How to Add a Trade Name
Any name used in business that does not contain the complete legal name of all the business owners is used as a trade name. There may be occasions when you have registered a trade name at the time of commencing your business, but wish to add one or more such names later. In such cases, you'll need to follow a procedure that is almost the same as the initial registration, except that the fees have to be calculated for all the new names you wish to add. Procedures and forms can vary slightly from state to state; make sure you find out the specifics from the website of your state's licensing authority. In Washington, for example, the process involves filing a Master Business Application form.
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Instructions
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Find out the registration procedure in your state by visiting Business.gov, the "official business link to the U.S. government." Study the list to find details of your state's trade name registration process and controlling authority. Visit the relevant department's website and download the trade name registration form. Check the fee amount you need to pay. This can vary from $20 to $50 for every trade name you wish to add.
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Check availability of the trade name you wish to add. Choose a few new names you wish to use and search to see if they have been already taken. Search online databases provided on the website of your state's business licensing authority. In Washington, for example, you can have the Master License Service conduct a search on request and payment of a specified fee. In New Hampshire, you can call the Secretary of State's Information Line. Search the U.S. Patent and Trademark Commission for names that may be registered federally.
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Register the new name by filling out the trade name registration form. List the names you wish to register on the application form. If the form provides for the entry of just one name, use separate copies of the same form to write out each name you wish to add. Write out a check for the non-refundable processing fee. Affix your signature in the prescribed place and send the application by post to the specified address.
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Tips & Warnings
When you check for availability of a trade name on any of the specified databases, you may receive a result saying, "No matches were found for your search." This, however, does not mean that the name is not in use. Rather, all it means is that it has not been registered with the licensing authority.
Provided your business is not prohibited from filing online, it's best to use this mode of filing because the processing is faster than filing by mail or in person.
