To add a Doing-Business-As name to your Relay account, contact the Customer Experience team with state-issued DBA documentation, so payments made out to that name can be accepted and deposited.
What you need before you start
Documentation that verifies your DBA name, typically issued by your state's Secretary of State (for example, a certificate of assumed name, fictitious name registration, or trade name filing)
Access to Relay's Customer Experience team via the in-app help widget or the contact page
What is a DBA?
A DBA (Doing-Business-As) name is a registered name your business uses that is different from its legal business name. Depending on your state, it may also be called a trade name, fictitious name, or assumed name.
How do I add a DBA to my Relay account?
Contact the Customer Experience team and request that your DBA be added to your business account. You'll be asked to provide supporting documentation that verifies the DBA name.
Reach the Customer Experience team through the in-app help widget or the Talk to our Customer Experience team page.
Let the agent know you'd like to add a DBA to your Relay account.
Share the DBA documentation issued by your state (see the next section for what qualifies).
Wait for confirmation from the Customer Experience team that the DBA has been added.
Verify the DBA in Relay by going to Settings > Business Info.
What documentation does Relay need?
Provide documentation that verifies the DBA name and ties it to your registered business. This documentation is typically issued or made available by your state's Secretary of State. If you do not have a copy on hand, your Secretary of State can usually provide one on request. You can also start with a Secretary of State business entity search to locate the correct filing.
Which names can receive payments into my Relay account?
Relay accepts payments into your account when they are made out to:
Your business's legal name
The name of a business owner on file
A DBA that has been added to your Relay account
Payments made out to a DBA that has not yet been added may be returned, including check deposits, ACH transfers, and wires. For a full breakdown, see Which names can I receive ACH, wire, or check payments under?.
Can I add multiple DBAs to my Relay account?
Yes. Relay can add multiple DBAs to a single business account. Only one DBA will be visible in Settings > Business Info, but all added DBAs are on file and can receive payments.
Where does my DBA appear in Relay?
After your DBA has been added, you can view it by going to Settings > Business Info. If more than one DBA has been added, only one will display in this view. Contact the Customer Experience team if you need to confirm the full list of DBAs on your account.
How do I change or remove a DBA on my Relay account?
Contact the Customer Experience team and provide valid state-issued documentation for the new DBA name. The same review process applies as when adding a DBA for the first time.
Common issues
A payment made out to your DBA was returned. The DBA had not been added to the account yet, or the documentation was still under review at the time the payment arrived. Add the DBA, then ask the payer to resend.
Only one DBA is showing in Settings > Business Info. Only one DBA displays in the app, but multiple can be stored on the account. Contact the Customer Experience team to confirm the full list.
Documentation was rejected. Relay requires state-issued proof of the DBA. Contact your state's Secretary of State to obtain the correct filing.
A payment was made out to a business owner's name instead of the DBA. Payments to a business owner on file are also accepted, so no action is needed.
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If this article did not fully answer your question, our Customer Experience team is here to help.