How To Register A Dba In All 50 States

Choosing a business name to trade is part of the startup process of growing businesses. While it isn't necessary to register a domain and cull a name immediately, some may cull to file a Doing-Business-Every bit (DBA) to:

Legally trade under a business proper name different from the owner'south or registered business's
Declare legitimacy and trust
Protect a desired hereafter trading name

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How To File a DBA

The process of filing a DBA tends to vary from country-to-state, even canton-to-county. Hither is a brief overview of DBA proceedings past state forth with official resources to assist yous get started.

Can I file for a DBA online? Yes, in many states you can do so online easily, merely this varies state by state.

Important: Always cheque the official sources as we are non not legal experts and regulations:

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How To File a DBA
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia – Washington, D.C
- Florida
- Georgia
- Guam
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Puerto Rico (Unincorporated The states Territory)
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- Due south Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- U.South. Virgin Islands
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
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Alabama

Full general partnerships or sole proprietorships are non required to file a DBA in Alabama.

At the time of filing a DBA, the filing concern must already be trading under a "fictitious" business proper noun. Relevant business concern names are registered via the Alabama Secretary of State by Corporations, LLPs and LLCs while conducting their necessary business concern filings by law.

Official Resource:

Alabama Concern Services	Link
Reserve An Entity Name	Link

Alaska

You take to file a DBA in Alaska if y'all program to merchandise under a name other than your registered name with the ASS (Alaska Secretary of State).

Sole proprietorships accept to file a DBA unless they intend to trade under the business owner's name.

Official Resource:

Reserve a Business Name	Link
Alabama Business Licensing	Link
Alabama Business Licensing FAQs	Link
Business Proper name Registration Form	Link

Arizona

You lot cannot file a DBA with the Arizona Corporate Commission since it isn't a legal requirement in this state. Businesses are able to reserve a trading name for a set fee, though this is not the same as filing a DBA. Applications take 2 to 3 weeks to process and price $x.00.

Official Resources:

Trade Names and Trademarks	Link
Merchandise Proper noun Reservations	Link

Arkansas

All businesses need to file a DBA when operating under a unlike trading name (other than the business owner'southward or business's registered proper name).

Official Resources:

Online Filing System	Link
Arkansas District Office	Link

California

Sole proprietorships or general partnerships are liable to file a DBA. In the state of California, this is referred to equally a Fictitious Concern Name Argument (FBNS).

LLCs, PLCs, and Corporations register an causeless business organization name as part of the legally required concern filings.

When filing an FBNS, you are responsible to bank check if the trading name is available and to ensure in that location are no trademark issues.

Official Resources:

Fictitious Proper noun Search	Link
Name Reservation Walkthrough	Link
Filing Options	Link

Colorado

Business owners need to file a DBA when trading nether an alternative proper name other than the owner's.

DBAs in Colorado are filed online and are required past:

Sole proprietorships
General partnerships
Domestic limited partnerships (DLP)
Active and/or dissolved reporting entities
Trusts

The filing fee is $twenty.00.

Official Resources:

File a Business Related Form	Link
Business organization Database Search (Names, Trademarks)	Link
Concern FAQs	Link

Connecticut

Sole proprietorships meliorate or file DBAs by mail (via the Connecticut State Department of Revenue Services) or at a local boondocks hall.

Registered partnerships, corporations or LLCs file past postal service merely.

When filing, the IRS may require the business to obtain a new employee identification number (EID) and a new Connecticut tax registration number.

Official Resources:

Managing Registration Data	Link
Business Registration	Link

Delaware

Businesses need to file a DBA via the Superior Court's role in your canton.

PLCs, LLCs and other entities need to file a DBA during business concern registration either online or by mail.

Official Resources:

Trade Name Registration Guide	Link
Merchandise Name Database	Link
Trade Name Laws	Link

District of Columbia – Washington, D.C

Individual traders are able to file a DBA to obtain a fictitious trade name.

Trade names must be different from corporate names, meaning that corporations and partnerships accept to file a DBA to legally operate under a new fictitious trade name.

The renewal of trade names is a legal requirement. The first renewal deadline is the 1st of April during the 2d yr of the.

Official Resources:

Corporate Divisions and Registration

Florida

You do not have to file a DBA in Florida.

Pre-requisites outlined by the Division of Corporations must be met when filing a DBA to secure a merchandise name. The filing toll is $x.00.

