In Illinois you would file a doing business as (DBA) form with the local county. An example would be Joe Smo DBA Joe Smo Electric. At least if it is a propritorship or partnership. It's just gives you the right to call your business what ever.
Forms of corporation are filed with the Secritary of state.
If you called your co your own name Joe Smo I don't think you would have to file anything here. You would not have much saying you are a registered business. When you put the Electric on the end here then I believe it would change requirements.
Odds may be against it but you should take the time to make sure there are no other Joe Smo Electric's in your state or near you. Just a search with my last name + Electric had a number of company web sites. I know in my state there is a big GC company with my last name + builders. You might want to search all the related fields for your last name used. You don't want to look like your the same company as maybe one with a bad reputation.
Tom
Tom
[This message has been edited by Active 1 (edited 02-11-2005).]
