DBA stands for doing business as. It’s also known as a fictitious name, trade name, and assumed name.

At the most base level, DBAs allow a business to operate under a specific name. Read this article for more information on exactly what a DBA is, plus if you’re business might benefit from (or even require) one.

The primary benefits of filing a DBA include:

• Increased credibility – A well-chosen name can enhance the credibility of a business, especially for sole proprietors and general partnerships.
• The ability to open financial accounts – Many banks require sole proprietorships and general partnerships to take on a DBA before opening an account.
• Branding purposes – There are numerous ways that a DBA can assist a company's branding efforts. Some of the most common are to integrate a company's name with their online properties (domain names, social media profiles, etc.), or to position themselves differently to various demographics.
• Multiple Names – A DBA allows companies to effectively run multiple branding campaigns, or even separate businesses.

A DBA is mandatory any time that an organization wishes to transact business under a name other than their incorporated name.

While it isn't mandatory for sole proprietorships and general partnerships to acquire DBAs, there are some severe limitations placed on them if they do not have one. Without a DBA, these types of business cannot typically open a bank account with most institutions, and must represent themselves strictly as the owner's personal name(s).

Read this article to find helpful information that will guide you in determining whether your business needs a DBA.

Swyft Filings DBA service takes approximately 2 weeks to complete from start to finish.

Yes. While Swyft Filings cannot control how long it takes for your local jurisdiction to handle your DBA application, we do offer a DBA filing option that leverages the expedited shipping of documents in order to ensure that the process is a fast as possible. If you elect to choose our expedited filing option, the whole process will typically take 1 week to complete from start to finish.

Some states require that any business that acquires a DBA run a public notice in a local newspaper. Depending on where you are located, the exact details will vary. Swyft Filings DBA service DOES NOT include the fulfillment of any publications that your local jurisdiction requires.