How To Apply For A DBA In Washington, Dc

A trade name is a Washington, D.C. DBA (doing business as). Trade name registration in Washington, D.C. allows a company to operate under a name other than its legal name.

DBA registration in Washington, D.C. will not safeguard your personal assets. Forming a formal company structure, such as an LLC or corporation, can provide you with liability protection as well as a business name.

In DC, you may register a trade name.

It is simple to register a Washington D.C. trade name, commonly known as a DBA.

A DBA is solely used for branding purposes. A DBA does not safeguard your personal assets in the event that your company is sued. As a result, we highly advise that a DBA be utilised exclusively by a formal company structure such as an LLC or corporation to add new brands to an existing firm.

If you operate an informal company (sole proprietorship or partnership), we highly advise you to create an LLC to keep your business and personal assets distinct. The name of the LLC might be chosen to serve as the business’s brand name.

Learn How to File a DBA in Washington DC in Two Easy Steps:

Begin by doing a trade name search in Washington, D.C.

Register Your DBA in Washington, D.C.

A DBA is solely used for branding purposes. To keep your company and personal assets distinct, we propose incorporating an LLC.

Step 1: Conduct a trade name search in Washington, D.C.

Washington D.C. trade names must be distinct and comply with the city’s business name requirements.

To begin, go to the Business License Verification website of the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs and search for your new DBA name to ensure it isn’t currently in use.

Then, go over the naming requirements for Washington, D.C. Trade names in Washington, D.C. should NOT include:

Unless the company is genuinely an LLC, corporation, etc., any business entity suffix, such as LLC, Incorporated, Corp, etc.

Without the previous consent of the Mayor, the terms “bank,” “banking,” “credit union,” “insurance,” or phrases of similar meaning may be used.

Step 2: Register Your DBA in Washington, D.C.

Your Washington, D.C. trade name may be registered with the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs either online or by mail. You may file online using the Corporations Division CorpOnline Web Portal or by filling out the TN-1 Trade Name Registration form.

The following are some critical portions of the form:

Section 1: Individual or company registering the trade name’s name

Section 3: Organizational Structure

Section 6: Name and address of the registered agent

Manage Your Trade Name in Washington, D.C.

General Concerns

Call the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs in Washington, D.C. at (202) 442-4432.

Renew Your Business Name with the State

Every two years, you must renew your Washington, D.C. trade name. The renewal deadline is April 1 of the second year following the year of registration, with the initial renewal required by April 1 of the second year following the year of registration. The cost for filing is $55. You may renew online or by submitting the TN-2 Trade Name Renewal form to the address below:

Consumer and Regulatory Affairs Department

Division of Corporations

PO Box 92300

20090 Washington, DC

Change Your Company Name

Fill out the TN-4 Trade Name Amendment form to modify your trade name. Send the completed form together with the $55 filing fee to the following address:

Consumer and Regulatory Affairs Department

Division of Corporations

P.O. Box 92300

20090 Washington, DC

Remove Your Trade Name

To cancel your trade name, fill out the TN-3 Trade Name Cancellation form and submit it to the address below, along with the $55 fee:

Consumer and Regulatory Affairs Department

Division of Corporations

P.O. Box 92300

20090 Washington, DC