DBA (Assumed or Fictitious Name)
Definition: A registered trade name that a person or company uses instead of its legal name.
A DBA ("doing business as"), also called an assumed name, fictitious name or trade name, lets a business operate under a name that is not its legal name. It creates no new entity and gives no liability protection: the sole proprietor, LLC or corporation behind it is still the party you deal with.
State or county filing
| Where DBAs are filed | Examples from our state guides |
|---|---|
| With the state, for every business | Florida, Arizona, Colorado, Maryland, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Missouri |
| State for entities, county for sole proprietors | Texas, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, New York |
| County or city only | California (county clerk-recorder), Delaware (county Prothonotary), Georgia (superior court clerk), Massachusetts (city or town clerk), Nevada (county clerk), North Carolina (register of deeds) |
| State revenue agency | Washington (Department of Revenue business licensing) |
| No state-level DBA registry | Kansas, South Carolina, Wisconsin |
How to run a DBA name search
A DBA lookup, fictitious name search or trade name lookup goes to whichever office the table above names for that state. Where DBAs are filed with the state, they usually appear in the same business search as LLCs and corporations. Where they are filed by county, search the county clerk's index in each county where the business operates; there is no statewide copy.
Why it matters when you search
A business entity search only finds legal names in most states. If a company is known by its brand, search the DBA records first to learn the legal name, then search that. Minnesota also requires a newspaper notice after filing, and several states make DBAs expire after five years. Before choosing a DBA, check it the same way you would an entity name; see claiming a business name. A business with only a DBA and no entity record is usually a sole proprietor.
Related: how to verify a business, Massachusetts business search.
DBA (Assumed or Fictitious Name) questions
Does a DBA create a new company?
No. A DBA is only a registered trade name. The person or entity behind it is still the legal party.
How do I search for a DBA?
Search the office that files DBAs in that state: the state register in some states, the county clerk in others. The table above shows which.
Sources
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