Official Resources:

Fictitious Proper noun Registration	Link
Registration Instructions	Link
Filing Options	Link

Georgia

All businesses must file a DBA to trade under a fictitious concern proper name in Georgia.

According to Georgia's Secretarial assistant of State, select counties and cities require the registree's state revenue enhancement identification number prior to registering a fictitious merchandise name (information bachelor at the local Chamber of Commerce).

The relevant county's superior court provides filing forms.

Official Resources:

First-Stop Business Guide	Link
Business Licenses	Link

Guam

Businesses in Guam demand to file a DBA, referred to as a Director of Revenue and Taxation of Guam (DRTG).

The toll of filing a DRTG is $25.00.

Official Resources:

DBA Filing Certificate	Link
Employ of Fictitious Names by Law	Link

Hawaii

All businesses in Hawaii are able to trade under an alternative business concern name past law without having to file a DBA.

The benefits of filing a DBA are:

Open and manage business organization accounts with ease
Trademark protection against similar trade names

You can file a DBA online for a fee of $l.00.

Official Resources:

Business Registration (BREG)	Link
Trade Proper noun and Trademark Registration	Link

Idaho

Corporations, LLCs, LLPs, sole proprietorships and full general partnerships must file a DBA – in this case, an Assumed Business Proper name (ABN) – to merchandise under a fictitious proper name.

The aforementioned businesses are able to practise business under a fictitious proper name and must select an "causeless" business proper noun before filing a Certificate of Assumed Business concern Name via the Idaho Secretary of Country.

Proper noun alterations toll $ten.00.

Official Resources:

Business concern Services – Resources	Link
Assumed Business Name FAQs	Link
Concern Proper noun Search	Link

Illinois

By law, businesses must file a DBA either online or at their respective State Recorder's office.

A filing is a requirement if a business is to trade under an alternative business name to the entity in the case of corporations, LLCs or LLPs, or the owner'south name in case of sole proprietorships and general partnerships.

Prior to filing a DBA, the business possessor must ensure that the trade name is bachelor. Detailed instructions on filing a DBA can be found on private county websites.

Official Resources:

Filing and Registration	Link
Small Business Assistance	Link

Indiana

Business organization trading under an alternative or fictitious business name must file a DBA.

Before you file a DBA in Indiana, yous must search and check the availability of your preferred trade proper noun.

Once y'all accept an available name, you are ready to file a DBA at the local County Recorder'southward office – exist certain to bank check the relevant county's website for details.

Official Resources:

Entrepreneur's Startup Guide	Link
Business Forms	Link
Register a DBA	Link
Business organisation Owner's Guide	Link

Iowa

All businesses must file a DBA in Iowa if they are to trade nether an causeless or culling business organization proper noun – one different from the entity or owner'due south.

Charges of taking on a fictitious trading name vary from business organisation to business, according to Iowa's Secretary of State website.

There is a recurring cost of $5.00, described as a "Resolution to Adopt Fictitious Names."

Official Resources:

Filing Forms and Fees	Link
Fictitious Name Registration Class	Link
Business Entity Filing	Link

Kansas

There is no formal or legal framework for registering a fictitious trade name, nor filing a DBA in Kansas. Should a business organization possessor want to annals every bit a sole proprietorship, full general partnership, LLC or LLP, trade names are reserved upward to 120 days in advance.

Official Resource:

Business Resource Knowledgebase	Link
Filing Forms	Link
Business Name Database	Link

Kentucky

The following business structures must file a DBA with the Kentucky Secretary of State, should they merchandise under an culling business concern name that differs from the entity's registered name or the owner's real name:

LLCs
LLPs
Limited partnerships
General partnerships
Sole proprietorships
Express liability companies
Trusts
Limited cooperative associations

Optional renewals take identify every 5 years.

Official Resources:

Business Names and Types	Link
Business Filings	Link
Trade Name Database	Link

Louisiana

All businesses need to file a DBA when trading under a fictitious name differing from the entity or owner.

Louisiana is another state which requires business owners to publish an commodity in a local newspaper announcing their DBA filing.

Official Resources:

Concern Filings	Link
Business Legislature	Link

Maine

All corporations, LLCs and PLCs must to register with the Agency of Corporations at the Office of the Secretarial assistant of Country past law. These business types are also required to file a DBA to be able to trade under an "assumed" proper name with the Agency of Corporations, Elections, and Commissions (BCEC).

While filing a DBA is not a legal necessity for sole proprietorships and general partnerships, either of the two wanting to trade nether an alternative business organisation name must file a DBA or annals an assumed name.

