Plano Business Assumed Names

You can run your Plano Texas company using an assumed name. Also known as “doing business as,” “DBA,” and fictitious name, an assumed name is a name other than your own under which you do business with the public.

For example, the name “AAA 24-Hour Carpet Cleaning Services” could be an assumed name. However, the name “John Smith’s Cleaning Services” is not an assumed name if your own name really is John Smith. Many sole proprietorships register an assumed name for several reasons, including privacy protection, and the ability to sell a company that isn’t closely associated with a personal name.

For about 10 bucks, you can register an assumed name for your business with the Collin County Clerk’s Office. However, it is important to note that registering an assumed name doesn’t protect you from trademark or service mark infringement claims. For example, if you registered the name “Starbucks” for your coffee shop, there’s a good chance that the real Starbucks based in Seattle would come after you with their lawyers for infringement.

It’s also important to note that name registration doesn’t provide any asset protection features. If you’re doing business as a sole proprietorship under an assumed name, you’re not going to have the liability protections afforded by doing business as a Texas limited liability company or corporation.

If you have any questions about what’s the best way of doing business, be sure to talk with your Plano business attorney.

About the Author

With an advanced international law degree from Georgetown University and more than 14 years of real world legal experience, Attorney Mike Young shows Texas entrepreneurs how to protect and grow their businesses.
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