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DBA rules by state
| State | Name of filing | Where to file | Fee | Required? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wyoming | Trade name registration | Wyoming Secretary of State | $100 (renewal $50) | Optional — Wyoming doesn’t require a DBA filing |
| Texas | Assumed Name Certificate (Form 503) | Texas Secretary of State (no county filing for LLCs since 2019) | $25, valid up to 10 years | Required if you do business under a name other than the LLC’s legal name |
| Delaware | Trade name | Delaware Division of Revenue (One Stop) since February 2, 2026 | See Delaware One Stop | Required to operate under another name |
| California | Fictitious business name | County where the principal place of business is located | Set by each county | Required to use a name other than the LLC’s legal name |
| North Carolina | Assumed Business Name Certificate | County Register of Deeds (one filing can cover several counties) | Set by the Register of Deeds | Required to use a name other than the LLC’s legal name |
| New York | Certificate of Assumed Name | New York Department of State | $25 (no county fee for LLCs) | Required to use a name other than the LLC’s legal name |
| Georgia | Trade name registration | Clerk of superior court in the county where the business is mainly carried on | Set by the county | Required to use a name other than the LLC’s legal name |
| Michigan | Certificate of Assumed Name (Form 541) | Michigan LARA Corporations Division | $10 for an LLC; valid through December 31 of the fifth full calendar year after filing | Required to use a name other than the LLC’s legal name |
When an LLC needs a DBA
- Your brand or storefront name differs from the LLC’s legal name.
- You run several product lines under one LLC.
- You drop “LLC” or change words in the name you use publicly.
You don’t need one if you always use the exact legal name. Choosing the name before forming? Check availability and consider a name reservation — see LLC costs by state.
How to register a DBA for your LLC
- Check the name. Search your state’s business records (and the county, where DBAs are county-filed) and make sure the name doesn’t mislead people into thinking it’s a different kind of entity.
- File with the right office. State-level in Texas, New York and Wyoming; the county in California and North Carolina (see the table above).
- Pay the fee and publish if required. Some counties require a newspaper notice after filing.
- Update your bank and tax records. Add the DBA to your business bank account so you can accept payments under it.
- Track renewal. Texas assumed names last up to 10 years; other states and counties set their own terms.
Frequently asked questions
What is a DBA for an LLC?
A “doing business as” name — also called an assumed, fictitious or trade name — lets your LLC operate under a name other than its legal name, such as “Sunrise Bakery” for “Sunrise Holdings LLC”.
Does an LLC need a DBA?
Only if it does business under a name different from its exact legal name. Most states require you to register that name; Wyoming says registering a DBA isn’t mandatory.
How much does a DBA cost?
Among the states we cover: $25 in Texas and New York (state filings), $100 for a Wyoming trade name registration, and set by the county in California and North Carolina.
Does a DBA give liability protection?
No. Protection comes from the LLC. A DBA is just another name for the same LLC — contracts should still identify the LLC.
Can I open a bank account under my DBA?
Usually yes, as long as the account is in the LLC’s legal name with the DBA added; banks typically ask for the DBA filing.
Your LLC setup checklist
- Get a free EINFrom the IRS, in minutes online.
- Open a business bank accountKeep LLC money apart from yours to protect the liability shield.
- Sign an operating agreementSettle who owns and decides what before it matters.
- Get business insuranceCover what the LLC itself doesn’t protect.
- Plan your taxesKnow your tax status and federal due dates.
- Track state deadlinesFree reminders before each filing.
Everything in one list: printable LLC compliance checklist · live deadline calendar.