Official Resources:

Starting a Business organization Guide	Link
Merchandise Name (DBA) Protection	Link
Business Services and Resources	Link

Maryland

Businesses trading under a fictitious name must file a DBA.

DBAs are filed via the Maryland State Section of Assessments and Taxation (MSDAT) online or in-person for a fee of $25.00.

The MSDAT advises businesses looking to register a trade name to contact the Maryland Home Improvement Committee to check the availability of the desired name.

Official Resources:

Concern Services	Link
Merchandise Proper name Registration	Link
Beginning a New Business concern	Link

Massachusetts

Businesses planning to trade under a name other than their own in the State of Massachusets must file a DBA. DBAs are filed at a local, county (commonly), or even individual city level. General country guidelines do not be.

Use the below resources to observe your advisable city or county'south process.

Official Resources:

Proper name Reservations	Link
Get-go a New Concern	Link
Business Entity Database Search	Link

Michigan

The Country of Michigan requires sole proprietorships and general partnerships to file a DBA if trading under an culling business organisation name, or in this example an "assumed" business organisation proper noun. The filing of a DBA is done at a canton level.

All other business entities who wish to trade under a differing proper noun to the registered company's original name must also file a DBA.

Official Resource:

Assumed Name (DBA) Guide	Link
Certificate of Assumed Name	Link
Choosing a Business concern Proper noun	Link
County Level Business Proper noun Filing	Link
Assumed Name Cancellation Class	Link

Minnesota

DBAs are filed via the Minnesota Secretary of Country (MSoS) and can be done both online and in person at the MSoS office in Saint Paul, MN.

All businesses trading under a fictitious name are required to file a DBA.

Official Resources:

Mississippi

All businesses transacting under a fictitious, or alternative business name are required to file a DBA. Online filing is not yet a possibility, though forms are available to download.

Registrations last five years with an eternal renewal policy (no limits on renewals). DBA forms are submitted to the Business concern Services Division of the Secretary of Country'southward Role.

Each submission incurs a fee of $25.00.

Official Resources:

Fictitious Business organisation Proper noun Registration Act

Link

Missouri

Businesses trading nether a proper name different from the entity'southward registered name must file a DBA – referred to every bit a Fictitious Proper noun Registration.

Fictitious business organisation names are filed online or in person.

The Missouri Secretary of State offers phone support for business owners' queries on ane-866-223-6535.

Official Resource:

DBA Registration Guide	Link
DBA Registration FAQ	Link
Start a Business	Link

Montana

All businesses or individuals transacting nether an assumed or fictitious concern name must register with the Montana Secretary of State. Whatever attempted registrations with names which are already in use will be rejected.

Laws effectually DBA filing and naming conventions are stricter in Montana with the following rules:

The fictitious name must not be classed as misleading from the nature of the business
All fictitious names must exist different from the already registered proper noun of the entity (in case of corporations, LLCs and LLPs)
Upon filing, the business must country the nature of the commerce

All filed DBAs concluding for 5 years with the option to renew.

Official Resources:

Business organization Resource	Link
Business Assist Center	Link

Nebraska

Doing-business-equally names are known as 'trade names' in Nebraska. Filing a DBA is not a legal requirement as regulations are loose.

Businesses may merchandise nether a name different from the entity'south original name or in instance of sole proprietorships and partnerships, the owner's proper name.

The Nebraska Secretarial assistant of State does recommend filing a DBA to ease fundamental concern proceedings similar opening a bank account.

Official Resources:

Online Business Registration	Link
Name Reservation Guide	Link
Trade Proper name Laws	Link

Nevada

Businesses looking to merchandise nether an culling business organisation proper noun in Nevada must file a DBA. You file DBAs on a county to county basis every bit opposed to a land level.

Business owners demand to take initiative and research whether their desired business organisation name is available to use.

Registrations of fictitious names are usually done in person, though some counties practise have online services in identify.

Official Resources:

DBA Filing By County	Link
Online Concern Services	Link

New Hampshire

Filing a DBA is referred to as a Registration of Trade Proper name in the land of New Hampshire. The filing fee is $l.00 and applies to the following businesses trading nether surrogate business organisation names:

Corporations
LLCs
LLPs
Trusts

Individual unregistered traders who wish to operate under a fictitious proper name must likewise file a DBA.

