Pros/cons of a DBA

[b3k@]

I would like to get a dba. Another therapist I was talking to the other day was really not fond of dba's and said I should just go under my own name. Pros/cons?

 

[71cooldude]

You are going to need a DBA to open a small business bank account with your business name on the account.

It is no big deal to get. You just go to the town clerks office and fill out a quick form. In my town it is $25

 

[Pompal 09.]

Additionally, if you've named your business something other than your personal name, if offers some protection against someone else using the same name for their new business. Marketing should be about branding and building your brand name, so this is something to seriously consider.

 

[Paramour36]

Yes.

And/however, make sure you check with your state about rules regarding operating under a DBA. Here in Texas, when my husband got a DBA, he had to make sure that e v e r y t h i n g that had his DBA name on it also had either his full legal name or his license number on it. Now that we have a massage establishment license (which is a whole 'nuther ball o' wax!), we don't have to do that.

I'm not saying not to get a DBA, just that you should make sure of what you're getting into when/if you do. I *do* think it a good idea to have a business name/identity.

 

[A pocket full of stones]

I have not seen any "cons" to having my sole-proprietor registered as a DBA. I think it was $25 here, also - one time fee to register it.

 

[Emmelyn]

I agree, having a DBA can be a real asset, for all of the above reasons. Here are a few more:

If your practice expands to include more MTs, you don't have to change the business name when they join/leave.

A DBA can be more evocative, for example "Healing Hands Therapies" vs "Jenny Smith, LMT"

 

[Lady Winter Wolf]

I would like to get a dba. Another therapist I was talking to the other day was really not fond of dba's and said I should just go under my own name. Pros/cons?

What were this other MTs reasons?

I find that a lot of non-MTs hold a similar opinion, "Why not just use your own name?" and I suspect that it's because they don't tend to view what we do as a business.

I can tell you from experience, going with your own name can one day present itself as limiting. Doesn't mean you can't start with it, but if you are feeling the urge to use a DBA now, I say go with what's true for you... let that other MT do as s/he wishes with her own work, and you do yours.