Thread: silly mistake! check payment. help please.

I just had a gig. I had agreed to accept a check payment (which I typically do not do). When I get the check it is made out to "belly dance by *dancingstar*" (which is what's on my website) instead of my name. that is totally my bad that I didn't clarify what I wanted on the check; i didn't think about it because... I don't take checks. Question: can I cash this check at all, or do I need to get a new one? I don't have a separate business account; I keep tabs on my business expenses/profits but use my personal account.

If I need to set up a business account to cash the check, is that easy to do?

Help please..

You just need to endorse the check on the back "belly dance by *dancingstar*". Under that put your name, then "For Deposit Only", and last the account number. You shouldn't have any trouble.


PS. That is if you are in the US. It might be different in other countries.

It may depend on how closely your bank is following the regulations that began after 9-11. At my bank, the account information (either account holder, business name, or DBA "doing business as") must include whatever name the check is made out to. In order for me to accept checks made out to "Kiyaana" or "Kiyaana Bellydance", I first had to register a fictitious name with my county (rules will vary depending on your location) to prove that my regular name and Kiyaana are associated with each other. Then I set up an account at my bank with that information.

One of the businesses that my husband operates sends checks to artists across the country and several of them have asked us to remove their fictitious names from payment info (or at least make sure both names are on the check) because their banks were cracking down due to the regulations. Sit down with someone at your bank to find out exactly what they want you to do.

Originally Posted by Ariadne_Eleni

You just need to endorse the check on the back "belly dance by *dancingstar*". Under that put your name, then "For Deposit Only", and last the account number. You shouldn't have any trouble.


PS. That is if you are in the US. It might be different in other countries.

This happened to me once. I took the check down to the bank along with some business cards with my picture on them. I explained what had happened, showed them the business cards to they could see that I really was "Asra", and they agreed to deposit the check.

Later, to prevent that from happening again, I changed the checking account to that I could accept checks made out to my dance name.

Thank you all so much. I'll call my bank. But it sounds like maybe I don't need to get a new check... which I could do but I would rather not; I'd be embarrassed. I also feel less silly... I guess it happens sometimes. And now I will know for next time.

This is anecdotal, but I had been cashing checks made to my dance name by depositing them in my legal name account for *years*. One day, the same branch I always used refused to it, said no one should have ever done it for me. They had no interest in my business cards or anything else.

They said I could get a DBA then cash it. So that's what I did, but it took a few weeks and I was a bit panicked up until then.

Give it a go, but be ready for a plan B.

I was just going to post: I called my bank... or I should say, credit union - and boy did they give me a hard time about it. I wanted to put that warning out there in case someone else comes across this thread. If I take a check again I'm going to add in the contract "please make check payable to (legal name)" and also verbally remind them.

Originally Posted by LeylaFahada

They said I could get a DBA then cash it.

Sounds like it would be a good idea to know how to get a DBA these days. How is that done?

It depends on the state. Google can get you the specifics.

Don't forget the legalities (i.e. tax man, business licensing etc.).

I wouldn't do/have a DBA without being covered....

Everything is closely looked at now.