Business checks for an LLC: name, DBA and what to print

What name goes on business checks for an LLC?

Print the name exactly as it appears on the bank account title. For most LLCs, that is the legal entity name registered with the state, including the suffix: Harbor Tile LLC, not Harbor Tile. The bank matches the check to the account, and payees match the name to the invoice they sent, so the two should never disagree.

The SBA explains that an entity name is how the state identifies your business. If you are unsure how your account is titled, look at the top of a bank statement or ask the bank, and copy that line character by character, including commas and periods.

How do you print a DBA on LLC checks?

Many LLCs trade under a different name, called a DBA, trade name, fictitious name or assumed name. The SBA notes that most states require you to register a DBA if you use one and that the rules vary by state, county and city.

The usual layout puts the legal name first and the trade name on a second line, such as Harbor Tile LLC on line one and DBA Coastal Floors on line two. Some banks title the account with both names; some allow the DBA alone. Follow your account title, because a payee depositing a check made out to the trade name needs the bank to recognize it.

What address should LLC checks show?

Use the address where the business receives mail, usually the address of record on the bank account. A registered agent's address is for legal notices; it is usually the wrong address for checks, because payees and suppliers may send mail there.

If you work from home and prefer not to print your home address, consider a business mailing address and update the bank first. A check address that differs from the account can prompt questions from payees verifying a large check.

Should an LLC print its EIN on checks?

No. The EIN is not part of the MICR line and a bank does not need it to process a check. Printing it hands a useful identifier to anyone who handles your checks. Give your EIN to vendors on the tax form they request, not on the face of every payment.

Phone numbers are optional. A business line helps a supplier verify a large check quickly, but a personal cell number does not belong there.

How many signature lines should LLC checks have?

Match the signature lines to how your LLC authorizes payments. A single member LLC usually needs one line. A multi member LLC may require two signers above a threshold under its operating agreement or a bank resolution.

Printing two lines, or text such as Two signatures required over $5,000, documents the policy for your staff and payees. It is an internal control, not an automatic block: ask your bank whether it verifies dual signatures on every check before you rely on it. Keep all signature lines above the bottom 5/8 inch so no signature drops into the magnetic line.

Do you need a business bank account before ordering LLC checks?

Yes. Checks are drawn on a specific account, so open the LLC's business account first and order checks with that account's routing and account numbers. The SBA lists the documents banks typically request: an EIN, the business's formation documents, ownership agreements and a business license.

The SBA also notes that keeping business funds separate from personal funds supports your limited liability protection. Paying LLC bills from a personal checkbook works against that separation, even if the amounts are small.

Which check format suits an LLC?

Format follows how you pay, not the type of entity. An owner who writes checks on job sites usually wants wallet checks. An office that pays from QuickBooks, Xero or NetSuite wants laser checks. A business that writes checks by hand at a desk and wants a record of each one is well served by three to a page checks with side stubs. The check printing guide compares the formats in detail, and our guide to business checks with a logo covers artwork.

For a new LLC account, pick a starting number such as 1001; read what number your checks should start at for the reasoning.

What if the LLC changes its name, address or signers?

Order new checks whenever the printed details stop matching the account. The common triggers are a legal name change filed with the state, a new or dropped DBA, a move, a change in who may sign, and a switch to a new bank. Update the bank first, then the checks, so the new checks match the account on the day they arrive.

Void and shred the old stock once the new checks clear, and record the voided range. Keep the numbering going on the same account, or start a clearly different range if the bank account itself changed.

What should an LLC confirm before ordering checks?

Run through this list with a bank statement in hand, then keep the business check order checklist for reorders.

• Name line copied exactly from the account title, including LLC
• DBA line included only if the account recognizes it
• Address matches where the business receives mail
• No EIN, Social Security number or personal details printed
• Signature lines match your operating agreement and bank records
• Routing and account numbers taken from the bank, not typed from memory
• Starting number chosen and recorded

Every field a printer needs is listed in the information needed to order checks. When the details are settled, order checks for your LLC and approve the proof line by line. At Voqado, routing and account numbers are entered in a protected form and encrypted separately from the cart, and nothing prints until you approve the proof. This guide is general information; for rules on your DBA or account title, confirm with your state and your bank.