How to Get a DBA Name in North Carolina

As a small business owner in North Carolina, you are probably wondering if your business requires a “doing business as” (DBA) name. Whether to register a DBA name is an important consideration, and there are several reasons you might want one.

We currently don’t support DBA registration in North Carolina, but this guide can steer you in the right direction. Read on to learn what a DBA name is and what it does (and doesn’t do) for your business, as well as the process for obtaining and maintaining one in the Tar Heel State.

What is a North Carolina “doing business as” (DBA) name?

A DBA name is also sometimes called a trade name, fictitious name, or assumed name. In North Carolina, the official term is “assumed name.” Whatever it’s called, having a registered DBA name allows you to do business using a specific name other than your business’s legal name. It also allows you to run your business with minimal costs. 

It’s important, though, to understand what a DBA name will not do for your business. Unlike a registered business structure, a DBA name will not provide you with legal protections related to your personal assets or those of your business partners. It also will not affect your tax structure. Essentially, a DBA name provides an alias for your business. 

The types of businesses seeking an assumed name often fall into these two categories: 

• Sole proprietorships and partnerships: Without a DBA, these business owners must use their legal names to operate. For this reason, many sole proprietorships and partnerships choose to use a DBA name so that they can conduct business under a name that more closely represents their business and what they provide instead of their formal name.
• Corporations and limited liability companies (LLCs): Corporations and LLCs must have entity designators in their name (e.g., “Corp.” or “LLC”). Many businesses with these structures choose a DBA name to drop the designators from their names.

Some additional reasons a business may want to use a DBA name include:

• Banking: Operating with a DBA name will allow you to open a bank account using that business name and conduct transactions.
• Staying compliant with North Carolina laws: North Carolina requires your business name to be registered before you begin doing business under that name. If you don’t register your DBA name before using it, you’ll be opening your business up to a legal headache. 
• Branding: Registering a DBA name will give you greater flexibility in choosing a name that will stick in your customers’ minds. It will allow you to build a stronger brand for your business, or create another brand entirely. You could also launch another store or product line under a different company name without having to form a new company.

Are you ready to register your assumed name? This guide will take you through the process of selecting the right name and filing your application. We’ll also address maintaining your DBA name. 

How do I register a North Carolina DBA name?

Once you complete your research and find the perfect name (more on how to do that in later sections), it’s time to complete the application to register your “Assumed Business Name Certificate” with the office of the Register of Deeds in the county where you will be engaged in business. Once accepted, your DBA name will be added to the statewide database maintained by the Secretary of State. Once you have the form, there are several things to fill out:

1. Include the assumed name you want to use. North Carolina allows you to list up to five DBA names that you want to register.
2. The name of the person or entity doing business under the DBA name. This is your name or the name of your LLC, partnership, or corporation. Partnerships with fewer than five partners should list all of them, but they can limit the list to five if they have more than five partners. If you’re a corporation, LLC, or limited partnership, it’s important to be accurate and list the name exactly as it was registered with the Secretary of State, as well as the SOSID number assigned by the state. 
3. List the type of business you will be operating under the DBA name. This is where you include a description of the business and the goods or services provided. 
4. Include the street address of the business’s principal location. In this instance, P.O. boxes will not be accepted.
5. If the mailing address is different, you’ll need to include that address, as well.
6. The North Carolina counties where you will be doing business under your DBA name. You can list as many counties as you like. There’s also a checkbox option if you intend to do business in all 100 counties.
7. Date and signatures. You’ll need to include the day you are signing the form, the signature and printed name of the signer, and the title of that individual. Make sure to read the application’s instructions to help ensure the proper person signs the form. 

Include the required filing fee when you return the application to the Register of Deeds.

How do I choose a North Carolina DBA name?

Choosing the right DBA name for your business is an important decision, so take some time to make it. There are several considerations to keep in mind. A good business name will be distinctive — preferably in a way that clarifies what type of business you do and also sticks in customers’ minds. You don’t want it to be too hard to spell or a name you will regret down the road as your business grows.

One of the most important steps in deciding on your DBA name is using North Carolina’s assumed name lookup tool. This tool will help you conduct a name search and find any businesses with the same or similar names to your choices. You will likely benefit from picking a unique name to avoid confusion for your customers. Searching for similar business names will also help ensure you comply with the naming rules that North Carolina has in place. In North Carolina, you must make sure your business name:

• Is unique. Your registration application will be rejected if it’s the same as another business. It will also be rejected if it’s too similar to the name of another business. For example, you cannot use a suffix like “Corp.” or “LLC” to try and distinguish your business name from another. Also, words like “a,” “an,” and “the” aren’t enough to differentiate your name from another. Making a word plural or using an abbreviation will not make your name distinguishable enough from another business. 
• Remains distinguishable from state or federal agencies. When naming your business, don’t try to draw an affiliation with a governmental entity (for example, “police”) unless it is truly affiliated. In that case, you will likely need to gain permission from the appropriate authority. This also includes a name with the word “Olympic.” 
• Does not promote illegal activity. In North Carolina, you may not include words in your name that imply your business will carry out illegal activity.
• Does not use prohibited words like “Bank,” “Banker,” “Cooperative,” “Mutual,” or “Trust.” These words, and a few others, are words that require additional permission.
• Will not use words like “Architect,” “Certified Public Accountant,” “Engineer,” “Insurance,” “Pharmacy,” “Realtor,” “Surveyor,” or “Wholesale.” These words or any version of them will require proof that you can legally provide those services. 

Once you have your name narrowed down to a few possibilities, take a moment to determine if the domain name is available. You don’t want to go through all the steps of finalizing a DBA name and then realize you can’t use it for your internet presence. Don’t let this slow you down, though, as ZenBusiness is here to help. Our domain name registration services can help you secure the right web address for your business.

How do I manage ongoing DBA name compliance in North Carolina?

North Carolina DBA names don’t expire and, therefore, do not need renewals. However, if any of the information provided on the application changes, you’re required to submit an amendment within 60 days of the change, along with the required fee. 

Likewise, if you decide to shut down your business or stop using a particular DBA name, you’ll need to file a withdrawal application with the fee. 

We can help!

While we don’t currently support DBA registration in North Carolina, 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. 

Disclaimer: The content on this page is for informational purposes only, and does not constitute legal, tax, or accounting advice. If you have specific questions about any of these topics, seek the counsel of a licensed professional.