How to search DBA and assumed business names
A DBA ("doing business as"), also called an assumed, fictitious or trade name, is filed with the county clerk or recorder in some states and with the Secretary of State in others; several states split it by type of business. The filing is public and names the owner behind the business name.
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County or state
In Texas, for example, sole proprietors and general partnerships file with the county clerk in each county where they do business, while corporations and LLCs file with the Secretary of State (see the Texas guide). The table below gives the rule in each state.
Where DBAs are filed, by state
| State | Assumed names (DBA) | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | No county DBA filing | $30.00 registration or renewal (listed as Trademark) |
| Alaska | State only: Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development, Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing (Corporations Section). No county/borough DBA filing. A DBA is the name on an Alaska Business License (AS 43.70) | — |
| Arizona | No statewide county DBA filing statute found | Statutory maximum: no more than $10 to file or renew a trade name |
| Arkansas | Assumed-name (DBA) certificates for individuals/partnerships are filed with the County Clerk of each county where business is conducted | — |
| California | Fictitious business name (DBA) statements are filed with the County Clerk of the county of the principal place of business (within 40 days of starting business) | — |
| Colorado | Trade names (DBAs) are filed statewide with the Colorado Secretary of State, not counties | Statement of Trade Name $20.00 |
| Connecticut | Trade names (DBAs) are filed with the town clerk of the town where the business is mainly carried on, not with the Secretary of the State. Filing fee is $20, and the certificate is good for 5 years. | $20 |
| Delaware | Since February 2, 2026 trade names (DBAs) are registered statewide with the Division of Revenue via Delaware One Stop (onestop.delaware.gov), no longer with each county's Superior Court Prothonotary | — |
| District of Columbia | DLCP Corporations Division (Superintendent of Corporations) for all entities and trade names | Trade name registration, renewal, amendment or cancellation $55. Initial registration: domestic for-profit $99, domestic non-profit $80, foreign for-profit $220, foreign non-profit $80 |
| Florida | Fictitious names (DBAs) are registered statewide with the Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations (Sunbiz) - not with counties | $50 to register a fictitious name |
| Georgia | Trade names (DBA) are registered with the county Clerk of Superior Court (O.C.G.A. 10-1-490) | $25 nonrefundable (SOS name reservation) |
| Hawaii | Trade names (DBAs) are registered statewide with the DCCA Business Registration Division (BREG), not with counties. Filing fee $50.00 (Form T-1) | — |
| Idaho | Assumed business names (DBAs) are filed statewide with the Idaho Secretary of State (SOSBiz), not with counties | Certificate of Assumed Business Name $25 base filing fee ($45 total on paper with $20 manual processing fee) |
| Illinois | Sole proprietorships, general partnerships and professional service corporations register assumed names with the county clerk | Cook County: $50 registration fee |
| Indiana | Sole proprietorships and general partnerships using a name other than their real name file an assumed business name with the County Recorder in each county where situated | — |
| Iowa | A person doing business under a trade name (other than the true surname of each owner) must first record a verified statement with the County Recorder of the county where the business is conducted (Iowa Code ch. 547) | — |
| Kansas | The Secretary of State does not register assumed, fictitious, trade or DBA names, and sole proprietors do not register with the SOS. | — |
| Kentucky | Assumed names (DBA): individuals file with the county clerk of principal place of business | SOS: $20.00 for certificate/amended/withdrawal/renewal of assumed name |
| Louisiana | Sole proprietors/others using an assumed name file a certificate with the parish clerk of court (Orleans: register of conveyances) where they do business | SOS trade name, trademark & service mark registration $95 (effective 10/1/26, Act 921 of 2026) |
| Maine | Sole proprietor: certificate with the clerk of the city or town where business is carried on (not county or SOS) | $10 municipal clerk fee |
| Maryland | Trade names (DBAs) are filed statewide with SDAT, not with counties | $25 to file a trade name |
| Massachusetts | DBA ("business certificate") filed with the clerk of every city/town where the business has an office | Statutory default $1 filing fee, unless the city/town sets its own fee |
| Michigan | Sole proprietors and partnerships file with the county clerk in each county of business | $6.00 (a charter county over 2,000,000 may set a different fee) |
| Minnesota | Assumed names are filed with the Secretary of State, not the county | $30.00 by mail |
| Montana | Assumed business names (DBAs) register with the Secretary of State, not the county | $20 registration |
| Nebraska | Trade names (DBAs) are registered statewide with the Secretary of State (not the county): application $110 in office / $100 online | — |
| Nevada | Fictitious firm names (DBAs) are filed with the county clerk of each county where the business is conducted | Clark County Clerk: $25.00 new or renewal (includes one uncertified copy), $20.00 termination |
| New Hampshire | Trade names (DBAs) are registered statewide with the Secretary of State Corporation Division, not counties | — |
| New Jersey | Sole proprietorships and general partnerships file a Trade Name Certificate with the County Clerk of the county where the business operates | $54.00 trade name filing |
| New Mexico | The SOS form titled 'Application for Fictitious Name' is a certified board resolution by which a corporation adopts a fictitious name for use in New Mexico because its true name was turned down | — |
| New York | Sole proprietors/partnerships (not corporations, LPs or LLCs) file assumed-name certificates with the County Clerk of each county where they do business | — |
| North Carolina | Assumed business name certificate filed with Register of Deeds in the county of business | — |
| North Dakota | Trade names (DBAs) are registered with the Secretary of State, $25, renew every 5 years. Partnerships file a fictitious name certificate with the SOS, $25 plus $3 per extra member. | — |
| Ohio | Trade names and fictitious names registered with the Ohio Secretary of State (no county DBA filing) | $39 trade name or fictitious name registration |
| Oklahoma | County clerks also record fictitious name partnership certificates ($5.00 statutory recording fee plus Title 54 fees | — |
| Oregon | Assumed business names (DBAs) are registered with the Oregon Secretary of State, Corporation Division (not with counties). | — |
| Pennsylvania | Fictitious names (DBAs) are registered with the PA Department of State, not the county (since early 1980s) | $15 per entity number for written record search printout |
| Rhode Island | No longer local: since the 2025-26 transfer, the RI Department of State keeps all trade name (DBA) records | $20 to register a new trade name |
| South Dakota | Fictitious name (DBA) statements are filed electronically with the Secretary of State or on paper with any county Register of Deeds | — |
| Tennessee | Entities register an "assumed name" with the Secretary of State (valid 5 years, renewable) | $20 (Application for Registration of Assumed Name, SS-4402, corporations) |
| Texas | Unincorporated persons (sole proprietors, general partnerships) file assumed name certificates with the County Clerk in each county where they have premises or do business | — |
| Utah | D.B.A. (assumed name) certificates are filed with the state Division of Corporations and Commercial Code (not the county) within 30 days of starting business | — |
| Vermont | Assumed business names (trade names) registered with the Secretary of State, not the county or town | Plain copies $0.00 |
| Virginia | Assumed/fictitious name certificates are filed with the SCC Clerk (filings before January 1, 2020 were made in the office of the clerk of the circuit court) | $10 SCC filing fee |
| West Virginia | Trade names (DBAs) of individuals, sole proprietorships and general partnerships are filed with the Secretary of State under § 47-8-2, which names no county filing | No filing fee for individuals, sole proprietorships and general partnerships |
| Wyoming | Secretary of State only (no county DBA filing). Registering a trade name (DBA) is optional | $100 trade name registration. |
Each state links to its guide, where every office and fee carries its official source and check date. Fees shown are the state’s fee for a copy; the state guide lists the others.
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