I’m not exactly sure what the laws are for MA, but I do know that one really good place to get a DBA is through Legalzoom.com

I went through them for my DBA and everything was smooth sailing. Highly recommended!

A dba is usually obtained from the county Registrar of Deeds. It’s easy and inexpensive- you just have to do a search in their records (usually computerized though not always) to make sure nobody else is using that name. Check with your courthouse or Google dba or “trade name” and your county.

You can usually just go to your local townhall office and ask them for information on how to file a DBA. You may have to have a tax ID number for your business (either an EIN or your own SS#).

DBA’a aren’t that expensive usually. I managed to file mine for about $65 in MA.

IM not really sure on this one? I am a sole proprieter, so i don’t require a license. I would imagine it would be something you would be able to put into a search engine, or call the town hall to figure out. If you are a sole proprieter, you are not required to have a DBA license or an EIN, btw:)

same as what simianstyle said. also, they prob have an easy way for you to seach your intended name to make sure no one else has it.

Go to the county clerk’s office.True if you are a one person business then you probably don’t have to register. (check your state laws) But the whole point is to make sure your name is just that… yours. You don’t have to have an ein tax number if you are an individual unless you want to. Also bear in mind that some town charge a fee, even if you work out of your home, but mostly they don’t know unless they see you in the yellow pages & only then if they are actively looking for new business to charge a fee for the towns revenue.
At any rate good luck & above all research!