Liability & Legality

**Superman859** · 08-08-2007, 05:36 PM

I'm trying to get a merchant account for Authorize.net set up. So far all payments on my site have been through Paypal.

I'm still a student and pretty new to running a business (It's just a part-time online thing for me right now). It seems I need a DBA filed to setup a merchant account or business bank account, etc.

I live in Georgia, USA. I went to georgia.gov and followed the instructions to register a DBA online. I did everything as instructed, there was nothing mentioned about a fee (I had thought there was some kind of fee).

Is there any way I can check online to see if my DBA actually went through and everything is fine for me to use that as my DBA for merchant accounts and things like that?

Just looking for some advice on the topic...it just seems like I need a DBA to do most things - I'm still a full-time student so this is all new to me.

Thanks in advance.

**LeeD** · 08-09-2007, 05:39 PM

I would guess there would at least be a fee so you can get a certified copy of the DBA. In Texas it is around $12 or so. You will likely need the certified copy in order to get a merchant account set up.

**Frito Pie** · 08-13-2007, 12:35 PM

Where I live (Texas) you go to your local county courthouse and file the papers. You receive a document, stamped by them, paying the 12.00 fee. This paper is taken to your local bank as your DBA to set up any banking accounts: checking and/or merchant account.

**skyhawk133** · 08-13-2007, 01:25 PM

Mine is with the city clerk to get a business license. Cost me $35/year. My bank requires I show the business license to add a "DBA" on my accounts.

**Jonathan Kramer** · 08-15-2007, 09:56 PM

In some jurisdictions (California, for example), a DBA...which is sometimes called a Fictitious Business Listing...must be published in a newspaper of record in the area where the business is to operate. That permits the public to know who is behind the business. Where publication is required, many newspapers handle all of the filing and publication requirements for a single fee.

Once publication has occurred, the newspaper sends a certified copy to the business owner so that (s)he can open a bank account under the fictitious name.

**nickjag** · 08-16-2007, 08:12 PM

Best thing to do would be to call your state. Every state is different when it comes to that. Florida is all online and there's a 50 dollar fee you pay online and they publish everything automatically.