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“Doing Business As” Names - DBAs.


DOING BUSINESS AS (DBA)

A Doing Business As (DBA) name can also be known as a Trade Name, Fictitious Name, Alternate Name or Assumed Name, depending on the jurisdiction.

  • In many states it is possible for your company to operate your business under a different name than the one you registered with initially. You will NOT need to file an amendment.
  • The registration may be filed with the State, County or City, depending on where you intend to do business with the other name.
  • As of June 2, 2025, in Delaware the "doing business as" documents are filed at the state level.
  • Beginning June 2, 2025, registration of trade names (i.e., DBAs or “doing business as” names) must be registered statewide with the Division of Revenue. This new process replaces the current framework in which registration and payment of fees is required on a per-county basis.
  • This change in Delaware law impacts both new and existing DBAs, requiring re-registration for existing ones by August 1, 2025. 
  • Notarization is no longer required for DBAs.
  • For entities not actively doing business in Delaware, a Trade Name Only license can be obtained to allow trade name registration. 
  • Entities that fail to re-register their DBAs by August 1, 2025, may lose their trade name, which will become available for other entities.
  • Documents Required to Register DBAs:
    • Active State of Delaware Business License
    • A certificate of good standing
    • Registered Agent Appointment

Fees and Setup Time

  • We charge $135 per name plus the state filing fee of $25. Formerly, Delaware DBAs were registered in one of these 3 counties: New Castle, Kent and Sussex. Now all DBAs are filed at the State level.
  • State of Delaware Business License fee is $135.
  • The Certificate of Good Standing fee is $125.
  • Appointment of Delaware Registered Agent fee is $120.
  • The process takes approximately 7-10 business days to complete.

How to Use DBAs

You will have the right to put your DBA name on your business cards, building and vehicle signage, order forms and advertisements.

You will be able to accept checks made payable to your DBA.

Your bank account and legal contracts should include both your legal name and your permissible other name.

Example: If Delaware Business Incorporators, Inc. wanted to do business in Wilmington Delaware under the name "Del Bus Inc Global", we would register a "Fictitious Name" with the State of Delaware. Our checks would read "Delaware Business Incorporators, Inc. DBA 'DBI Global'".

Reasons Why You Might Need to Use a DBA

Aside from the desire to use another name for your own reasons, your company may be required to do business in another state by a different name in a few circumstances:

  • If your name is not permissible in that state because it breaks the established company naming laws.

Example: If "Del Bus Inc LLC" wanted to qualify to transact business in New Jersey, we would have to apply for authority in NJ under an alternate name because New Jersey law does not allow LLC's to use the abbreviation "Inc" in their name. So our Application for Authority would read: "Del Bus Inc LLC DBA in New Jersey as 'Del Bus Incorporators LLC'"

  • If your name is already registered in that state by someone else who has Exclusive Use rights to that name. "Exclusive Use" means no one else in that state may use your name.

For example, If "DBI, Inc." wanted to register as a Foreign Corporation with Authority to Transact Business in Ohio, and there was already a company registered in Ohio as "DBI, Inc.", we might register in Ohio as "DBI, Inc. DBA in Ohio as 'DBI, Inc. of Delaware'" or perhaps, "DBI, Inc. (Ohio)" or any other name that isn't taken in Ohio.

  • Some states require you to include the appropriate suffix after your other permissible name ("Delaware Business Incorporators Global Corp. DBA'DBI Global Corp.'") while others require that you do not include a suffix ("Delaware Business Incorporators Global Corp.DBA 'DBI Global'")!
  • In many states your other permissible name is not afforded Exclusive Use rights, unlike the legal name you registered under when the new Corporation was Incorporated or LLC was formed.
  • Following our above example, this would mean that, while no other company could do business in Delaware with the name "Delaware Business Incorporators Global Corp." another company could do business in New Castle County Delaware under the name "DBI Global".
  • If we wanted to protect that name from use, our options would include registering "DBI Global" as a new Delaware Corporation, or possible applying for Trademark rights.

We hope that this information has been helpful to you. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call us at 1-800-423-2993 or 302-996-5819. Thank you for your interest in "Doing Business As" (DBAs).

 

doing business as | dbas \ fictitious name filing

Included in all incorporating services:

  • Company Name Check Verification & Availability
  • Preparation & Filing of Articles of Formation
  • Same Business Day Processing
  • Registered Agent (1st Year FREE)
  • Email Reminders & Alerts
  • Lifetime Customer Support

NEW CASTLE COUNTY DELAWARE | doing business as
KENT COUNTY DELAWARE | doing business as
SUSSEX COUNTY DELAWARE | doing business as

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