Business name question...

[ramiro]

I have a question, hopefully it's not a stupid one.

I am rebranding/redefining my business and it's going to be changing names. My plan is to incorporate it as an S-corp. I am still deciding on the name, but here is my question. On the articles of inc the business name will simply be "X" Studio, however, I would like the signage on the side of the building I am renting to be "X" Boutique Studio. The website, blog, and my email will also simply be something like ramiro@xstudio.com However I would like the home page to have "X" Boutique Studio.

Is it legal to do that, or do I have to have everything related to the business from signs to letter head with the business name as it's specified in the articles of incorporation. Main reason I am asking is because so far the business names I have come up with have 2 words, and I think that if I keep the 2 words, plus boutique Studio on everything, the name will get very long and I'd like the website, blog, and emails to be easily remembered and spelled, specially because the business name will more than likely be in either French or Italian. I much appreciate your advise.

[bondarnes]

I think if you get a DBA for both the corp. name and the sign name you should be legally covered. However since I have not been to Law School you might want to check with an attorney. Is there a particular reason you are going S corp instead of LLC or LPC?

edit: I just noticed that you are in Chicago so disregard my post. It only applies to TEXAS.

[ronocnikral]

i was watching a video from kelby with that IP lawyer the other day. the first thing out of the lawyer's mouth was about how when photographers have a legal issue, they go and ask other photographers.

if you're bleeding to death, who are you going to ask for help, photographers on a forum or a medical professional (same example used by described lawyer above).

I would suggest what don said, less the question mark. Ask an attorney.

[ramiro]

Originally Posted by bondarnes

I think if you get a DBA for both the corp. name and the sign name you should be legally covered. However since I have not been to Law School you might want to check with an attorney. Is there a particular reason you are going S corp instead of LLC or LPC?

edit: I just noticed that you are in Chicago so disregard my post. It only applies to TEXAS.

Hi Don, thanx for your inputs. Yes, I am in Chicago, but my new business will be in TX. The main reason I don't do an LLC or LCP is becuase last I checked, under the requirements for those entities, the LLC or LCP needs to be included in signage, marketing, and branding. I just don't like that, I simply want to have the studio name by itself.

The other major reason for going S-Cors is because it's normally cheaper than an LLC, there is much more legal precedent for corporations than for LLC, since LLC are a relative new entity, plus the protections are about the same with the same pass through income for the S-corp. I don't really care about the only US citizens can be stock holders and only up to 75 stock holders in the S-corp and such because I don't intend to offer ownership of the company to anyone else outside of my immidiate family.

Originally Posted by ronocnikral

i was watching a video from kelby with that IP lawyer the other day. the first thing out of the lawyer's mouth was about how when photographers have a legal issue, they go and ask other photographers.

if you're bleeding to death, who are you going to ask for help, photographers on a forum or a medical professional (same example used by described lawyer above).

I would suggest what don said, less the question mark. Ask an attorney.

I understand, and when I go file the articles of incorporation, I will be working through an attorney, but my time line for all of this to happen is still about 2 months away. It's simply a question that popped into my head and I wanted to know. I simply figured that with how active this forum is, I couldn't be the 1st one to run against this idea or question. You are stretching a bit assuming that I am ONLY going to take the advise on a forum, specially without knowing me.