To use "Ind." instead of "Corp.", do you need to register the business name with the city or state?
468309
You should only use Inc or LLC if, in fact, you are a Corporation or an LLC.  You could register "ABC Industries" as a business name with your city or county clerk's office. Without any other special filings, you'd be considered a sole proprieter doing business as (DBA) ABC Industries. (As long as your name did not conflict with a trademark or corporation name.)
586366
In many cities, it is not illegal, but a questionable practice which may destroy the credibility of your business venture.  Some people won't do business with companies that use post office boxes, suite box numbers or storage space numbers.  But, you can legally file taxes using those as an address.  Some cities will not issue a business license unless there is a physical address.  Contact the department in your city to determine whether they will.
236926
Generally, there is no "requirement" to be a corporation, but corporations (in addition to LLCs) are nice for liability limitation.\n\nCorporations are reasonably cheap to form.  A nice neighborhood type lawyer will probably do the entire incorporation for you for few hundred dollars plus filing fees - including getting your EIN number, any sales tax registrations, and possibly filing your S-Corporation election (so that your corporation avoids "double-tax").   If you're not incorporating in NY but you're doing business there, you'll also want to consider "qualifying" your corporation to do business in NY.   Again, that is simple stuff that can be handled by a neighborhood lawyer.\n\nGood luck.
193675
It depends on the state you are in.  The secretary of state will have informantion on what information needs to be filed with the secretary of state to form a corporation.  If you are not going to form it yourself, many times it is just as cheap to go to a local small time solo lawyer than to pay for these online incorporation services that advertise everywhere.
220434
It depends on a couple of things.  First if the company is incorporated in that other state then yes you can.  Second if the company is not incorporated in that state, but does business in that state then yes you can.  Lastly if the company is not incorporated and does not do business in that state then you can not.  Also it depends on the contract (if one was signed or agreed to).  If the contract says that it can only be filed in a certain state, then it must be filed in the state that is listed.
814815
To register a trademark, that's done either through your Secretary of State for a State trademark or the US Patent & Trademark Office for a Federal trademark. \n\nIf you are only conducting business in one state, then a State trademark is most appropriate. If you conduct (OR are planning to conduct) business in at least 2 states OR between the US & any other country, you can file for a Federal trademark.\n\nPrior to investing your time, money & effort into a name, it is strongly advised that comprehensive research be conducted to ensure that the name you're interested in is truly available. \n\nThis entails searching the pending & registered Federal and State trademark files as well as the US National Common-Law files. Then, if clear, you can decide if you would like to file for a Federal or a State trademark.  \n\nHope that helps! I wish you much success & happiness in all your ventures!
301938
You can go to your county office and register your business name. Online, you can find information about the process from the various services:\n\nhttp://www.michigan.org/medc/services/startups/structure/\nhttp://www.michigan.gov/medcguide
560386
The name is not the issue. You receive protection from lawsuits by legally distancing yourself from the business. This is done by creating a separate legal entity. Think of it as giving birth to a legal document ;) The name of the business has no bearing on your protection from lawsuits.\n\nYes, you should incorporate. Go to your local Clerk of Courts office, ask some questions and go from there. Incorporating, at least for a single individual that solely owns one business, should not cost thousands of dollars. Anyone that tells you that is trying to rip you off!
267626
Registering a company is not difficult at all.  First check with your state requirements, which is primarily name registration.  There are lots of companies that provide these services for you -www.mycorporation.com, but they usually charge a premium.  As an IT company, make sure you get your domain name secured, again, lots of companies out there to assist -www.godaddy.com, is my favorite.\nTaxes are based on your corporate structure, and vary greatly.  Make sure you go to www.irs.gov to research the differences, you can set yourself up as a C-corp (company pays its own taxes) S-Corp (shareholders pay their portion of taxes), LLC (Limited Liability) or Partnership, or you can stay simple by being a sole propreitor.  What all this determines is whether you will be filing an 1120 corporate tax return on March 15, or if all your taxes go on your personal tax return.  Now if you have employees, payroll taxes will have to be considered.  But this comes later.\nRunning a business to start is not complicated, but make sure you have invested in a good accounting product.  For brevity, Quickbooks is a pretty good bookkeeping tool, the training tutorial is pretty easy and the interface is user friendly.  Trademarking and patenting can be done but don't need to be done first.\nMost importantly, devise a strong business plan.  Although this helps investors, it helps you, the owner more.  It places all your thoughts down into concrete black and white.  It brings out your strengths and weakness, and determines if now is the right time to jump in.  Palo Alto has good software to assist with this.\nYou may also want to meet with a local SCORE representative to pick their brain.\nGood luck
147818
You can if you already have a checking account with the bank. otherwise, they'll run you through the Chex system. Because the account is still under your name, but you're performing functions under a business name. Hence the acroynm DBA for "Doing Business As". It would be John Smith doing business as (DBA) ACME Construction.
969801
1) Yes, visit your local City and County office to get your business license. You might not be required to get both, but in my City a home business must have both.  Also talk to the zoning director of your city or county to make sure your home occupation will comply with the zoning regulations.\n\n2) After you have done all the necessary paperwork and know that you are ready for business.\n\n3) I wouldn't necessarily worry about this unless you had just an unique name ~ it costs too much to worry about for a one person company.\n\n4) You will still file your taxes the same. Business income and expense will be included in your 1040 form.  However, if you become a larger company, the forms necessary will change.  Visit www.irs.gov for more information on necessary forms and tax laws for businesses.\n\nGood Luck!
590946
It is fully leagal to register any domain name as long as it is not being used. Or it is a big company and is well known, where you may be devaluing the name. Like don't go using www.cokacola.org, you will be sued over that. But if it is a small local business name then it won't matter, they probly only exist in the area. If you get a domain name that they wanted then they should have gotten it first, you will be the rightful owner of it. Famous people are used all the time in fanpages. The iluvmynewipod.com will be fine there is nothing wrong about making a personal webpage about the ipod as long as you plan on talking about the existing product and not something that you made up.
406781
Search your state website, then federal trademarks or trade names; check with local BBC and Chamber of Commerce; State Comptroller site, etc. Start search at local and state level, then search nationally. Use several  search engines as some will find different sites. Good luck.
239658
To obtain a state and federal ID number you must first register a business within the state you intend to transact business in. You can register as a sole proprioter, a S Corporation, a C corporation, or a LLC. Do research to find which is right for you. The best thing to do is then find a lawyer to file the paperwork for you, some are available on the web. I used amerilawyer.com. If the expense is too great for you you can find the necessary paperwork on your states government website, although I recommend the lawyer to make sure it's legal. To get a name you can usually find a place in the gov. website to do a fictitious name search to make sure the name you want to use is not taken. You must then also file fictitious name paperwork. If you are using your name no extra paperwork is necessary.
599563
If you form an LLC or a corporation, you won't need to register a fictitious business name (at least not in California).  \nIf you don't form one of the above entities and your business name doesn't incorporate your legal name, then yes, you'll have to register a FBN.
601403
If you are just registering the name you go to the county court house and fill out the papers, have them notorized and I think it cost me 10.00 to file.  You are talking about a DBA?
1058304
Of course you can.  Many great works of entertainment have been created by partnerships, teams, couples, siblings, etc.  Its better to use your names than a company or corp. that doesn't legally exist yet.