Compliance19 února, 2026

Doing business as (DBA): The "AKA" for your business

When you form your LLC or corporation, the documents you file with the state contain your “legal” or true business name. But you don’t have to use this legal name when doing business.

This article covers:

DBA definition
DBA examples
Is a DBA the same as a business license?
Do you need to file a DBA?
Reasons for using a DBA name
Is DBA the same as an assumed name?
Does a DBA filing protect your business name?
DBAs are public records

DBA definition

A DBA, which stands for “doing business as”, is when an individual or company conducts business under a name different from their legal name. A DBA name is also known as:

Assumed name
Fictitious business name
Trade name

A DBA filing provides a formal and transparent way to officially register a business name with either the state or a local governing body (such as a county), allowing the business to legally operate under that name.

Filing a DBA does not create a new business entity. A DBA is not a business structure and provides no personal liability protection.

DBA examples

DBAs can be filed by statutory business entities (like LLCs and corporations), as well as sole proprietors and general partnerships.

DBA example for an LLC: The legal name of an LLC is the name that appears on the Articles of Organization filed with the state. If your LLC’s legal name is “The John Doe LLC” but you want customers to know you as “Superlative Salon”, you would file a DBA.

DBA example for a sole proprietorship: The legal name for a sole proprietor is their own name. Many sole proprietors prefer not to do business under their personal name, so they file a DBA. For example, if your name is Pat Sanders but you want to do business as “Perfect Pavers", you would file a DBA.

In essence, a DBA is the business version of “a/k/a” (also known as).

CT observation: Consider incorporating or forming an LLC instead of remaining a sole proprietorship or partnership and filing a DBA and operating under an assumed name. There can be advantages, like limited personal liability and potential tax benefits. You can discuss this option with your legal and tax advisers.

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Is a DBA the same as a business license?

No. A DBA and business license serve different purposes. A DBA allows you to do business under a specific business name. A business license lets you engage in a particular type of business activity. Filing a DBA does not replace the need to obtain a required business license.

For more information, refer to these articles:

Do you need to file a DBA?

Many states require a DBA filing if you do business using a name other than the name on the formation documents of a corporation or LLC (or a name other than the owner’s name for sole proprietorships and partnerships). You do not need to file a DBA if you will be operating under your legal business name.

CT observation: You may need to file a DBA even if it’s not required by state law. For example, your bank may require a DBA to open a business checking account, or a prospective client may require a DBA in order to award your business a contract.

Some states also require publication of the DBA name in a newspaper. Depending on the state, a DBA filing may also need to be renewed periodically, or it may remain valid until you cancel it.

Reasons for using a DBA name

A business might choose to do business under an assumed name for a variety of reasons:

Transact business under the company’s website domain name
Achieve marketing, branding, expansion, or other goals
Use a name that’s easier to remember or pronounce
Highlight different divisions, product lines, or services
Operate under different names in different parts of the country
Maintain flexibility as trends and customer preferences change

Can I file multiple DBAs?

Yes. Most states don't restrict the number of DBAs you can file. However, if you want to operate under multiple assumed names, you may need to file a separate DBA registration for each name.

Is DBA the same as an assumed name?

Yes. States use different terms for a DBA filing. Some states call it an “assumed name”, while others use “DBA” (doing business as), “fictitious name”, “trade name”, or another term. These all refer to the same concept.

Does a DBA filing protect your business name?

No. In most states, a DBA does not give you exclusive rights to a business name. This means that two or more businesses may be able to file the same DBA name. For example, in states with county-level registration, two different businesses could both register as “Perfect Pavers” in separate counties.

There are several ways to register or protect your business name, each serving a different purpose. Certain registrations may be legally mandatory depending on the structure and location of your business.

Entity name: Filing your LLC or corporation name with the state prevents other businesses from filing that same name or a confusingly similar name in that state.
Trademark: Registering with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office protects your name at the federal level.
Doing business as (DBA): Does not provide exclusive rights, but registration may be legally required.
Domain name: Secures your website address but does not provide legal name protection.

CT observation: If you want to legally protect your business name, consider trademark registration.

DBAs are public records

DBA filings are public records. States primarily require these filings to protect the public by creating transparency about who owns and operates businesses using assumed names. DBA filings can be accessed to verify business ownership.

Learn more

Whether you operate your business as a corporation, LLC, sole proprietor, or general partnership, you must follow every state’s specific DBA requirements for your business type. For DBA support, contact a CT Corporation representative today.

Related resource

DBA: Doing business under an assumed name (smart chart)

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CT Corporation Staff

The CT Corporation staff is comprised of experts offering global, regional, and local expertise on registered agent, incorporation, and legal entity compliance.

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