Official Resources:

Trade Name Forms and Laws	Link
Trade Name Statutes	Link

New Jersey

Both profit and nonprofit entities are permitted to do business organisation nether an alternate business concern name in New Jersey, providing the relevant DBA – in this case, a C150-1000 form – is filed via the Division of Revenue.

If a business registered in New Bailiwick of jersey is already using a foreign entity'south (registered in a different state) business concern name, the latter is required to file a DBA to operate legally under a new, untaken trade proper name.

Fees vary in New Bailiwick of jersey and are:

Corporations, non-turn a profit businesses, and LLPs – $xv.00
LLCs – $50.00

Businesses operating under an unfiled for a proper name, a yearly accuse of $l.00 will be deducted by the Division of Revenue for every year in business.

Official Resources:

Register an Alternating Name	Link
Register a Business organization	Link

New Mexico

Trade name laws are tight in New Mexico. Business owners or companies trading under a fictitious proper name must file a DBA. The chosen trade name must not represent the business's sphere of action inaccurately.

Businesses file a DBA via the New Mexico Department of Finance and Assistants. Required filing information:

The business concern owner'south Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN)
Personal details (names, addresses)
Trade details (entity type, activity, designation)

Official Resources:

New York

A DBA – referred to as a Document of Assumed Proper noun in the state of New York – must exist filed through the New York Department of Country for registered entities to legally trade under a new causeless name.

Sole proprietorships and full general partnerships are obligated to file a business certificate with their relevant county clerks.

Costs vary by county, though they are significantly higher than other states.

Official Resource:

Assumed Name Document	Link
DBA Filing for Sole Proprietorships and General Partnerships	Link
Assumed Proper noun Certificate Filing Guide	Link

North Carolina

All sole proprietorships and partnerships must register an assumed proper noun, as well equally any incorporated businesses who wish to trade with a name different from the entity's registered one.

Businesses file a DBA or an assumed name with the Register of Deeds part. As of 2017, the state of North Carolina made online filing bachelor along with an online database of existing trade names.

Official Resources:

Assumed Business Names	Link
Trademark Registration Guide	Link

North Dakota

The DBA registration periods for trade names is five years. DBAs are filed by the following business types planning to transact with assumed names:

Sole proprietorships
Full general partnerships
Corporations
Limited liability companies
LLPs
LLCs

Filing a trade proper name – known as a franchise name – costs $25.00.

The official form of filing is named a "Trade Name Registration" or "Franchise Proper noun Disclosure". Look for the identification number "SFN 13401".

Official Resources:

Trade and Franchise Name Registration Guide	Link
Trade Name Registration Form	Link
Annals Your Business Name	Link
Business Services	Link

Ohio

Both private and incorporated businesses in Ohio need to annals for the legal use of a fictitious business organisation name.

You need to file a form (524A) and submit it to the Ohio Secretarial assistant of State.

Submissions are sent past mail, online or person and toll $25.00.

Official Resources:

Start a Business concern	link
Trade Name Filing Forms	Link

Oklahoma

Trade name registrations are not a legal requirement in Oklahoma.

Businesses are able to merchandise under an alternative merchandise name without filing a DBA. Business organisation owners notwithstanding benefit from filing a DBA past:

Registering the desired trade proper name earlier a competitor
Ease of concern banking
Avoiding trademark infringement

Domestic merchandise names and foreign trade names are filed by separate forms online via Oklahoma Secretary of State website.

Official Resources:

File a Merchandise Name	Link
Business concern Startup Guide	Link
Business Licensing Requirements	Link

Oregon

When trading under a trade name – referred to as an "assumed proper noun" in Oregon – businesses in demand to file a DBA.

The business owner is responsible to check the availability of the chosen causeless name before filing.

You lot tin annals and renew assumed concern names online and submit amendments and cancellations by postal service or in person.

The filing fee is $fifty.00 and renewals are due every ii years.

Official Resources:

Assumed Business organization Name Registration	Link
Assumed Business organisation Name Guide	Link
Registering Your Business organisation FAQ	Link

Pennsylvania

Businesses trading under an alternative trade name must file a DBA.

According to the Pennsylvania Department of State (PDS), business types liable to file are:

General partnerships
Sole proprietorship
Corporations
Associations
Joint-stock companies
Business trusts
Syndicates
Joint ventures

DBAs are filed with the PDS via mail.

Official Resources:

Fictitious Proper noun Guide	Link
Online Filing Portal	link

Puerto Rico (Unincorporated Usa Territory)

While the information in English language is limited, there is partial information online. All businesses operating in Puerto Rico as foreign entities and local entities trading under different names to their originally registered names must file a DBA.

