Business services
File a DBA
Do business under a different name — legally.
A DBA ("Doing Business As", also called a trade or fictitious name) lets your company operate under a brand name that differs from its legal name, without forming a new entity.
🔒 Secure card payment · Takes about 2 minutes · Tracked in your client portal
How it works
Tell us the name you want to use
We check availability and prepare the filing
We file it and send confirmation
DBA guide: how to register a doing-business-as name for your LLC
A DBA ("doing business as") lets your company trade under a name that is different from its legal name. Depending on the state it is called an assumed name, fictitious business name or trade name. For example, "Sunrise Ventures LLC" could register the DBA "Sunrise Coffee" for its café.
Why businesses file a DBA
- Brand names. Run a website, shop or product line under a name customers remember.
- Several brands, one company. One LLC can hold several DBAs instead of forming a new LLC for each brand.
- Banking. Banks usually need a registered DBA before they will accept payments made out to that name.
- Legal compliance. Most states require you to register any name you trade under that is not your exact legal name.
What a DBA does not do
- It does not create a new company or give extra liability protection. The LLC is still the legal owner.
- It does not give exclusive rights to the name nationwide. For that, consider trademark registration.
Where a DBA is filed
Rules differ by state. In some states you file with the Secretary of State; in others with the county clerk in each county where you do business; a few states use both. Some states also require you to publish a notice in a local newspaper, and many DBAs must be renewed every few years. Incofile checks the rules for your state, prepares the filing and submits it for you.
Before you file
Check that no one else in your state is already using the name, and that it does not imply you are a different type of entity (for example, an LLC cannot use "Inc." in a DBA). Use our free business name search to start.
File a DBA — frequently asked questions
Does a DBA protect my name?
A DBA registers the name for use but is not a trademark. For brand protection, see our Trademark Name Search.
Does a DBA create a new company?
No. It is simply an alias for your existing LLC or corporation — same taxes, same liability protection.
Can I have more than one DBA?
Yes, many businesses run several brands under one legal entity.
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