Who must file a Business Certificate?
Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 110, section 5, states that any person conducting business under any title (business name) other than the real name of person conducting the business must file a Doing Business As certificate with the Town Clerk’s Office. A person is defined as an individual, a partnership or a corporation.
Exemptions to filing are allowed under section 6 if the corporation is doing business in its true corporate name, or if a partnership is doing business under any title, which includes the true surname of any partner. Certain other exemptions exist for trust and limited partnerships.

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1. What is a Business Certificate?
2. Who must file a Business Certificate?
3. Who must sign the Business Certificate?
4. How long are the certificates good for?
5. What if I go out of business, change my residence, change the location of the business or want to change the name of the business?
6. How much does it cost to file a certificate?
7. Must I display a copy of my Business Certificate?
8. What is the penalty if I do not file a certificate or statement?
9. Where do I get the forms and how do I file?
10. Does the Business Certificate give me the right to operate my business?