Did you know that even if your business is organized as a corporation, a limited liability company or a sole proprietorship, it can also register a nickname with the State Department of Assessments & Taxation (ASDAT)?
The law allows you to register what is known as a ‘trade name’ with SDAT. You can register one or more such trade names and use them as your primary form of recognition to the public. For instance, you may choose to use your last name and organize a company known as Smith Consulting, Inc. Once you make a few bucks and decide to hire a public relations firm, you may be told that the name is boring and that you should use something with a little more appeal. In such a scenario, you may choose to register as trade name, rather than taking the time and added expense of changing your formal corporate name.
For those of you who always wanted a nick name growing up and never had one (that you liked), consider registering one for your business. While I realize that it is not quite the same, at least this way you have control over what the nick name is and hopefully your business will not get teased!
