DBA filing · Maryland
In Maryland, a DBA is registered at the state level. Register with the SDAT — Maryland Business Express for $25.
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 Maryland, a DBA is registered at the state level.
Here's exactly where and how to register your DBA in Maryland — and what it costs — so your filing is accepted the first time.
DBAform is a resource either way — do it yourself with the official link, or let us handle it.
Use the official Maryland link and the details on this page to file it yourself at no charge.
Open the official Maryland filing page →Prefer to hand it off? File through LegalZoom, our recommended service (plus the $25 state fee).
File through LegalZoom →Don't want to navigate the SDAT — Maryland Business Express yourself? File through LegalZoom, our recommended filing service — they prepare the paperwork and submit it to the correct office (from $99 plus the $25 state fee). DBAform may earn a commission if you use our link, at no extra cost to you.
In Maryland, a DBA is filed with the SDAT — Maryland Business Express. This is a state-level filing.
Maryland's government filing fee is $25. You can file it yourself and pay only that fee, or file through LegalZoom (from $99 plus the state fee).
A Maryland DBA must be renewed every 5 years.
No. Maryland does not require you to publish a notice of your DBA in a newspaper.
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), Maryland requires you to register it. If you use only your legal name, you generally don't need one.
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.
Filing in more than one state, or not sure this is the right one? Browse every jurisdiction or jump to a popular state:
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