Page 117 - 597 Business Ideas You can Start from Home - doing what you LOVE! (Beginner Internet Marketing Series)

Step 6. Create Your Executive Office 1 09

Th e "Doing B usiness As" (DBA) Application

You need to file two main documents as soon as possible: the DBA
application and the resale certificate/seller's permit. These forms
enable you to be considered a real business and sell goods.

The first is the DBA application, which allows you to legally use
your company name. DBA stands for "Doing Business As" and is
also referred to as a "fictitious business name." A DBA allows you to
have a name for your business other than your own name without
formally setting up a corporation or business entity.

For example, if I wanted to sell flowers under the name of "The
Fabulous Florist," I would file a DBA. The DBA registration allows
me to use that name and open a bank account with that now-legal
business name. Unlike trademarks, a DBA name is not rejected if it
is similar to another one in your area, but you still need to be dili­
gent that you are not taking someone else's name.

Each state's laws differ regarding DBA requirements, so find your
state's laws and be sure you follow them. In California, for example,
once you file the DBA, you have to publish it in a newspaper for a
few weeks to announce it.

You can find many online services that will handle DBA filing

and publishing for a small fee. One to try is www.legalzoom.com.

Resale Certificate/S eller's Permit

After you fill out your DBA form, you can obtain your resale certifi­
cate, or seller's permit, which will allow you to buy supplies at the
wholesale cost directly from manufacturers underyour new business
name. Since the resale certificate needs to be issued in your com­
pany's name , you must do the DBA form first. Both retailers (stores
that consumers buy products from) and wholesalers (the companies
that sell their products to the retailers) must obtain resale licenses
(also known as seller's permits). This permit allows both retailers
and wholesalers to purchase goods with room for profit margin or
at what is known as the "wholesale price." You need a seller's permit
even if you are selling something only for a short period of time like