A fictitious name is also known as: \"DBA,.or doing business as\"; a trade name; or an.assumed name..A fictitious name is not a business entity..It is fictitious..In our case, it can be considered a nickname.for your LLC..Filing a DBA allows an LLC to conduct business.using a name other than the officially registered.LLC name listed in the Certificate of Organization..An example would be if you are part of a franchise..Let's say you buy into the \"Little Gym\" franchise.and that you also formed an LLC by the name.of JBC Enterprises, LLC to legally protect.yourself..In this case, you would register the fictitious.name \"The Little Gym\"..In essence, \"JBC\" Enterprises, LLC\" is d/b/a.(or doing business) as The Little Gym..Another use for a fictitious name is if an.LLC wants to branch out into a new market.or new geographical territory..Let's say that Jim's company, Pittsburgh Paint.Supplies, LLC, is now going to enter the Harrisburg.market..Jim can register the fictitious name \"Harrisburg.Paint Supplies\" and again, in essence Pittsburgh.Paint Supplies, LLC is d/b/a as Harrisburg.Paint Supplies..In this example however, if Jim's business.were to grow and get larger, we recommend.setting up a new LLC..Tying up a lot of money and liability under.one \"umbrella\" can become riskier as the size.of the business increases..Also, as an entrepreneur, it is good to think.of your exit strategy..If you want to sell your company down the.road, it is much easier to sell an entire.LLC, rather than dividing up shares or interest.in 1 large company..Many times, people want to register a fictitious.name by the same name as their LLC, just without.the letters \"LLC\"..Unfortunately, the State of Pennsylvania does.not allow you to register an LLC and a fictitious.name with the same name..Meaning, you can't form an LLC with the name.Maria's Yoga Studio, LLC and file a fictitious.name for Maria's Yoga Studio..Many entrepreneurs think they need to do this.so that they don't have to use the letters.\"LLC\" in their marketing materials..Regarding the use of the letters \"LLC\" in.your business name, you only need to use the.letters \"LLC\" on official documents, such.as purchase orders, contracts, leases, tax.returns, bank documents, etc..As for your website logo, your business cards,.and other marketing materials, it's okay for.you to simply use the name of your LLC without.including the letters \"LLC\"..If this was your original reason for filing.a fictitious name, now knowing this information,.you can save yourself some time and skip this.step..Not only is it not necessary, but again, the.State will not accept fictitious name filings.of this type..Once a DBA is filed and approved by the State,.the LLC can then use that name as its official.business name and: accept payments, enter.into agreements, and open business checking.and/or savings accounts..You can now do business under the fictitious.name; however, for any official documents.(again, purchase orders, contracts, tax returns,.bank documents, etc.), you would list your.business name as \"Your Business, LLC d/b/a.Your Fictitious Name.\".For example, let's say you're signing the.lease the opening paragraph would read: \"This.Agreement, entered into on the 5th day of.January 2012, by The Holding Company, Incorporated.(Landlord & Pittsburgh Paint Supplies, LLC.d/b/a Harrisburg Paint Supplies (Tenant),.is as follows:\"..Some key points to remember: The fictitious.name cannot own copyright..You cannot take title to real estate in a.fictitious name; there are no limits to the.amount of fictitious names a business can.register; and the filing of a fictitious name.does not grant the owner rights in that name..More specifically, more than 1 person or entity.can register and do business under the same.fictitious name..Unlike an LLC, which is granted rights that.name within Pennsylvania, a fictitious name.does not have those rights..In order to have rights to the fictitious.name and to prevent others from using the.same name, you must file a trademark..This can be done at the State level and/or.at the federal level..If you are located in and only doing business.in PA, then a Pennsylvania trademark will.be sufficient..If you are a national company, it is recommended.to file a federal trademark..This can be done by visiting the US Patent.and Trademark Office at www.uspto.org or by.consulting a trademark attorney..To file your fictitious name, you must complete.the Application for Registration of Fictitious.Name and mail it to the Corporation Bureau..The filing fee is $70..The $70 filing fee must be made payable to.\"Department of State\"..In the next few slides I will go over the.accepted forms of payment that go along with.your Application for Registration of Fictitious.Name..You can either in send a personal check or.money order along with your Fictitious Name.Registration..Again, the $70 filing fee must be made payable.to \"Department of State\"..If you are sending in a personal check, your.check must have a printed name and address.on it..Let's take a look at a few examples..This personal cheque would not be accepted.and you're filing would simply be sent back.because there is no name or address on the.check..This check would be accepted because there.is a name and an address on the check..Note: the address must be printed..It cannot be handwritten..Also, the address does not have to be a Pennsylvania.address or the address of the LLC..It can be an address from any state..You will notice that this check does not have.an address under the name..In this case you, will need to use a money.order..Here's an example of a money order that was.used for an LLC filing..I have just blacked out the address for privacy,.but you can see that it is made payable to.\"Department of State\"..After you mail your documents and the $70.filing fee to the State, you can expect to.receive back a stamped approved Fictitious.Name Registration form within 7-10 business.days..If there are any errors with your filing,.the State will simply send back your documentation.along with instructions on what needs to be.corrected..Here's an approved Fictitious Name Registration..You'll see there are 2 stamps..At the top, you have the Entity Number; in.the middle, the approval stamp; and at the.bottom, the Approval Date..Once you receive this, your fictitious name.is officially registered..Let's get started filling out your Application.for Registration of Fictitious Name..You can access this form from the \"downloads\".section below this video, and you can either.print it out or download and save it to your.computer..Here we are at the Registration for Fictitious.Name application..I filled this form out. and as you follow.along in the video, just make the necessary.changes in the document that you have..You have 2 options: you can either save the.PDF to your computer and you can type directly.within the document, or you can print it out.and handwrite it..If you're handwriting, make sure to use a.pen with either blue or black ink..At the top, you're going to fill out the name.and address where you would like this document.returned to..Scrolling down in Section 1, you're going.to list the fictitious name..In Section 2, you're going to list a brief.description of the business activity..You can see here I've put a \"Painting Supply.Store\"..No. 3, you're going to list the address where.the fictitious name is going to be conducting.business..In this example, I've used the new business.address number..No. 4 is inapplicable; you can leave this.blank..This is only for individuals registering a.fictitious name..In our case, your LLC is going to be the owner.(which we'll fill out the details in Section.5)..Scrolling down in Section 5, you're going.to list the name of your LLC..You're going to write \"Limited Liability Company\",.and then put the organizing jurisdiction (in.this case, it will be Pennsylvania)..Below that, you're going to write the Principal.Office Address for your LLC, and then you're.going to scroll down..Both Sections 6 and 7 are inapplicable, and.you can leave those blank..You're then going to fill in the date..You're going to list the name of your LLC.here..You're going to write \"Managing Member\", and.then after you print this document out, you're.going to sign here..Make sure to include the 3rd page when you.send this filing in..Make sure you send in this document (all 3.pages) and your payment of $70 made payable.to \"Department of State\"..You're going to send those to the Department.of State, Corporation Bureau, P.O..Box 8722, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8722..If you have any questions while going through.this filing, you can call the Corporation.Bureau directly at 717-787-1057, you can leave.a comment below this video, or you can contact.us with any questions..Going down to Step H which talks about the.requirement to advertise, this is not going.to be applicable in our case..The advertising requirements are only for.individuals or Sole Proprietorships who are.registering fictitious names..Limited Liability Companies are not required.to advertise..And that wraps up the Application for Fictitious.Name..Make sure to include the 3 pages of your application.form along with your payment, and within 7-10.business days you'll receive back a stamped.approved copy of your application..