I'm a freelance copywriter and I want to build a personal brand under my own name. But for legal and tax reasons, I need a separate LLC name that's not just my name. Has anyone done this? How do you balance the personal brand with a different legal entity name without confusing clients? Do I need a DBA or should I just use the LLC name everywhere? Any advice appreciated.
Branding
I want a personal brand but a separate legal company name
I haven't done it myself but I've seen folks use 'YourName, LLC' as the legal entity while operating as 'YourName Creative' or something. But if you want a completely different name, you might need a DBA. Why not just use the LLC name for everything and build a brand around that? Or is the personal brand really that important?
Have you considered that having two names might confuse clients? Like, if they hire 'RiverStoneCreative' but the contracct says 'Blue Sky LLC' they might think you're dodgy. I'd say pick one and stick with it. But what do I know, I'm just a lurker.
I'm in the same boat. I've got a personal brand as a designer but my LLC is named after my dog. It's fine. I just explain it once and people get it. The LLC is for legal stuff, the personal brand is for marketing. No big deal.
Why not just name your LLC your name? Like 'John Smith LLC' and then use a DBA for the personal brand? That seems simpler. Unless you have a reason not to use your name, like privacy? But you're building a personal brand so privacy is out the window.
I think a DBA is the way to go. Register the LLC with a name you like, then file a DBA for your personal brand. That way you can operate under both. But check your state's rules. Also, make sure the LLC name isn't taken. And don't forget to get an EIN. And separate bank accounts. It's a lot of paperwork but worth it.
Oh great, another 'personal brand' person. Just what the world needs. But seriously, I have a separate LLC name and its never been an issue. Clients care about the work, not the legal name on the invoice. As long as you're upfront, it's fine.
I'd say use the LLC name as your brand and skip the personal brand. It's easier to sell a business later if it's not tied to your name. But if you're set on personal brand, just use a DBA. It's like $50. Not a big deal.
i've been freelancing for 10 years and I've seen this go wrong. If you use a different name, make sure your contracts clearly state that 'RiverStoneCreative' is a DBA of 'Blue Sky LLC'. Otherwise, if you ever nezed to sue a client, there could be confusion. Also, your insurance might need to match. It's not just about marketing.
I think you're overcomplicating it. Just use your name as the LLC and call it a day. Personal brand is just your name. Why make up a fake company name? Unless you want to sound bigger than you are. But that can backfire.
What's the actual legal reason for the separate name? If it's liability, an LLC doesn't really protect your personal brand anyway. If it's for taxes, you can do that with a sole prop. Maybe talk to an accountant before you go down this rabbit hole.
I have a DBA for my personal brand and my LLC is something totally different. It's worked fine. Just make sure your web site and social media all use the personal brand name consistently. And put the LLC name in the footer or about page. No one cares.
Thanks for the input, everyone. I think I'll go with a DBA for the personal brand and keep the LLC name separate. I'll make sure to get the contracts and insurance sorted. Appreciate the tips.
Wait, you're going to use a DBA? I thought you wanted a separate legal company name. A DBA is just a ficxtitious name, not a separate legal entity. You might want to double-check that. But whatever works.