DBA names can be beneficial for sole proprietorships, they’re also helpful for other types of companies, like LLCs and corporations. Here are a couple of reasons a company might want to obtain a DBA name:

• Registering a domain. Sometimes, the domain you want is unavailable, and you end up marketing your services under a separate name. For example, the owner of “Sharpest Tools, LLC” decides to build a website but can’t secure their LLC name as the domain. Instead, they register the domain “LocalTools.com.” To sell under this name, they obtain a DBA name for “Local Tools.”
• Branching out into new services. You might form a company for one service or product only to branch out in another direction down the road. For instance, if your company, “Luna’s Locks, Co.” sells hair care products and branches out into supplements, you might not want to sell your vitamin and supplement line under the same name. Instead of creating a new company, you can secure a DBA name to sell these products under a separate name.

Once you’ve decided you’d like to obtain a DBA name, you’ll need to register for one. Registering a DBA name is typically a straightforward process, but the steps can vary from state to state.