Filing a DBA

[capturedwhisper]

ok, I know I should be able to figure this out, but where do I go to file a DBA?:rolleyes:

[TimW]

In Arizona, with either the Secretary of State (for sole props) or the Corporation Commission (corps).

[capturedwhisper]

Thanks Tim.

[kamakiri]

Go to the bank. Your banker has all of the paperwork you will need, and he knows how to fill it out. Before moving to Japan a decade ago, I was in commercial banking, and can't recommend this enough.


Banks are all over the place, so a bit of shopping around should get you a banker you like. Find one who is helpful, knowledgeable, and someone you can work with. They are a free resource that you really should take advantage of.

[capturedwhisper]

wow, I never would of thought to ask a banker. Thanks for the advice!

[italian_job]

if you need to file for a DBA, just go to www.legalzoom.com

they are fast, reliable and affordable.

One thing I would be careful though, is that your merchant account provider could not let you withdraw money into a checking account that is under a different name (so, merchant account and checking account should be on the same name). So, if you then use your DBA to open a checking account, then your merchant account should be on the same name.

PS: this worked well for me....since my biz is in the US, but I am not located in the US....

ciao


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[lovinglife]

For a DBA we just went to the county courthouse. For incorporating, I had to go to the state comptroller.

[kamakiri]

wow, I never would of thought to ask a banker. Thanks for the advice!

Your business banker is an incredible resource. Set up a day to go visit a few local banks and interview perspective bankers. If you are ambitious, you can call ahead and set up a meeting and they will be more prepared, but in general business bankers aren't that busy. Establishing a relationship from the beginning will also get you direct access to a banker who is much less busy than the tellers at the bank windows, and will provide the same service they do with many more free perks.

I don't know why anyone would pay to have those services done. Banks make money off business account fee income. It is a fact of life. You need banking though, so go with the bank that gives the best service. They are happy to do all of the things that you need (setting up DBA, and many other services) for free, so let them do it. They are also invaluable resources for contacts, and information about the local business climate.


No reason to plug through those start up challenges when you have such a great free resource. 'Outsource' the paperwork to your banker and concentrate on your product and marketing.