A DBA (Doing Business As), also referred to as a Trade Name, Fictitious Name or Assumed Name, allows you to operate your business with a name different from your registered business name, and its costs vary by state. In this guide we detail the DBA filing fees, renewal terms, and additional expenses you may incur across all states, to help you plan your budget for your DBA registration.
Starting a small business is an exciting endeavor, but there are some administrative steps you need to take before opening your doors. One of those is obtaining a Doing Business As (DBA) name, also known as a fictitious business name. This allows you to operate your business under a name other than your personal legal name.
A DBA or fictitious business name is a business name that is different from your personal name, the names of your business partners, or the officially registered name of your LLC or corporation. For example, if your name is Jane Smith and you want to start a bakery called “Jane’s Sweet Treats,” you would file for a DBA. This lets you market and sell under the Jane’s Sweet Treats business name rather than your personal name.
The requirements and fees for filing a DBA differ by state. We’ll go over the costs for all 50 states plus Washington D.C. so you can get an idea of what to expect. But first, let’s dive deeper into what a DBA is and how the process works.
A DBA or “Doing Business As” name allows you to legally operate your business under a name other than your personal name or your LLC/corporation’s registered legal name. It associates the fictitious business name with your personal name or existing business entity.
Here are some key benefits of filing a DBA:
The steps to obtaining a DBA are:
Now let’s look at the DBA filing fees and requirements for all 50 states and Washington D.C.
DBA Costs for All 50 States and Washington D.C.
Here is an expanded table summarizing the current DBA filing fees, expedited fees, renewal terms, and newspaper publication requirements for all states and D.C.:
State | Filing Fee | Expedited Fee | Renewal Term | Newspaper Publication |
Alabama | $50 | $25 | 1 year | Required |
Alaska | $50 | N/A | 5 years | Not required |
Arizona | $12 | $35 | 5 years | Required |
Arkansas | $25 | $100 | No set term | Required in some counties |
California | $40 | $15 | 5 years | Only in certain cases |
Colorado | $20 | $50 | No set term | Required in some counties |
Connecticut | $60 | N/A | 5 years | Required |
Delaware | $50 | $100 | 5 years | Not required |
Florida | $50 | $35 | 5 years | Required |
Georgia | $20 | $10 | No set term | Not required |
Hawaii | $50 | $25 | 5 years | Required |
Idaho | $25 | $20 | Annual | Not required |
Illinois | $150 | $300 | No set term | Not required |
Indiana | $90 | $60 | Annual | Required |
Iowa | $35 | $10 | 5 years | Required |
Kansas | $40 | N/A | Annual | Required in some counties |
Kentucky | $40 | $20 | Annual | Not required |
Louisiana | $75 | $200 | No set term | Required in some parishes |
Maine | $50 | $50 | 5 years | Not required |
Maryland | $50 | $20 | No set term | Required |
Massachusetts | $50 | $10 | No set term | Required |
Michigan | $50 | $50 | 5 years | Required |
Minnesota | $50 | $50 | Annual | Not required |
Mississippi | $10 | $25 | No set term | Not required |
Missouri | $25 | $25 | No set term | Not required |
Montana | $30 | N/A | No set term | Required |
Nebraska | $10 | N/A | 5 years | Not required |
Nevada | $20 | $20 | No set term | Required |
New Hampshire | $50 | $2 | 5 years | Not required |
New Jersey | $50 | $10 | 5 years | Required |
New Mexico | $50 | $25 | 4 years | Not required |
New York | $25 | N/A | 2 years | Required |
North Carolina | $26 | N/A | Annual | Required |
North Dakota | $25 | N/A | No set term | Varies by county |
Ohio | $39 | $100 | 5 years | Required |
Oklahoma | $25 | N/A | No set term | Not required |
Oregon | $50 | N/A | 5 years | Required |
Pennsylvania | $70 | $50 | 3 years | Required |
Rhode Island | $20 | $20 | Annual | Not required |
South Carolina | $50 | $5 | 10 years | Not required |
South Dakota | $37 | N/A | Annual | Not required |
Tennessee | $20 | $5 | No set term | Varies by county |
Texas | $25 | $55 | 4 years | Not required |
Utah | $22 | $20 | 5 years | Required |
Vermont | $20 | N/A | 2 years | Required |
Virginia | $10 | $25 | No set term | Optional |
Washington | $20 | $50 | 5 years | Optional |
West Virginia | $15 | N/A | No set term | Required |
Wisconsin | $20 | $25 | 2 years | Required |
Wyoming | $50 | N/A | Annual | Not required |
Washington DC | $35 | $89 | 2 years | Required |
As shown, filing fees range from $10-150, with most states charging $20-50 for initial DBA registration. Expedited services generally cost an extra $20-100. Required newspaper publication ads tack on about $50. Renewal terms vary widely from annual to every 10 years.
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While the state filing fees are the primary cost, there are a few other factors that can affect the total price to obtain your DBA:
I hope this post has answered any questions you had and removed any lingering doubts.
But if you’re still unsure, it helps to write a list of the advantages and disadvantages, use ours and include your own.
An LLC structure is meant to make life easier for small to medium business owners. And even though forming an LLC might seem like a huge step right now, it’s a step in the right direction. One that could lead you and your business to a very bright future.
This portion of our website is for informational purposes only. Tailor Brands is not a law firm, and none of the information on this website constitutes or is intended to convey legal advice. All statements, opinions, recommendations, and conclusions are solely the expression of the author and provided on an as-is basis. Accordingly, Tailor Brands is not responsible for the information and/or its accuracy or completeness.
This portion of our website is for informational or educational purposes only. Tailor Brands is not a law firm, and the information on this website does not constitute legal advice. All statements, opinions, recommendations, and conclusions are solely the expression of the author and provided on an as-is basis. Accordingly, Tailor Brands is not responsible for the information and/or its accuracy or completeness. It also does not indicate any affiliation between Tailor Brands and any other brands, services or logos on this page.
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