When operating a business under a Doing Business As (DBA) name, it is essential to protect your interests and mitigate risks through appropriate insurance coverage. DBA entities encompass a wide range of businesses, from sole proprietors to partnerships and corporations. In this article, we will explore insurance options tailored to the unique needs of different DBA entities to ensure comprehensive coverage and peace of mind.

1. Sole Proprietor DBAs:

Sole proprietors who operate their business under a DBA name have distinct insurance needs. Here are some insurance options that are particularly relevant for them:

  1. General Liability Insurance: This coverage protects sole proprietors against third-party claims for bodily injury, property damage, or personal injury. It is crucial for DBAs who interact with customers, as it covers legal expenses, settlements, or judgments arising from accidents or negligence claims.
  2. Professional Liability Insurance: Also known as Errors and Omissions (E&O) insurance, this coverage is essential for sole proprietors providing professional services. It safeguards them from claims of errors, omissions, or professional negligence that may result in financial losses for clients. Professional liability insurance covers legal defense costs and damages awarded in such claims.

2. Partnership DBAs:

Partnerships that operate under a DBA name require insurance coverage tailored to their unique structure. Consider the following options:

  1. Partnership Liability Insurance: This coverage protects partners from claims arising from the actions or decisions of another partner. It provides financial protection for the partnership as a whole, covering legal expenses and potential liability resulting from partner disputes or actions that may harm the partnership or its stakeholders.
  2. Business Interruption Insurance: Partnerships heavily rely on the collective effort of their members. Business interruption insurance helps cover financial losses when the partnership’s operations are temporarily disrupted due to events such as natural disasters, equipment failures, or other unforeseen circumstances.

3. Corporate DBAs:

Corporations that operate under a DBA name face unique risks and legal considerations. The following insurance options are recommended for corporate DBAs:

  1. Directors and Officers (D&O) Insurance: This coverage protects the directors and officers of the corporation from claims of wrongful acts, errors, or negligence in their managerial roles. D&O insurance provides coverage for legal expenses, settlements, or judgments, safeguarding the personal assets of directors and officers.
  2. Cyber Insurance: With the increasing threat of cyberattacks, corporate DBAs should consider cyber insurance. This coverage helps protect against data breaches, network security incidents, and other cyber threats. It covers costs associated with data recovery, legal expenses, notification requirements, and potential liability arising from a data breach.

Conclusion

No matter the type of DBA entity, it is crucial to secure appropriate insurance coverage to protect your business and personal assets. Sole proprietor DBAs should consider general liability and professional liability insurance, partnership DBAs should prioritize partnership liability and business interruption insurance, while corporate DBAs should focus on D&O insurance and cyber insurance. By selecting the right insurance options, DBA entities can mitigate risks, minimize financial losses, and ensure the long-term success and stability of their businesses.

Video Transcript

Do you need insurance for each DBA? That is a question a business owner asked me recently. The business owner had set up an LLC and had one or more DBAs for that LLC, and the business owner wanted to know, do I need to have a separate insurance policy for the LLC and each DBA? The answer is, quite simply, no.

A DBA is not an entity. It is merely a name. Think about on your computer if you have a shortcut like a file. Well, the shortcut isn’t a file. All it is is a quick way to refer to the file. Likewise, if your name is Bob or Robert, that is just a name referring to you. Well, that is what a DBA is; sometimes called an assumed name.

A DBA is just a name referring to an LLC or a corporation. So do you need a separate insurance policy for a different name? No. As you think about it that way, it wouldn’t make sense to have a separate insurance policy just because you have a separate name. The insurance policy covers what the business and what happens to the business.

So it doesn’t matter how many names the business has or how many DBAs the business has. You only need one insurance policy to cover that business.

I am Aaron Hall, an attorney for business owners and entrepreneurial companies. If you have other questions, feel free to leave them in the comments section below. And if you want answers to other questions business owners have had, you can subscribe to the channel or sign up to get our free newsletter, which includes first a list of most frequently encountered problems by business owners, and then second, a number of videos explaining how you can avoid those problems. It is all free. To get it, you just go to aaronhall.com/free.