What are the steps to become an official publisher?

[Turanil]

I have decided to become a publisher in my own right!

The fact that I don't have anything to publish as of yet, and don't care for stuff like business plans, is not the point!

After all, I am a graphic designer, and could decide to distribute anything under my name (including comics), even if it doesn't get me a single buck.

My main question here is: how do I register a name without spending money (or if I must spend money, how it is done, where, and what are the least expensive ways); how can I be considered official, with a name that is my property?

(For those who want to know, I have a d20 Future project on the work, that I want to turn into a PDF for sale at RPGnow, plus I want to distribute free stuff under my brand new name.)

 

[philreed]

Check into your county laws for d/b/a. (They vary slightly here and there.) That's the cheapest way to go.

 

[Justin D. Jacobson]

Phil's mostly right. Although in most jurisdictions (if not all) it's a state-level registration. If you're trying to find info on the web, you might Google "fictitious name" "registration" and "[state name]"

FYI, Florida's web page can be found here.

 

[HalWhitewyrm]

Absolutely, d/b/a is the easiest way to go. I just did mine last week and got the paperwork back last night, so now I am official.

That would make Highmoon Media Productions yet another gaming company operating out of South Florida.