The best way to find out who owns one specific franchise is usually to just ask. You can visit the business in person or call, and in most cases, you can get a name immediately. If the manager is unwilling to tell you the name of the owner, you can try contacting the franchising company's head office.
Full Answer
How do I find out the name of a franchise owner?
The best way to find out who owns one specific franchise is usually to just ask. You can visit the business in person or call, and in most cases, you can get a name immediately. If the manager is unwilling to tell you the name of the owner, you can try contacting the franchising company's head office.
How do I check my DBA?
How to Check for DBA (Doing Business As) NamesVisit your local county clerk office or secretary of state office in the county or state where you do business. ... Give the clerk you preferred DBA name. ... Ask the clerk to run a search on the name you want to use to see if anyone else is using it.More items...•
Where is DBA located?
DBAs are usually filed through your county clerk's office. If you're unsure of how to find your county clerk, check your local secretary of state's office.
How do you investigate a franchise?
Investigating a Franchise Opportunity: 6 Key StepsReach out for general information. Kick things off over the phone or through the company's online contact form if they offer one. ... The franchise disclosure document. ... Evaluate the franchisor. ... Talking to franchisees. ... Meet the franchisor at Discovery Day. ... Make a decision.
How do I find a company name?
In most states, the website of the state business filing agency includes an online entity name check tool. You can use the online tool to search business names and find out whether another business is already using the name you have chosen.
Do I need a DBA for my LLC?
No, you do not need a DBA for an LLC. This is because when you register an LLC, you'll also register your company name eliminating the need for a DBA. However, in some instances, you may use a DBA for your LLC to expand your business and operate part of it under a name other than your original business name.
What is a DBA name example?
What is an example of a DBA? If electrician John Doe owns his business as a sole proprietor, he might use a DBA name to operate as "John Doe Electricians" or "Gold Star Electrical."
Is a DBA the same as a sole proprietorship?
As a sole proprietor, by default, the legal name of your business is your own name. But you can choose to operate the business under another name, known as a “fictitious business name” or “doing business as” (DBA). Most states require you to file an application for your DBA.
Why is a DBA important?
The purpose of registering a DBA name is to notify the public that a particular person or business entity is conducting business under a name other than its legal name. Assumed name (DBA) laws are consumer protection laws.
How do you know if a franchise is legit?
6 Signs to Look for to Know It's a Franchise ScamUrgency and High-Pressure Tactics. ... No Experience in the Business Being Sold. ... Vague and Confusing Franchise Agreement. ... Demanding a Cash Deposit. ... Promise of Rapid Huge Profits. ... Unclear What Product or Service is Being Sold.
How do you know if a franchise is successful?
Signs of a great franchise opportunityIndustry growth. What is the growth potential of the industry you're considering? ... Unit growth. ... Strong support from the franchisor. ... Good management. ... Marketing and advertising support. ... Satisfied franchisees. ... Adequate earnings. ... Sound financial statements.More items...
What should a franchise agreement contain?
A franchise agreement will usually contain the franchisee's obligations relating to performance criteria, payment of fees (royalties, marketing fees, training fees, transfer fees, termination fees, utility levies etc.), marketing, reporting, training, supply of products and services, territory etc.
Is DBA and EIN the same?
That's because an EIN is used for tax purposes, and your business is the entity that pays taxes. Your DBAs are just your business nicknames, and therefore, you won't have a separate EIN for a DBA. Not all businesses need an EIN.
Do you have to register a DBA with the IRS?
Even though a company that chooses to operate under a DBA does not need to file for their own EIN, they will have to report their new name to the IRS.
How do I get a copy of my DBA in California?
Copies and certificates can be obtained by submitting a request to the California Secretary of State's Sacramento office either in person (drop off) or by mail. Please refer to the Information Requests webpage for detailed information about copy and certificate requests.
Can I get my DBA online in Texas?
Corporations, LLCs, LPs, and LLPs must register a Texas DBA name with the Secretary of State. You can do so electronically via the state's online business services portal, SOSDirect. Sign in to your account to access the Assumed Name Certificate. Complete the form online and pay the required filing fee.
What Is a DBA?
DBA stands for "doing business as," but it can also be referred to as a trade name, fictitious name or assumed name. Companies use this when they already have a business entity set up, but want to use a different name when they're conducting business.
Adding an Existing Franchise to Your LLC
Let's say you already have an LLC in place, and you've found a new business offering franchising opportunities. Should you keep your LLC? Absolutely!
Starting Your Own Franchise Business
Now let's say you have a business that's growing like crazy, and you want to sell franchises. If you're starting out small, you may want to structure your franchise as an LLC for its simplicity and flexibility.
What is a DBA in Sacramento County?
This process is also known as registering a “Doing Business As” (DBA) or “Trade Name”. If the business is not located in CA, the business needs to register with the Clerk of Sacramento County.
Where to file fictitious business name statement?
The fee to file a fictitious business name statement varies depending on the city or county where it is filed. Inquiries should be directed to the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk's office in the county where the business will be primarily located.
What is FBN statement?
Filing a FBN statement makes the identity of the person doing business under the fictitious name available to the public. Registration is necessary when: A sole proprietorship will be doing business under a name that does not contain the owner’s last name.
How long does it take to file a fictitious business name?
Within 30 days after filing a fictitious business name statement, the registrant must publish the statement in a local newspaper of general circulation near the principal place of business. The notice must appear once a week for four successive weeks. Within 30 days of the last published date, the registrant must file an affidavit ...
What is a naming business?
November 2019 Tax News. 1. Guide to DBAs. 2. Naming a business is an important branding strategy for a person or entity involved in a for-profit trade or business in California. An individual or a business entity must file a fictitious business name (FBN) statement with the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk's office in the county where ...
