​DBA to mask my identity in Illinois

[Frank S.]

Hello, 

I would like to create a separate business identity without having to form an LLC or corporation.

Now, I only want to mask my identity from my tenants and contractors. I carry a 1 million umbrella policy and simply want to have checks issued from/to my "Doing Business As".

 I own the units under my name only and may transfer them to a trust later on.  There is no mortgage.

I am not interested in LLCs; they don't provide the protection many people think they give.  They are useless to my particular case.

Have you done a DBA in Illinois?

Have you applied for a tax id or number doing this?  Have you tried to get the home depot tax exemption by claiming you will resell the goods/property in case of a flip?

Can you get more than one separate bank account under your DBA?

Can the lease be on the DBA only or does it have to have my name?

Can the lease have a PO address or does it have to have my home address?

Do you have any additional tips or tricks?

Thanks,

Frank

[Ronan M.]

How will a DBA give you more protection than an LLC ? Highly doubt that.

You have very little protection right now if your properties are all in your own name. 

A properly set up and well run LLC and good insurance should give you both the protection and anonymity you need. Just my opinion.

Own nothing. Control everything.