Starting a Business in Amherst, MA

If you operate under a business name that is different from your legal personal name or your registered LLC or corporation name, you must file a Business Certificate, also called a DBA, with the Amherst Town Clerk. This applies whether you registered through the state or not.

How local and state registration actually works, with a real example

Let’s say you want to start a cleaning service in Amherst, and your name is Jane May.

Option 1: Operating under your own name

You are allowed to operate simply as Jane May. In this case, there is no separate business name. You do not need to register a business name with the town. You may still need permits or licenses depending on the work, but there is no DBA involved.

Option 2: Operating under a different name, a DBA

You decide you want to call your business May’s Cleaning Services.

Because this name is different from your legal name, you must register it with the Town Clerk in Amherst. This is called filing a Business Certificate, commonly referred to as a DBA for “Doing business as…”.

In this case, the public record would show:
Jane May, doing business as May’s Cleaning Services.

This registration happens at the town level. It does not create a separate legal entity. It simply tells the public who owns the business name. Publications like Business West frequently share DBA registrations.

Option 3: Forming an LLC or corporation through the state

Now, let’s say you want more structure. You want a business bank account, an EIN, and a legal entity that is separate from you personally. In this case, you would register at the state level with the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth.

You would form an LLC, for example, May’s Cleaning Services LLC – or you could opt for another business structure; General Partnership, C Corp, S Corp, etc. You can read about the different business structure options here. You may want to get professional advice before you settle on one particular structure.

For the purposes of this guide, we will use LLCs, as it is commonly used by small businesses.

Once approved, your business legally exists as an entity under Massachusetts law. You can then apply for an EIN and set up business finances.

If your LLC has only one owner and no partners, it is considered a single-member LLC. For tax purposes, this is often treated as a disregarded entity. That means the business income is still reported on your personal tax return, even though the LLC exists legally.

Important clarification

Town registration and state registration serve different purposes.

Town registration is about the business name and public transparency.
State registration is about creating a legal entity.

You may need one, the other, or both, depending on how you set up your business.

Please note

This explanation is for general guidance only and is not tax or legal advice. Always consult a qualified tax professional or accountant for advice specific to your situation.