms Sunrise Properties, Inc., and decides to start a yard maintenance business that uses a different name. In this case, Sunrise Properties, Inc., might annals "Sunrise Backyard Services" as an assumed name. This would then be "Sunrise Properties, Inc., dba Sunrise Lawn Services."

Instead of forming a corporation or LLC, allow's suppose Robert takes on Laura Deever as his partner. Their partnership might annals "Sunrise Properties" equally their assumed name. Or, for another example, they might combine their surnames and register "Han-Dee Properties."

Causeless proper name registration ordinarily only protects the name in the county where it is registered. If the business plans to operate in more i county, registration would be required in each county.

Trademark and Trade Proper name Registration

Trademark, trade proper name, or service mark protection may be available on a statewide basis. The requirements for registration vary from state-to-country. Such registration must be done in each state where the business operates.

A more circuitous, and usually more expensive, mode of registering a business name is by registering the proper name as a trademark with the The states Patent and Trademark Role.

This provides nationwide protection of a business proper noun. Federal trademark registration requires a search to be sure a similar name hasn't already been trademarked, and there are detailed requirements and limitations relating to the ability to trademark a business name.

Determining the best manner, or ways, to protect your business name volition take into business relationship the way you make up one's mind to structure your company, the type of appurtenances or services you offer, and the geographical range of your business operations.

For many small companies operating in just one state, organizing as a corporation or LLC may provide sufficient protection.