Register Your Fictitious Name or DBA

The next step after choosing your business name is to make it official. (If you have not yet chosen your business name, check out the article How to Choose a Business Name for help.) Your business name will be known as either a fictitious name or a “Doing Business As” (DBA). To make this official, you will have to register your fictitious name with an agency in your state.

In Pennsylvania, the process to register a fictitious name was very simple. I went to Department of State’s website and found the application. When I completed it, there was an online submission. (This will return shortly). Most states do have this option. Simply search your state + “register fictitious name” and the application should appear.

In order to register a fictitious name in Pennsylvania, it costs $70. This may be different in your state. Just be aware that there is the possibility of a fee.

When you submit your registration, your state will most likely run checks to make sure that name is already taken. Review their website before to be sure you are not breaking any name rules. A common example of this is that you are not allowed to use a name that is the same as another with only the ending (LLC, etc. ) being different.

Hopefully this will help you register your fictitious name in an easier fashion.