Business
What Is a DBA? Doing Business As, Explained
Published September 24, 2026 · Last updated October 1, 2026
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The short answer
A DBA, short for "doing business as," is a name you use for your business that's different from your legal name. If Jane Smith runs a bakery called "Sweet Corner," or an LLC named "JS Ventures LLC" sells under "Sweet Corner," that second name is a DBA.
States and counties call it different things: an assumed name, fictitious business name, or trade name. They all mean the same idea. Here's when you need one, how to file, and what it does and doesn't do for you.
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When you need a DBA
You usually need to register a DBA when you do business under any name other than:
- Your own legal name, if you're a sole proprietor or general partnership, or
- Your company's exact registered name, if you're an LLC or corporation.
Examples:
- A sole proprietor named Maria Lopez does business as "Lopez Landscaping." That's a DBA.
- "Bright Path Holdings LLC" opens a coffee shop called "Morning Cup." That's a DBA.
- Maria Lopez signs contracts and invoices simply as "Maria Lopez." No DBA needed.
According to the Small Business Administration, you may need to register with your state, county, or city, depending on where you are and how your business is set up.
Why a DBA is useful
- Banking. A DBA plus an EIN, your business tax number, can help you open a business bank account in the business name. See what an EIN is.
- Branding. You can market under a clear, memorable name without forming a new company.
- More than one brand. One LLC can run several businesses, each under its own DBA.
What a DBA doesn't do
It doesn't protect your name. The SBA is clear on this: registering a DBA doesn't give you legal protection on its own, and more than one business in a state can use the same DBA. To protect a brand name, look into a federal trademark.
It doesn't create a company. A DBA is just a name. It doesn't separate your personal assets from your business debts. If that's what you want, you need an LLC or corporation. See how to start an LLC.
It doesn't replace insurance. A DBA won't protect you from a lawsuit either. That's what general liability insurance is for.
How to file a DBA: two state examples
Where you file and what it costs depend on your state. Two big states show how different it can be:
Texas: state or county, depending on your business
- LLCs, corporations, and partnerships with a state filing file an Assumed Name Certificate (Form 503) with the Texas Secretary of State. The fee is $25.
- Sole proprietors and general partnerships file with their county clerk instead. Each county sets its own fee.
California: county filing plus a newspaper notice
- You file a fictitious business name statement with your county clerk.
- Within 45 days, you must publish it in a local newspaper once a week for four weeks, then file proof of publication.
- It expires after five years, so you'll need to renew. It can expire sooner if your business details change.
In other states, check your Secretary of State's website first. It will tell you whether DBAs are filed with the state, the county, or both.
DBA vs. LLC
| DBA | LLC | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A name | A legal business entity |
| Protects personal assets | No | Generally yes, if you follow the rules |
| Protects the name | No | Only within your state's registry, not like a trademark |
| Typical cost | Low filing fee | State filing fee, often under $300, plus yearly fees in many states |
Many owners use both: an LLC for protection, and a DBA for the name customers see. See business formation costs.
Keep reading
Need a business license too? See business license.
Run your business: Business formation · Business license · Registered agent · Payroll services · Merchant processing · POS systems · Business phone · Business internet · How to start an LLC · What an EIN is · All business services
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Sources
- U.S. Small Business Administration, Register your business
- Texas Secretary of State, Form 503 instructions: Assumed name certificate
- Texas Secretary of State, Name filings FAQs
- California Business and Professions Code §17917, Publication of fictitious business name statement
- California Business and Professions Code, Fictitious business names (chapter 5, including §17920)