Doing Business As · all 50 states + DC
Check your name, pick your state, then file it yourself free with our official-link guides — or file through LegalZoom, our recommended filing service. No yearly renewal fees.
Run an instant pre-check, then we point you to your state's official registry to confirm.
Instant results are a preliminary screen only. Official availability is determined by each state's or county's registry.
Two ways to file
DBAform is a resource for both. Use our free state guides and official government links to file your DBA yourself — or hand the whole thing to us for a flat $99.
Every state page gives you the exact office, fee, renewal term, and a direct link to the official government filing page. No charge, ever.
Find your state's filing pagePrefer to hand it off? File through LegalZoom, our recommended filing service, for a professional done-for-you DBA registration (from $99).
File through LegalZoom →How it works
We handle the paperwork and the filing office so you can get back to running the business.
Run the instant pre-check above, then confirm against your state or county's official registry — we link you straight to it.
Open your state's page for the exact office, fee, renewal term, and any publication rules — all 50 states and DC.
File directly with the right office using our official link, or hand it to LegalZoom, our recommended service — your choice.
Why DBAform
DBAs are all we focus on — so we show you exactly where and how your name has to be recorded in every jurisdiction.
State, county, or town — we file where your specific business type is legally required to register.
We track where each state and county requires your DBA to be recorded, so you always start in the right place.
Most filings are prepared the same business day. You'll know exactly what happens next at each step.
We show each state's exact filing fee up front for all 51 jurisdictions below — no guesswork.
Plain-English answers on publication, renewals, and county rules — for every state.
We check your name before filing so you don't pay to submit a name that's already taken.
Pricing
File it yourself and you only pay your state's filing fee. Prefer done-for-you? LegalZoom starts around $99 plus the state fee. Either way, we show every state's cost up front.
Done-for-you DBA registration through LegalZoom, our recommended partner.
State filing fees vary — we show every one.
Scroll to the state registry to see your exact office, fee, and renewal term.
The 50-state (+ DC) DBA registry
Every U.S. jurisdiction registers a “doing business as” name differently — some at the state level, some by county or town, and a few not at all. Find yours below and go straight to the official government page to file.
Filing authorities and fees are compiled from official state and local government sources and can change. Where a state registers entities (LLCs/corporations) separately from sole proprietors, the card notes both. Always confirm specifics on the linked official page before filing.
FAQ
A DBA — “doing business as,” also called a fictitious business name, assumed name, or trade name — lets you operate under a name that's different from your legal name or your LLC/corporation's registered name. It's what you need to open a bank account, sign contracts, and market under your brand.
In most states, if you do business under any name other than your own legal name (sole proprietors) or your entity's exact registered name (LLCs/corporations), you're required to register a DBA. A few states don't register them at all — you'll see that flagged in the registry above.
It depends on your state and business type. Some file with the Secretary of State, others at the county clerk or town clerk. Use the registry above — each card shows the exact office and links to the official filing page for your jurisdiction.
If you file yourself, timing is whatever the office takes — from instant online approval to a few weeks by mail. If you file through LegalZoom, they prepare and submit it for you. Some states also require newspaper publication, which each state page flags.
Many DBAs expire and must be renewed every 1–10 years depending on the state; some never expire. Each registry card shows the renewal term so you know when to re-file.
No. DBAform is an informational resource, not a law firm. It doesn't provide legal advice or act as your attorney. For done-for-you filing we recommend LegalZoom.
Check availability now — it takes about fifteen seconds, and the official state link is right there when you're ready to file.
Check my business name