How Much Does a DBA Cost?

Starting, running, and growing a business will take a lot of dedication, time, and, yes, paperwork. One thing that many business owners should consider is getting a DBA name. A “Doing Business As” or DBA can offer many benefits depending on whether you own a sole proprietorship, limited liability company (LLC), or other entity, and deciding to get one is entirely up to you. 

The following are brief descriptions of each state’s DBA filing requirements. Keep in mind that this is not legal advice, and we encourage you to contact a business attorney and/or your Secretary of State’s office, county clerk, or other appropriate party for rules and regulations concerning DBAs in your state, county, or city.

All information was last updated in April 2022. 

DBA Prices by State

Here is an alphabetical list of each state’s DBA cost and what it’s known as. 

Alabama

In Alabama, a DBA is known as a “trade name” and must be filed with the Secretary of State. 

The fee is $30. 

Alaska

In Alaska, a DBA is known as a trade name, “assumed name,” or “also known as” and must be filed with the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development’s Division of Corporations, Business, and Professional Licensing. 

The fee is $25. 

Arizona

In Arizona, a DBA is known as a trade name and must be filed with the Secretary of State. 

The fee is $10. 

Arkansas

In Arkansas, a DBA is known as a “fictitious name” and must be filed with the Secretary of State. 

The fee is $25 by mail and $22.50 online. 

California

In California, a DBA is known as a “fictitious business name” and must be filed at the county level.

The fee will vary by county. 

Colorado

In Colorado, a DBA is known as a trade name and must be filed with the Secretary of State.

The fee is $20.

Connecticut

In Connecticut, a DBA is known as a trade name and must be filed with the town hall wherever the business is located. 

The fee will vary by city. 

Delaware

In the state of Delaware, a DBA is known as a trade name or a fictitious name and must be filed at the county level.

The fee is $25. 

District of Columbia (Washington, D.C)

In Washington, D.C., a DBA is known as a trade name and must be filed with the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs.

The fee is $55. 

Florida

In Florida, a DBA is known as a fictitious name and must be filed with the Department of State’s Division of Corporations. 

The fee is $50. 

Georgia

In Georgia, a DBA is known as a trade name and must be filed at the county level. 

The fee will vary by county. 

Hawaii

In Hawaii, a DBA is known as a trade name and must be filed with the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. 

The fee is $50.

Idaho

In Idaho, a DBA is known as an “assumed business name” and must be filed with the Secretary of State.

The fee is $25 online and $45 by mail. 

Illinois

In Illinois, a DBA is known as an “assumed name” and must be filed with a county clerk. 

This state has unique filing fee requirements:

• For years ending in 0 or 5, the fee is $150.
• For years ending in 1 or 6, the fee is $120.
• For years ending in 2 or 7, the fee is $90.
• For years ending in 3 or 8, the fee is $60.
• For years ending in 4 or 9, the fee is $30.

For sole proprietorships, general partnerships, and professional corporations, filing must be done at the county level, so fees will vary. 

Indiana

In Indiana, a DBA is called a fictitious business name and must be filed at the county level.

The fee will vary depending on the county and business type.

Iowa

In Iowa, a DBA is called a fictitious name and must be filed with the Secretary of State. 

The fee is $5. 

Kansas

In Kansas, a DBA is known as a fictitious name. Filing one can be unique since there is no procedure to do so. Things depend on the business location, meaning that filing may be done either at the county or city level.

The fee will vary. 

Kentucky

In Kentucky, a DBA is called an assumed name and must be filed with the Secretary of State.

The fee is $20. 

Louisiana

In Louisiana, a DBA is known as a trade name. Businesses requesting a DBA will need to publish an article in their local newspaper to announce their DBA filing. The filing must be done with the Secretary of State. 

The fee is $75. 

Maine

In Maine, a DBA is known as an assumed name and must be filed with the Bureau of Corporations at the Office of the Secretary of State.

The fee varies by county. 

Maryland

In Maryland, a DBA is known as a trade name and must be filed with the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT)

The fee is $25.

Massachusetts

In Massachusetts, a DBA is known as an assumed name and must be filed at the local level. This means that rules, guidelines, and the fee will vary. 

Michigan

In Michigan, a DBA is called an assumed name. For sole proprietorships and general partnerships, it’s done at the county level, so prices and rules will vary.

Businesses with Articles of Incorporation or Organization will need to file with the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. Fees will also depend on the business type:

• $10 for corporations and limited partnerships
• $25 for LLCs

Minnesota

In Minnesota, a DBA is known as an assumed name and must be filed with the Secretary of State. The state requires that a Certificate of Assumed Name be filed and published in a newspaper prior to doing business. It can be published in any newspaper in the county where the business is located. The certificate must be published for two consecutive issues. 

The fee depends on the method: $50 online or $30 by mail. 

Mississippi

In Mississippi, a DBA is called a fictitious name. The state doesn’t require businesses to register a DBA name. If doing so, it has to be done with the Secretary of State. 

The fee is $25.

Missouri

In Missouri, a DBA is called a fictitious name and must be filed with the Secretary of State. 

The fee is $7. 

