| Features | Rating & Prices | |
|---|---|---|
 | #1 Most Recommended LegalZoom performs a name search of your DBA, and then completes and files your application for you. All while providing you with advice along the way! |  Click here to see prices |
Washington – DBA
Filing a Washington DBA
A business seeking to operate under a name other than the one it was formed with must register the name (commonly referred to as a trade name) with the Secretary of State. In Washington, this is a law binding all other business structures except sole proprietorship, which you can well start without going through any legal procedures whatsoever.
The process of registering a trade name for your business is known as filing for a DBA and is made up of these three steps in the state of Washington:
1. Checking with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the Washington Secretary of State to ensure your proposed name isn’t already taken.
2. Printing out a copy of the document from the internet and filling out all the items including the trade name itself and an Employer Identification Number (EIN) (which can be obtained from IRS.gov). Note that you can go about the procedure online, but it’s advisable to also have hard copies of this sort of documents.
3. Submitting the Business License Application Form notarized and stamped by a relevant authority.
Note that the filing will cost you $19 – a fee, in Washington, submitted together with the application slip.
Benefits of Filing for a DBA in Washington
Albeit filing for and obtaining a DBA in Washington doesn’t give you trademark rights of any sort, and that this must be acquired separately under the federal law, there are numerous benefits that come with registering your business as an LLC. Firstly, the business will have the capacity to enter into contracts, make pacts and open bank accounts as an independent legal entity. The credibility of your business among old, new and potential customers also heightens as the move to make a formal devotion to your business translates to seriousness in the eyes of stakeholders. Taxation also will not happen on the business level anymore and will instead reflect on the income tax returns of the owners varying with the size of profit/loss made.
Disadvantages of Filing for a Washington DBA
In the middle of the above upsides, there are a few things that could make an entrepreneur contemplate setting up a Sole Proprietorship over any form of business that would require a DBA. One is the need to pay regular and sporadic ongoing expenses on top of the formation charges. Plausibly, the charges are reasonably low for small businesses but still cannot beat those of sole proprietorship and general partnerships, which do not undergo any legal formation procedures and thus do not require any documents prior to beginning operation.
Use the following address to request for a confirmation of the availability of your proposed trade name and also to mail your completed DBA application form accompanied with a filing fees check or money order.
Business Licensing Service
State of Washington
PO Box 9034
Olympia, WA 98507-9034
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| Features | Submission Time | Turnaround | Rating & Prices | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 Most Recommended LegalZoom performs a name search of your DBA, and then completes and files your application for you. All while providing you with advice along the way! | Click here to see prices |