2 companies, same name

[DangerouslyMoody]

So I registered my DBA in Harris county last week and I have been searching around on the web and found someone else in Humble is using the same name...how does that work since I have the registered DBA??

[CaptainTom]

I assume Humble is in Harris County ?

The other business has not registered a DBA in Harris County. I don't know what the procedure or recourse is. Perhaps there is none. More research is needed.

[mbjarvis]

Autumn I have the same problem. I did the search online and with the county in which I live. Found no match, so I registared my DBA. 5 or 6 months later I found out that there is another person using the exact same name as I am and in the same county. So just what are you suppose to do when this happens? Is there a law that says if the other person was in business first you are suppose to change your business name even though you took the time to register your business?

[SCone]

DBA is county-wide. Only a corporation would be state-wide.

[CaptainTom]

I suggest that you contact the Harris County Commissioner ccinfo@cco.hctx.net

subject: assumed name question.

explain what you know and ask what recourse you may have. They may send a letter of warning to the other business, if in fact they are using EXACTLY the same business name.

[mbjarvis]

Stephen yes I know that a DBA is only county wide. I have two business with the exact same probelm. One business the person open a week after I opened.
It can be a disapointment when you have brain stormed and came up with a name and did the leg work to research it and then you find out that someone else has the exact same business name as you have. I personally did not worry about it to much because although we are all in the same county, we are in differant cities, and I did registar my business.

[SCone]

Since you are both in the same county, then you have an arguement. The whole purpose of a DBA is to register the name as yours.

Contact the other business and let them know that you own the business name in Harris County and they need to stop using that name for business immediately. I would also register in neighboring counties asap too.

[robert t]

The person to ask would be the County Clerks office, Beverly B. Kaufman, (713) 755 6405. County Commissioners really have no say in this matter.

[CaptainTom]

Originally Posted by robert t

The person to ask would be the County Clerks office, Beverly B. Kaufman, (713) 755 6405. County Commissioners really have no say in this matter.

typo... meant clerk. that's the correct email link.

[Howard Barlow]

I think it means you have to pay the bills for both.

[island bound]

and that means they might not have a tax number if they are not registered.
I'd give them a call. Remind them that you are registered and they are not, and therefore probably don't have a sales tax number and...uh oh.......

[toverman]

I'd go through the county rather than contact the other business. If the other business is in fact violating your DBA, they'll be taken care of soon enough.

I considered trying to come up with some clever name for my photography biz, but settled on my name. That way, my name is at the forefront to begin with so that people don't have to look the name of the owner of "Blurry, Underexposed Photos Inc." They can just see it's me. Of course, a DBA is still needed in that case, too.

Not suggesting you change your name, as you had the brainstorm and registered your name. Just saying let the county people deal with it because that's part of their jobs.

Send a PM to pbyd (Wayne). He had this happen a few years ago. He can give you some advice on how to handle the situation.

[Howard Barlow]

Originally Posted by island bound

and that means they might not have a tax number if they are not registered.
I'd give them a call. Remind them that you are registered and they are not, and therefore probably don't have a sales tax number and...uh oh.......

There is no correlation between the two items. No more probably that they don't have a tax number, than they do. I have never had a DBA in 30 years, but I have always had a tax number.