DBAs are filed through the Department of State of Puerto Rico nether the Register of Marks, Trade Names and U.s.a. Deposits.

Official Resources:

Registration of Marks and Trade Names

Link

Rhode Island

You can file a DBA – a Fictitious Business organization Name Statements (FBNS) – in Rhode Island though information technology is not a legal requirement.

Similarly to fellow states where DBAs are optional, business owners may consider registering their alternative trading name for the sake of ease when:

Opening a business concern bank business relationship under a fictitious name
Staying legally condom when entering business concern contracts under a fictitious name

You lot demand to submit the completed FBNS form to the Rhode Island Secretary of Land by post for a fee of $fifty.00.

Official Resource:

Fictitious Business organisation Name Filing Guide

Link

S Carolina

Filing a DBA is not a legal obligation for businesses transacting under alternate merchandise names.

Sole proprietorships, partnerships and incorporated companies are able to simply merchandise under assumed names.

Some businesses still file a DBA for trademark protection. The South Carolina Secretary of Land offers split up DBA filing forms for:

Individual businesses
Corporations
Non-profits
LLC/LLPs

You agree the responsibility to check the availability of the preferred name.

Official Resources:

Online Filing Services	Link
Business concern Filing FAQs	Link

South Dakota

By constabulary, all business owners are obligated to file a DBA if trading under an assumed or fictitious proper noun.

Afterward searching for the availability of the new preferred merchandise name, businesses must head over to the S Dakota Secretarial assistant of State'southward website and file a DBA.

Online services include:

DBA amendment
DBA renewal (every 5 years)
DBA cancellation

The filing fee costs $10.00.

Official Resource:

Online DBA Portal	Link
Annals a DBA	Link
Business Services	Link

Tennessee

Referred to as an "Assumed Name" in Tennessee, filing a DBA is mandatory for all businesses when transacting with a business name other than the registered entity'due south.

The filing fee is $twenty.00 while an online tool gathers the relevant details for the registration of an assumed name.

Corporations need their Secretary of Land Command Number, a number assigned during the initial registration.

Official Resources:

Annals an Assumed Proper name

Link

Texas

Filing a DBA is obligatory for all corporations, LLP/LPs and LLCs also as foreign entities which conduct frequent transactions in Texas when trading nether a name other than the entity'due south originally registered name.

The Secretary of State offers an online service for this, though sole proprietorships and partnerships may only file a DBA in their respective counties via the canton clerk's office.

Name reservations cost $40.00 (lasting 120 days) and Causeless Name Certificate filings take a fee of $25.00.

Official Resources:

Business concern and Non-Profit Forms	Link
Name Filing FAQs	Link

U.South. Virgin Islands

By law, businesses must register a trade proper noun in the The states Virgin Islands if when trading nether a fictitious name.

Filing fees vary by business type:

Sole proprietorships, general partnerships, corporations and nonprofit – $25.00
Labor corporations, LPs, LLPs, LLLPs – $50.00

Official Resources:

Business concern and Trademark Forms	Link
Filing Fees	Link

Utah

Any business organization transacting under a name which differs from the legal name of the entity or the possessor must file a DBA.

Before filing a DBA, an available business organization name must exist proposed and validated by the applicant. Owners are as well liable to disclose personal details and more data on the nature and activity of the business.

You can file and renew DBAs online for fees of:

$22.00 to file
$27.00 to renew (every 3 years)

Official Resources:

File a DBA Online	Link
Renew Your DBA	Link
Business organization Name Search	Link

Vermont

Businesses trading with an alternative name are obliged to file a DBA in Vermont. Both profit and nonprofit entities fall under this category.

Merchandise name registrations cost $fifty.00 while renewals (every 5 years) toll $40.00 and are available online on the Vermont Secretary of Country website.

Official Resources:

File a DBA	Link
Business organisation Registration Services	Link

Virginia

You lot need to file a DBA in Virginia when trading nether a fictitious proper noun, regardless of the business's type.

According to the Virginia Secretary of Land, operating nether a fictitious name without a valid DBA can result in a fine up to $2,500.00, or a prison sentence upwardly to i twelvemonth.

Sole proprietorships must file a fictitious proper noun via their county clerk's office in person or past post.

Official Resources:

Fictitious Proper noun Filing Fees	Link
Fictitious Name FAQs	Link
Business Entity Search	Link
Online Business Services	Link

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