If you want to sell products online, Amazon.com’s Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) e-commerce service is a great option. But before using Amazon FBA, you might wonder if you need to file a DBA to take advantage of this service. The short answer is no, you don’t. But there are specific situations where you might be required to register a DBA, or it might be a good idea.
When Do I Need to File a DBA for Amazon FBA?
The main situation where you’ll need to file a DBA for Amazon FBA is if you’re using a business name on Amazon.com that doesn’t match your business’ legal name. So imagine your business’ legal name is “Jones Bridal, LLC.” If the Amazon FBA name you use is “Bridal Creations and Solutions,” then you’ll need to file a DBA for the Amazon FBA name you’re using.
Understand that this filing requirement exists not because of Amazon FBA’s policies. Rather, it’ll be because applicable state and local laws require it. In other words, if you carried out your business under a name that was different from its legal name, you’d most likely need to file a DBA, whether you were using Amazon FBA or not.
Does Amazon FBA Require Having a DBA?
Amazon FBA doesn’t require sellers to have a DBA. If your business’ legal name is “Jones Sports Products, LLC” and that’s the name you use on Amazon FBA, no DBA is necessary. If you’re a sole proprietor and you use your personal name on Amazon FBA, you can continue using your name to sell products with Amazon FBA without filing a DBA.
Even though Amazon FBA doesn’t require you to have a DBA, you might still want to get one. A DBA makes it possible to open a business bank account and can add a bit of professionalism to your online business presence.
Do I Need a Business License to Sell on Amazon?
No, you don’t, as Amazon FBA doesn’t require sellers to have a business license. That being said, depending on what you sell and where you’re based, there could be a state or local law that requires you to have a business license, even if Amazon doesn’t. For example, if your product is federally regulated, you may need a business license to sell that product. But this requirement exists whether you sell on Amazon, another online platform, or from a brick-and-mortar store.
Another consideration is if you’re required to collect sales tax and forward it to your state’s department of revenue. In this situation, you might be required to obtain a sales tax license or permit. Check with your state’s taxing authority to find out if this applies to you.
Does my Amazon Seller Name Need to Match my Business name?
You can use a name for your Amazon store even if it doesn’t match your business’ official name. But if you do this, you’ll need a DBA. Filing a DBA becomes necessary when the name you use to conduct business is different from your business’ legal name. If you don’t want to file a DBA, then your Amazon seller name needs to match the legal name of your business.
Can a DBA Protect my Amazon FBA Name?
A DBA offers practically no protections when it comes to stopping others from using a business name, such as your Amazon FBA name. If you want to stop other people from using your Amazon FBA name, you’ll want to get a trademark for it. Getting a trademark will stop anyone from using your Amazon FBA name on Amazon.com and almost anywhere else in the country. Another advantage of getting a trademark is that you can make use of Amazon’s Brand Registry.
Conclusion
Selling through Amazon FBA doesn’t require you to get a DBA. But certain scenarios might make it a good idea to file a DBA. These include using a name on Amazon that’s different from your business’ legal name and having a more professional and recognizable brand for your online business.