What is a partnership name?
A partnership or other association that will use a name that does not include the surname of each general partner or a name that suggests the existence of additional owners such as “Company,” “ & Company,” “& Son,” “& Sons,” “& Associates,” “Brothers,” and the like.
Is it important to select a business name that is not already in use?
It is important to select a business name that is not already in use, does not closely resemble an existing business name, or misleads the public. Many cities and counties offer a FBN search on their individual websites.
How to find out who owns a franchise?
The best way to find out who owns one specific franchise is usually to just ask. You can visit the business in person or call, and in most cases, you can get a name immediately. If the manager is unwilling to tell you the name of the owner, you can try contacting the franchising company's head office.
Why is it so hard to find the name of a franchise?
This is because the name of the franchise chain that is on the sign outside is never the name of the company that owns that specific franchise.
What should a franchise email list include?
At minimum, a franchise email list should include names, email addresses and phone numbers. Some lists, however, contain a great deal of information in addition to the franchisee contact list, such as: Today, the typical model for buying a list is to request access to the list-holder's database.
Why are franchises valuable?
For those who work in the business-to-business sector, franchises can represent valuable opportunities because the needs of one franchise owner are usually the same as all the other owners in that same chain. The trouble with franchises is that finding the name of the owner can be problematic.
How to get franchisees' names?
If you're interested in doing business with people who own franchises, the best way to get their names and contact information is to buy a list of franchise owners, also called franchisees. Like other types of contact lists you can buy, this is primarily used for marketing.
How to find out the owner of a business?
If you're unable to find the name of the owner online, you can contact your local government office and ask how you can find out the name of the business owner . In this case, you will likely have to go to the office containing the business-license records and ask the clerk to do a search for you.
How to find owner of business license?
Then, you can simply type the name of the business into the search field to find the owner. Depending on the database, it may also give you that person's email address, phone number and mailing address.
What is a fictitious name?
The fictitious name, also known as the d/b/a, doing business as, trade name or assumed name. Every franchisee uses one and, in almost all cases, it’s the franchisor’s trademark. And while it may be considered “fictitious,” the value of the name is very real to the franchisor. So, when a franchisee says, “I need to register my d/b/a,” should the franchisor be concerned? Not with a proper understanding of fictitious name registration and a properly drafted franchise agreement.
Is a fictitious name registration a bad idea?
Of course, a flat-out restriction on fictitious name registration is a bad idea. So is complete silence. The better approach would be to require the franchisee to register the fictitious name where required, such as in California, Texas and Florida, and to follow the franchisor’s instructions where registration is optional, such as in Mississippi.
Is a franchisee legally responsible for the business?
And, perhaps more importantly, it points to the fact that, even though the franchisee is using the franchisor’s name, the franchisee is legally responsible for the business. So what should the franchise agreement say ...
Can a franchisor register a fictitious name?
But is the franchisor jeopardizing its trademark rights by allowing the franchisee to register the franchisor’s trademark as a fictitious name? Probably not. The state laws are generally clear that fictitious name registration does not on its own give the franchisee any trademark or other exclusive rights to the franchisor’s name.
Why do states have DBAs?
The reason states have individuals register for DBAs, an abbreviation for doing business as, is to protect consumers from nefarious businesses and to hold business owners accountable when and if legal matters must be pursued.
How to do business as a name other than person that owns the business?
To do business as a name other than person that owns the business, you must register a business name with the proper state agencies, a process known as DBA application filling.
Why is it important to decide on a business name?
In most cases, the name of a business is not the name of the person establishing the entity, and that’s because most owners’ names have little to do with the products or services being offered.
What is a sole proprietorship?
Sole proprietorships or partnerships are common business types that require the registration of a business name, fictitious business name, trade name, or any other name that differs from the legal name of the person establishing the business.
Certificates of Account Status
Use our online search to find a taxpayer's Franchise Tax Account Status page.
Secretary of State Filings
Franchise tax account status printed from our online search is not acceptable for filings with the Secretary of State (SOS).
What is a DBA?
A DBA allows you to do business under a different name than your legal one.
How much does it cost to register a DBA?
DBA requirements vary by state, county, city and business structure, but in general, registering a DBA comes with paperwork and filing fees anywhere from $10 to $100. You’ll either go to your county clerk’s office to file your paperwork or you’ll do so with your state government.
What does DBA mean?
DBA stands for “doing business as.” It’s also referred to as your business’s assumed, trade or fictitious name.
What does DBA stand for in business?
DBA stands for “doing business as.”. It’s also referred to as your business’s assumed, trade or fictitious name. Filing for a DBA allows you to conduct business under a name other than your own; your DBA is different from your name as the business owner, or your business's legal, registered name. That’s because when you form a business, ...
How long does it take to file a DBA?
It’s usually best to get this all done before you operate under your intended “doing business as” name; somewhere between 30 and 60 days before you open your doors.
What is a brand name?
Your brand name is the public's first impression of your business. Ideally, your business's name should reflect your product or service, and give people a reason to become paying customers. If sole proprietor Laura Smith kept her business’s name as just “Laura Smith,” who would know what she offered until they walked into her shop? And why would they feel compelled to walk into that shop at all?
Can a corporation file a DBA?
By filing a name for a new branch of the business , the corporation doesn’t have to form a whole new business just to operate under a different name. For example, John’s Cosmetics Inc. might want to have a separate name for its upcoming skin care line, “John’s Skincare Solutions.” This saves an expanding business both the money and time it takes to launch a whole new business under an additional LLC or corporation.