Trade Name Registration
County, city, and state-level filings
Operate under any name you like. Without forming a new company.
A DBA lets an existing LLC, corporation, or sole proprietor do business under a different name. We confirm whether your state or county requires the filing, prepare the paperwork, and file at the right office.
Pay only the state fee
60-day money-back
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Businesses formed
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From 8,200 reviews
A+
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$0
Missed-filing penalties
$0
Service fee
DBA
5 min
Filing time
online
51
Jurisdictions
filed
County-level
Coverage
as needed
E&O Insured · carrier on requestSOC 2 Type II · 2025 report220,000+ Formed4.9 · 8,200+ reviews51 Jurisdictions
What it is
File a DBA, explained plainly.
A DBA, also called a fictitious business name, assumed name, or trade name, is a name your business uses publicly that is different from its legal name. If your LLC is registered as "Sequoia Properties LLC" but you market apartments as "Bayside Rentals", you need a DBA for the second name.
A DBA does not create a new entity. It does not change your tax structure, ownership, or liability. It is simply a public registration that tells your state or county "this business uses this other name". Banks usually require a DBA filing before they will let you accept payments or open an account under the alternate name.
Where you file depends on your state. About half of US states file DBAs at the Secretary of State level; the other half file at the county or town clerk level. A handful (Arizona, Nebraska, others) do both. We confirm the correct office for your jurisdiction before filing.
5 minutes to start$0 service fee.
$0 service feeState fee at cost.
60-day refundChange your mind, get your money back.
Who this is for
Common situations that need this filing.
Sole proprietorsRun a side business under a name that is not your legal name (which is your own name by default for sole proprietors).
Multi-brand operatorsOne legal entity, multiple consumer-facing brands. Each public-facing name needs its own DBA in most states.
E-commerce sellersSelling on Amazon, Etsy, or Shopify under a store name that differs from your LLC name.
Real estate investorsProperty holding LLCs that market under a portfolio name instead of the entity name on title.
FranchiseesFranchisee LLC operating under the franchise system name (typically required by the franchisor).
Rebrands without restructureSame company, new public name. A DBA is the fast path without changing the legal entity name.
See one of these in your situation?
Start now. Most filings take five minutes to enter and we handle the rest.
What is included
What is included with every DBA filing.
- Name availability check at the right level (state, county, or both)
- Preparation of the Certificate of Assumed Name or equivalent form
- Filing at the Secretary of State or county clerk on your behalf
- Publication arrangement in states that require it (NY, NJ, FL, others)
- Filed copy of the approved certificate stored in your Document Vault
- Calendar reminders for DBA renewal (every 5 years in most states)
- Updated business banking documentation for your alternate name
How it works
Four steps. We handle everything else.
Name checkWe verify the trade name is available at the right level for your state.
PrepareWe complete the assumed-name form, signed and notarized where required.
FileSubmitted to the Secretary of State or county clerk that has jurisdiction.
ConfirmedYou receive the stamped certificate. Banks accept it for new account naming.
That is the whole process.
Skip the paperwork, skip the runaround. Let us file your DBA / trade name filing for you.
Side by side
How we compare.
LegalZoom
Premium
Higher service fee, narrow scope.
ZenBusiness
Mid
Mid-tier service fee, some add-on gates.
CorpNet
Mid
Value pricing, mixed feature parity.
File.Business
Honest
All-in pricing, no upsells.
- $99 service fee, transparent
- Jurisdiction confirmation included
- Publication handled in NY/NJ/FL/AZ
- Stored in Document Vault
- Renewal reminders included
- Cancel anytime
| LegalZoom | ZenBusiness | CorpNet | File.Business | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service fee | $$$ | $$ | $$ | $99 |
| Jurisdiction confirmation | manual | manual | limited | auto |
| Publication arranged | extra | extra | extra | included |
| Renewal monitoring | no | limited | limited | yes |
| Document storage | PDF only | no | limited | vault |
Why pay more for less?
Same filing, lower price, more included. Cancel anytime within 60 days.
“I run three brands under one parent LLC. File.Business filed three DBAs in two states without me lifting a finger. The bank accepted all three at my next visit.”
OM
3DBAs filed
2states + 1 county
$0bank rejections
60day promise
The File.Business Promise
If we miss a filing deadline on a service you pay us to manage, we pay the state penalty. If you change your mind in the first 60 days, we refund our service fee in full. Your data stays yours, always.
60-day money-back
Penalty-free filings
Cancel anytime
No surprise fees
FAQ
Common questions.
Is a DBA the same as forming an LLC?
No. A DBA is just a public name registration. It does not give you liability protection, does not create a separate entity, and does not change your taxes. If you want liability protection, form an LLC. A DBA is what you add on top to operate under a name different from the entity name.
Where is a DBA filed: state or county?
It depends on your state. Roughly 25 states file at the state (Secretary of State) level. The rest file at the county or town clerk level. A few states require filings at both. We confirm the correct office for your specific jurisdiction before we file.
Do I have to publish my DBA in a newspaper?
Some states (most notably New York, New Jersey, Florida, and parts of Arizona) require a published notice of the assumed name in a designated newspaper. We arrange the publication where required and include the affidavit of publication with your filing.
How long does a DBA last?
In most states, 5 years. A few states (California, Texas, New York) have different renewal cycles. We monitor your DBA expiration date and remind you well before it lapses.
Can multiple businesses share one DBA?
No. Each DBA must be tied to one filer. If two LLCs want to use the same trade name, both must file separately and the second filing may be rejected if it conflicts with the first.
Does a DBA protect the name from others using it?
No. A DBA filing puts your use of the name on the public record, but it does not give you exclusive rights. For that, you need a federal trademark registration with the USPTO.
Can I file a DBA before forming my LLC?
Yes, but you would file as a sole proprietor. If you later form an LLC, you will need to refile the DBA under the LLC. We typically recommend forming the LLC first if it is in your plans.
How fast can a DBA be filed?
For state-level filings, 1 to 10 business days depending on the state. For county-level filings, often same-day or next-day. Publication requirements (where applicable) add 2 to 6 weeks.
Will my bank accept the DBA filing?
Yes. The stamped certificate is the document banks require to open or rename an account under the trade name. We deliver it in PDF and store the original digitally in your Document Vault.
How much does it cost?
Our service fee is $99. State or county filing fees vary widely: $5 in Mississippi, $40 to $80 in most counties, up to $150 in some New York counties. We pass through state and county fees at cost.
Start your DBA in about 5 minutes.
Tell us a few details. We file at the right office. You receive the stamped certificate in your dashboard.
Pay only the state fee
60-day money-back
State fee at cost
Cancel anytime
220,000+ businesses formed · 4.9 ★ across 8,200+ reviews
Founders pick File.Business when speed and getting it right both matter.
Same-day filing in the 12 jurisdictions that offer it. 5-10 business days everywhere else. One dashboard for every entity you own, no per-entity surcharge.