Thread: business names, DBAs, splitting aspects of a business?

Okay, so I have been teaching & performing under the business name Alaska Awalim for about 9 years now, and I like it & want to keep it for that part of my business, but as I look at expanding the productions side of my business- hosting events, putting together a band, getting students up to professional performance standards, arranging shows for local dancers- I am toying with the idea of giving it a separate name & identity. Forgive me for being paranoid about sharing the specific name just yet.

Do I need to set it up as a completely different business (second business license, additional insurance, etc) or is there some way to operate one business with 2 names for different aspects. Right now, Alaska Awalim is registered as a theater company, which covers everything I am doing- would I just need to file a DBA form with the state for the 'production company' side of the business? Business license renewal is due pretty soon, so now would be a good time to figure this out!

TIA!

ok, speaking from how it is here.....all of our services are under 1 name....that way, all of what we do comes up with a serach. there is a tribal girl in town...school, 1 name..troup another..agency another....hope you get my point

These are really good questions! I recently filed DBA's for two aspects of my business as well. I've been running my classes out of my small studio since 2008 and recently decided to separate those finances from my own finances. One DBA is my original business name: Raks Christina, and the other is the studio: Eastern Groove. I'm opening up separate business accounts for both and any money that flows through the studio is dealt with in the Eastern Groove account while my own income from gigs, workshops that I don't teach at EG, and earnings from events I promote will be part of the Raks Christina accounting.

I didn't think about how it would affect my insurance though. I'm wondering if I should get a separate policy for Eastern Groove or just list it as an additional insured under the policy I already have. Good things to think about.