How To Get a DBA in District of Columbia (DC)

A “doing business as” (DBA) allows business owners to register a business name other than the legal name on its formation paperwork. A DBA name can also be called an assumed name, fictitious business name, or trade name. There are a number of reasons a Washington D.C. small business owner may want to use a DBA (called a trade name in Washington D.C.) for their operations, and it’s important to make sure it’s done correctly.

Although we currently don’t support the registration of DBAs in the District of Columbia, you can use our guide to learn more about why a trade or fictitious name might be the best choice for your business, as well as how to register and maintain one.

How do I register a District of Columbia DBA name?

Once you have verified on the business license verification website that your desired District of Columbia DBA name is not already in use, you have two options for registering your DBA — online or via mail. Here are the steps for both:

Online

Register your DBA name online using these steps:

1. Visit the DCRA CorpOnline website and create an online profile.
2. Enter the DBA name you wish to register, ensuring it meets the necessary requirements discussed above.
3. Provide the following information about your business:
   • Name of the owner or authorized person registering the trade name
   • Type of organization applying for a trade name
   • Complete business name and address
   • Registered agent’s name and address
4. Pay the filing fee. 
5. Submit your registration form online.
6. Print the confirmation page for your records.

By mail

1. Download and complete the FIRST page of the Trade Name Registration Form. (Note: this file also includes renewal, cancellation, and amendment forms on pages 2 through 4.)
2. Provide the following information about your business:
   • Name of the proposed trade name
   • Name of the owner or authorized person registering the trade name
   • Type of organization applying for a trade name
   • Complete business name and address
   • Registered agent’s name and address
3. Provide payment for the registration fee. Checks should be made payable to “DC Treasurer.
4. Mail the form and payment to the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs, Corporations Division

What is a District of Columbia “doing business as” (DBA) name?

A DBA name is an alias for your business that ideally correlates with your brand and website to quickly show potential customers what your business is about. A new business can operate under this alias without using its full legal title. 

However, a District of Columbia DBA name is NOT a business entity type, so registering this name does not affect the business structure type or how you do taxes. In Washington, D.C., your DBA name is also referred to as your business’s “trade name.”

Some businesses find the use of trade names to be beneficial as a brand-building tool and to make the business easier for potential customers to search for online. District of Columbia DBA names are required to be unique and meet some basic requirements — such as not using entity designators like “LLC” or “Corp.” The word “company” is allowed, though.

There are two primary categories of businesses seeking DBA names, but there is no difference in the forms required to be filled out in the District of Columbia:

• Sole proprietorship or partnership: If your business is a sole proprietorship or partnership, you may seek a DBA name so that you can operate under a legal business name. Otherwise, without a DBA name, your business will be referred to by your personal legal name. If you wish to build a brand outside of your name alone, a DBA name is a great tool to do so.
• Corporation or limited liability company (LLC): If your business is a corporation or an LLC, you may wish to operate under a different name for any number of reasons. Examples include launching a new line of products or services or dropping a designator like “LLC” or “Inc.” from your name.

Registering a DBA name gives you the ability to use a trade name for your business through a simple and cost-effective process. There are numerous advantages to using a DBA name for your business:

• Branding: Operating with a DBA name gives you the ability to share your branding voice right in your business name. Choose a name that resonates with customers and expresses what your business does. If it can align with an available “.com” domain name, this presents an excellent brand-building opportunity. 
• Ability to use a DBA name in business transactions: A formally registered DBA name can be used to conduct official business, including vendor and banking transactions under this name. For example, if your legal business name is “The Smiths’ Corporation,” but your customers or vendors tend to write checks to your business as “Smiths’,” registering this exact name as a DBA name can be helpful for banking records. 
• Avoid compliance issues: Having your DBA name officially registered can prevent compliance issues or legal headaches caused by a name being used that does not match your business name exactly. Since your DBA name in Washington, D.C., can be easily renewed online every two years, you can maintain your DBA name and prevent these concerns. 
• Multiple names can be used for new or different business divisions: If you have been known as “John’s Formal Wear,” and you are creating a new line of athletic wear, you can add a DBA name like “John’s Athletic Wear” to represent this new division of your business, for example. Filing a DBA name is an inexpensive way to segregate or expand on your current business without having to incur the expenses of filing a new LLC or corporation. In Washington, D.C., there is no limit on the number of DBA names you can have under one business. 

Read on for a detailed overview of how to choose, obtain, and maintain a DBA name in the District of Columbia. We will show you how to choose your DBA name, register it formally, and renew it or manage any name compliance changes in the future.

How do I choose a District of Columbia DBA name?

The main point to consider when choosing a DBA name is how the name will support your marketing efforts and effectively communicate your brand. Choosing a distinctive name that stands out among the competition and conveys the nature of your business is ideal. Markers of a great DBA name include one that is memorable and simple.

In the District of Columbia, your DBA name should be distinguishable from other registered DBA names. In addition, choosing a unique name avoids confusion and supports your goal of creating a powerful brand. Washington, D.C., specifies that your trade name must also be distinguishable on the records from any name of a domestic or foreign filing entity, any reserved or registered organization name, another registered trade name, or the name of an agency of the United States, District of Columbia, or another state. 

To determine if a DBA name is already in use, visit the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) Business License Verification website and perform a name search. You may also want to check the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) database before finalizing your DBA name to ensure no other business has trademarked the name already.

District of Columbia law prohibits the use of entity qualifiers like “LLC” or “Incorporated” in your trade name, but “Company” can be used. A trade name in the District of Columbia can also not be the same as your corporate name. 

However, under certain circumstances, the Corporations Division will allow you to register your trade name using the corporate name without the signifier. For example, if your corporate name is “ABC, Inc.,” you can register your DBA name as “ABC,” although it may not be necessary. 

Currently, a trade name registration in Washington, D.C., is valid for two years, and renewal is required to keep the DBA name active.

How do I manage ongoing DBA name compliance in the District of Columbia?

While some states have advertising requirements to be completed within a certain time frame of registering a DBA name, Washington, D.C., currently does not have any. However, advertising your new trade name is always a good idea, especially if you are launching a new domain name to coincide with it around the same time. 

The District of Columbia does have specific renewal requirements. Trade name renewal must be done by April 1 of the second year of registration and continually renewed by April 1 every two years after that. If you miss that window, you still have until August 31 to renew, but you will incur a late fee. Starting September 1, you risk losing your trade name altogether. The previous filing is canceled, and you will be required to re-register your DBA name if it is still available. 

A standard renewal fee is $55, and if you miss the window and incur a late fee, it is another $55.

We Can Help!

While we don’t currently support DBA registration in the District of Columbia, we can help you create one in states we do support, including: Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Texas and Utah. We can make creating a DBA name in another state simple. 

Reach out to the experts at ZenBusiness to take the stress out of your business filings. Our team specializes in business formation and compliance, so you can focus on running and growing your District of Columbia small business.