Montana

In Montana, a DBA is called an assumed name and must be filed with the Secretary of State. 

The fee is $20. 

Nebraska

In Nebraska, a DBA is known as a trade name and is not a legal requirement. If done, it must be filed with the Secretary of State. 

The fee is $100. 

Nevada

In Nevada, a DBA is known as a “fictitious firm name” and must be filed at the county level. This means that regulations and cost will vary depending on the county. 

New Hampshire

In New Hampshire, a DBA is known as a trade name and must be filed with the Secretary of State.

The fee is $50. 

New Jersey

In New Jersey, a DBA is known by different terms depending on the business type:

• A DBA for corporations, LLCs, and limited partnerships is called an “alternate name.”
• A DBA for sole proprietorships and partnerships is called a trade name.

For an alternate name, a business will need to file form C-150G with the State Treasurer. For a trade name, registration is done at the county level via a Trade Name Certificate. 

The fee for an alternate name is $50, and the fee for a trade name varies by county. 

New Mexico

In New Mexico, a DBA is known as a trade name and isn’t required to file. However, if a business owner chooses to get one, it must be filed with the Secretary of State. 

New York

In New York, a DBA is known as a “certificate of assumed name” and must be filed with the New York State Department of State.

There is a general filing fee of $25, but additional fees will depend on location and business type. For example, for counties within New York City (The Bronx, Queens, etc.), the additional fee for corporations is $100 per county. For other counties, the fee is an additional $25 per county. 

North Carolina

In North Carolina, a DBA is known as an “assumed business name certificate” and must be filed with the Register of Deeds office in the county where the business is located. 

The fee depends on the county. 

North Dakota

In North Dakota, a DBA is known as a trade name and must be filed with the Secretary of State.

The fee is $25.

Ohio

In Ohio, a DBA can be known as a trade name or a fictitious name. Of the two, registering as a trade name ensures that no one else can use it. A DBA needs to be filed with the Secretary of State.

The fee is $39.

Oklahoma

In Oklahoma, a DBA is known as a trade name and must be filed with the Secretary of State. 

The fee is $25. 

Oregon

In Oregon, a DBA is known as an assumed business name and must be filed with the Secretary of State. 

The fee is $50.

Pennsylvania

In Pennsylvania, a DBA is known as a fictitious name and must be filed with the Department of State. 

The fee is $70. 

Rhode Island

In Rhode Island, a DBA is known as a fictitious business name and must be filed with the Secretary of State. 

The fee is $50 for corporations, LLCs, and limited partnerships. The fee is $20 for nonprofits. 

South Carolina

In South Carolina, a DBA is known as a fictitious name or an assumed name and must be filed at the local level. If the business is a limited partnership, it must file with the Secretary of State. 

The fee will vary depending on the county or city. 

For limited partnerships, the filing fee is $10. 

South Dakota

In South Dakota, a DBA is known as a fictitious name and must be filed with the Secretary of State. 

The fee is $10. 

Tennessee

In Tennessee, a DBA is known as an assumed name (trade name and fictitious name are also sometimes used), and filing depends on the business type:

• For sole proprietorships and general partnerships, filing must be done at the county level with the Register of Deeds.
• For incorporated businesses, filing must be done with the Secretary of State. 

The fee for sole proprietorships and general partnerships varies by county, and the fee for incorporated businesses is $20. 

Texas

In Texas, a DBA is known as an assumed name, and filing depends on the business type:

• Corporations, LLCs, limited partnerships, and LLPs must register with the Secretary of State.
• Sole proprietorships and general partnerships must file at the county level. 

The fee is $25 if filing with the Secretary of State but varies at the county level. 

Utah

In Utah, a DBA is known as an assumed name and must be filed with the Division of Corporations and Commercial Code. 

The fee is $22. 

Vermont

In Vermont, a DBA is known as an assumed business name and must be filed with the Secretary of State. 

The fee is $50. 

Virginia

In Virginia, a DBA is known as a fictitious name and must be filed with the State Corporation Commission (SCC). Filing requirements are different for business entities and individuals, but both must done through the SCC. 

The fee is $10. 

Washington 

In Washington, a DBA is known as a trade name and must be filed through the Department of Revenue. 

The fee is $5. 

West Virginia

In West Virginia, a DBA is known as a trade name and must be filed with the Secretary of State. Filing rules depend on the business type:

• For sole proprietorships, general partnerships, or other individual entities, form TN-1 must be filed. 
• For corporations, LLCs, LPs, LLPs, voluntary associations, and business trusts, Form NR-3 must be filed. 

There is no fee for individuals, sole proprietorships, and general partnerships. The fee for other business entities is $25. 

Wisconsin

In Wisconsin, a DBA is known as a trade name and must be filed with the Department of Financial Institutions. 

The fee is $15. 

Wyoming

In Wyoming, a DBA is known as a trade name and must be filed with the Secretary of State. 

The fee is $100. 

Get Started Today

If you need a DBA or want to learn more about what your business needs to be successful, then we can help. We offer many business services and aim to help you make your dream a reality. Want to learn more about DBAs? Review the DBA definition or our article on DBA myths for more information.