D.B.A.s and such!

[FeartheDeere]

Hey guys,

I know I've went over this before, but what is a D.B.A? How do you get it? I asked my FFA advisor how to get one and she just said that it is something put on your checks of your business account? I thought it was a process that I would have to go down to the courthouse for to make sure I get the right to run under this name before someone else does. anyway, are there any other liscences I need to get for just mowing? I have my insurance. Thank you again!

[jland]

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DBA is 'Doing Business As'

I'm not sure how to get it.

[outlaw]

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Deere,
Down here, the way it works is this. first, you go down to the courthouse(here it's the assumed names office) and register the name. They will tell you if it's being used or not. next, you get your tax I.D. number. this will allow you to open up a bank account in the name of your business, so people can write you checks under that name, instead of yours.

[FeartheDeere]

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thanx outlaw,

do you get your tax I.D. # at the courthouse? And, you don't have to open your business account immediately do you? thanx

[Extreme Lawns]

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FeartheDeere,

Where I'm at you need one to open a Business checking account. And it only cost me 22.00. It should be good for 10 years and then you go back and renew it after your 10 years are up. I'm sure the price will go up ten years from now. But for under 25.00 that not bad!

[dancom]

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were i am you just go to the bank and tell them you would like to open a DBA account. its that easy. all you need is a SSN.

[Extreme Lawns]

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If you get a DBA you can use you SS# for tax ID. Some banks will not let you open a account unless you have had your DBA for a year or more. Some Banks! check in your area

[dancom]

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if you do not have a dba acount you can not cash check wrote to your business. a dba acount simply has your name on the top line and the second line says DBA your business name. i did not have to do anything at the courthouse i just gave the bank my business name and SSN, it was that easy. And of cours an intial deposit

[Extreme Lawns]

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Dan

So do you have a registered dba? Or anything to protect your company name in you area?

[CCLS]

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I got my D B A Clean Cut Lawn Service, a couple years ago and found out that some Jack Ass got his D B A after me for Clean Cut Lawn Care. This gets confusing for customers and simply pisses me off.

Has anyone else had this problem? I checked it out and what he did is legal.

[dancom]

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Extreme
no i don't but since i am called Comer's Lawn and my last name is Comer and i am the only one in town besides my brothers i figure i am probually safe for now. I also havn't decided if i am going to keep that name as i get bigger.

[Bravura]

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when you're getting a dba and they search to see if it is taken, anyone know what they search. is it by county, city, state?

[Scaper-S2k]

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Just saying "dba" does nothing to protect your name. You have to register the name itself. If you really want to lock it up, setting that name into a tredemark is ideal.

But, the dba does nothing. All it says is that Joe Schmoe runs a biz. But taxes are still done by Joe Schmoe.

Even getting a tax ID number for that biz by the federal gov. won't lock your name in. Now Incorporating does. If you Incorporate "Kick Butt Mowin'", no one can take that name. BUT, someone could possibly take "Kick Butt Scapin'". In this horrible situation , you would need to trademark and register the name "Kick Butt".

Trademarking can cost over $2,000 easily. It depends on how well you want to protect that name. Let me tell ya.....it's mighty important. It's more important than almost anything. If you run your biz for 10 years "dba" and some funny guy pulls a fast one and incorporates using your name.....you CAN be made to stop using it.

Luckily...we incorporated, but I still deal with people swiping my name. Matter of fact, I am dealing with it right now....as in today.

[CCLS]

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Scaper,

I plan on getting incorporated this winter. If this ass keeps advertising in the same places that I do, then I guess I will get my name and logo trademarked and registered. I feel that it is very important to protect my name and logo. It took me a long time to design my logo and establish my name. I don't want it to get pissed on by some half wit who thinks he can steal it from me. This guy knows damn well its my name because I have talked to him before.

I don't know if anyone knows this website, but you can check to see if your company name has already been trademarked or registered.

www.uspto.gov

go check tess data base

There is also some legal tips reguarding patents, trademarks, ect. you can pick up on from

www.nolo.com

Good luck everyone.

[CCLS]

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Anyone got a rough estimate of what it costs to incorporate?