DBA / Trade Name Registration
Do Business Under Any Name
A DBA (Doing Business As) lets you legally operate, accept payments, and build a brand under a name different from your legal entity. Perfect for sole proprietors branding freelance work or LLCs launching new product lines.
What a DBA Unlocks
A DBA is one of the simplest filings you can make, but it opens doors that are closed without one. Banks, clients, and vendors need to see a registered trade name before they'll do business with you under it.
Operate Under a Trade Name
Use a name that's different from your legal entity name. A DBA lets you brand your business, product line, or division without forming a separate entity.
Open a Bank Account
Most banks require a DBA registration before they'll let you open a business bank account or accept payments under a name that differs from your legal entity name.
Invoice and Contract Legally
A registered DBA allows you to enter contracts, send invoices, and conduct business under your trade name with full legal standing.
Stay Compliant
Most states require you to register a DBA if you operate under any name other than your legal business name. Filing keeps you in compliance with state and local laws.
What Is a DBA?
A DBA (Doing Business As), also called a fictitious business name, assumed name, or trade name, is a registration that allows a person or business entity to operate under a name that is different from their legal name. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, most states require you to register a DBA if you use one.
For example, if you form an LLC called "Smith Holdings LLC" but want to operate a bakery called "Main Street Bakery," you would register "Main Street Bakery" as a DBA. This lets you accept payments, sign contracts, and market your business under the trade name while the LLC remains the legal entity behind it.
Where Do You File a DBA?
DBA registration requirements vary significantly by state. In some states, you file with the Secretary of State. In others, you file with your county clerk's office. Some states require both.
For example, New York requires a Certificate of Assumed Name filed with the Department of State plus county-level fees for each county where you do business. Texas files assumed name certificates with either the Secretary of State or the county clerk, depending on the entity type. In California, fictitious business names are filed with the county clerk in the county where the principal place of business is located.
CrowSmart handles the filing with the correct office for your state and county, so you don't need to research which jurisdiction applies.
Publication Requirements
Some states and counties require you to publish your DBA registration in a local newspaper after filing. This is a public notice that announces your business is operating under a fictitious name and identifies who owns it.
Publication requirements, including how many times you must publish and in which newspapers, vary by jurisdiction. After publication, you typically need to file proof of publication (an affidavit from the newspaper) with the same office where you registered the DBA. Not all states require publication, but where it's required, failing to publish can make your DBA registration invalid.
Who Needs a DBA?
You need a DBA any time you conduct business under a name that is different from your legal name (for sole proprietors) or your registered entity name (for LLCs and corporations). Common situations include:
- Sole proprietors who want to operate under a business name instead of their personal name
- LLCs and corporations that want to operate a brand, division, or product line under a different name
- Partnerships that want to use a business name instead of listing all partners' names
- Franchisees who operate under the franchise brand name
DBA Renewal and Expiration
In many states, DBA registrations expire after a set period (commonly five years) and must be renewed. If you let your DBA expire, you lose the right to operate under that name and may need to re-register. Some states also require you to file an abandonment or withdrawal when you stop using a DBA name.
A DBA lets you legally operate under a trade name without forming a new entity. It's required in most states, filed at either the state or county level, and may require newspaper publication. A DBA does not provide liability protection. If you need that, form an LLC first.
What's Included
- DBA registration prepared for your state/county
- Filed with the correct jurisdiction
- Publication arranged where required
- Confirmation delivered to your dashboard
Related Services
- LLC Formation
Liability protection before your DBA
- EIN / Tax ID
Required for business bank accounts
- Business Domain
Match your DBA with a website
Need liability protection too? Form an LLC first, then register your DBA under it for the best of both worlds.
What You'll Receive
Once your DBA is registered, you'll have everything you need to start operating under your trade name:
DBA Registration Certificate
Official filing confirmationThe filed and stamped DBA registration from your state or county. This is the document banks require to open a business account under your trade name, and the proof that you're authorized to operate under it.
Ready to Use Immediately
Start operating under your trade nameOnce your DBA is on file, you can open a business bank account under your trade name, accept payments, sign contracts, create marketing materials, and legally represent your business under the registered name.
Frequently Asked Questions
Got questions? We've got answers. Find everything you need to know about our Compliance service.
Register Your Trade Name
Starting at $149 + filing fees. Filed with the correct state or county office.