Business Name Registration
Register Your Business Name or Risk Losing it.
In the U.S., registration of a business operated under any name other than your own is required by law because a fictitious name must be connected to the name of an individual who can be held responsible for the actions of a business. Moreover, if you like the name you’ve given your business, the only way to protect it is to register it locally. Otherwise, anyone can take it from you simply by registering your business name in connection with theirs.
Some states require registration even when one’s real name is part of the business name, so you’ll need to check this on your own. Simply call your city or county clerk (depending on whether you live within or outside city limits). Since registration of a business name is a simple and inexpensive matter, take care of it today.
Already started your business? Don’t worry about your failure to register earlier even if you’ve been in business for some time, because the form you have to complete won’t ask for the date your business was started. When you register, be sure to ask when you have to renew the registration of your name because you won’t be notified. You should also register your business name with the state (call your state capital) to prevent its use by any corporate entity. To protect your name and business logo on a national level, consider filing a trademark.
For detailed information about the tax, legal, financial, insurance, and government regulations applicable to an art or craft-related business in the U.S., see The Crafts Business Answer Book.
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