DBA filing · Virginia

How to File a DBA in Virginia

In Virginia, a DBA is registered at the state level. Register with the State Corporation Commission (SCC) for $10.

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 Virginia, a DBA is registered at the state level.

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

How to file a DBA in Virginia

  1. Confirm your name is available. Run a quick pre-check on our name-search tool, then verify it against the official Virginia records so you don't pay to file a name that's taken.
  2. Complete the Virginia filing. Register with the State Corporation Commission (SCC). The filing fee is $10.
  3. Handle any extra steps. Certificate of assumed/fictitious name filed with the SCC (statewide since 2020), not the circuit courts.
  4. Keep it active. Your registration lasts None — we'll remind you before it lapses.
Where it's filed: State filing — State Corporation Commission (SCC).

Two ways to file in Virginia

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 Virginia link and the details on this page to file it yourself at no charge.

Open the official Virginia filing page →

Done for you — via LegalZoom

Prefer to hand it off? File through LegalZoom, our recommended service (plus the $10 state fee).

File through LegalZoom →

Rather have it done for you?

Don't want to navigate the State Corporation Commission (SCC) yourself? File through LegalZoom, our recommended filing service — they prepare the paperwork and submit it to the correct office (from $99 plus the $10 state fee). DBAform may earn a commission if you use our link, at no extra cost to you.

Virginia DBA — frequently asked questions

Where do I file a DBA in Virginia? +

In Virginia, a DBA is filed with the State Corporation Commission (SCC). This is a state-level filing.

How much does a DBA cost in Virginia? +

Virginia's government filing fee is $10. You can file it yourself and pay only that fee, or file through LegalZoom (from $99 plus the state fee).

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

A Virginia DBA does not expire and needs no renewal.

Does Virginia require newspaper publication for a DBA? +

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

Do I have to file a DBA in Virginia? +

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), Virginia 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 Virginia? +

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:

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