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Assumed name registration

“Assumed name” is just another term for a DBA. Several states — including Texas, Indiana, and Oregon — use it on their official forms.

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Assumed name = DBA

An assumed name is the same thing as a DBA or “doing business as” name: a name a business operates under that isn't its owner's legal name or its registered entity name. States simply use different labels. Texas registers an “Assumed Name Certificate,” Oregon an “Assumed Business Name,” and Indiana and Michigan use “assumed business name” as well. Others call it a fictitious business name or trade name.

How to register an assumed name

Where you file depends on your state and business type — the Secretary of State for entities in many states, or the county clerk for sole proprietors in states like Texas. Each state's office and fee is listed in our 50-state registry.

  • Confirm your assumed name is available with a quick name search.
  • File with the correct state, county, or town office.
  • Meet any publication or notarization requirements.
  • Renew on schedule — terms range from “never” to every couple of years.

Or skip the paperwork entirely: DBAform files your assumed name for you for a flat $99.

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