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DBA filing · Maine

How to File a DBA in Maine

In Maine, a DBA is filed with your city or town clerk. Register with the Municipal (town/city) Clerk for Varies.

Check my business nameSee how to file

A DBA — short for “doing business as,” also called a fictitious business name, assumed name, or trade name — lets you legally operate under a name that isn't your own legal name or your company's exact registered name. In Maine, a DBA is filed with your city or town clerk.

Here's exactly where and how to register your DBA in Maine — and what it costs — so your filing is accepted the first time.

How to file a DBA in Maine

  1. Confirm your name is available. Run a quick pre-check on our name-search tool, then verify it against the official Maine records so you don't pay to file a name that's taken.
  2. Complete the Maine filing. Register with the Municipal (town/city) Clerk. The filing fee is Varies.
  3. Handle any extra steps. Sole proprietors/partnerships file with the municipal clerk; entities file with the SoS.
  4. Keep it active. Your registration lasts Varies — we'll remind you before it lapses.
Where it's filed: Town / city — Municipal (town/city) Clerk.

Two ways to file in Maine

DBAform is a resource either way — do it yourself with the official link, or let us handle it.

Do it yourself — free

Use the official Maine link and the details on this page to file it yourself at no charge.

Open the official Maine filing page →

Done for you — via LegalZoom

Prefer to hand it off? File through LegalZoom, our recommended service (plus the Varies state fee).

File through LegalZoom →

Rather have it done for you?

Don't want to navigate the Municipal (town/city) Clerk yourself? File through LegalZoom, our recommended filing service — they prepare the paperwork and submit it to the correct office (from $99 plus the Varies state fee). DBAform may earn a commission if you use our link, at no extra cost to you.

File through LegalZoom →Read the FAQ

Maine DBA — frequently asked questions

Where do I file a DBA in Maine? +

In Maine, a DBA is filed with the Municipal (town/city) Clerk. This is handled by your city or town clerk.

How much does a DBA cost in Maine? +

Maine's government filing fee is Varies. You can file it yourself and pay only that fee, or file through LegalZoom (from $99 plus the state fee).

Does a DBA in Maine expire or need to be renewed? +

A Maine DBA must be renewed on a schedule that varies by locality.

Does Maine require newspaper publication for a DBA? +

No. Maine does not require you to publish a notice of your DBA in a newspaper.

Do I have to file a DBA in Maine? +

If you operate under any name other than your own legal name (as a sole proprietor) or your business's exact registered name (as an LLC or corporation), Maine requires you to register it. If you use only your legal name, you generally don't need one.

Is a DBA the same as an LLC in Maine? +

No. A DBA is only a registered trade name -- it doesn't create a legal entity or protect your personal assets. An LLC does both. Many owners form an LLC and then file a DBA under it.

Other states

Filing in more than one state, or not sure this is the right one? Browse every jurisdiction or jump to a popular state:

DBA in CaliforniaDBA in TexasDBA in FloridaDBA in New YorkDBA in IllinoisDBA in GeorgiaAll 50 states →

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