Legal issues with picking a business name?

BradUF · 10-21-07, 12:53

Do I need to run some type of check or register my business name to keep from getting sued? Am I fine with whatever as long as I don't have my name listed in the yellow pages?

WilliamHBonney · 10-21-07, 01:04

Heh, registering your name and getting sued should be the least of your worries. IRS!!!

If you are going to do it right and legal you need to go to the proper place in your state, do a name search, register the business, collect sales tax from clients and pay your income tax from the business each quarter.

AppliedColors · 10-21-07, 01:26

Your state's Secretary of State (where you will register your business name) will ensure that no one in your state is using that same name. If you choose a common name like Reflections Detailing, which is used in many states, you should have no problems as long as you're not doing business in the same state as another Reflections detailing.

tod071 · 10-21-07, 04:45

If you want peace of mind, hire an attorney to do all the work for you. I paid $800. I know its high, but they did everything for me faster than I would have been able to and saved me all that time. So with that time, I just detailed, paid off the bill, and my business was up and running.

WilliamHBonney · 10-21-07, 10:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by tod071

If you want peace of mind, hire an attorney to do all the work for you. I paid $800. I know its high, but they did everything for me faster than I would have been able to and saved me all that time. So with that time, I just detailed, paid off the bill, and my business was up and running.

***, it took me 20 minutes at the Sec State in Saint Paul. No way would I pay $800/

Scottwax · 10-21-07, 11:16

I just went down to the business office of my country and registered my DBA name. If someone else already had it, they wouldn't have let me use it. Cost me $6 for 10 years.

BradUF · 10-22-07, 12:26

What if someone has the name in the yellow pages or something but they had not registered it. Is the name now yours?

MichaelM · 10-22-07, 01:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by BradUF

What if someone has the name in the yellow pages or something but they had not registered it. Is the name now yours?

In my state you have to register the name and put two ads out in newspapers which would establish the name as yours. Relating to your question I believe the established business would retain the right to use the name.