Independent · official-source research
Find the right DBA filing office.
The answer changes by state, county, and legal entity. Start with your location and we’ll point you to the government source—not a paid filing funnel.
Find your filing path- 49
- state + DC guides
- 17
- county guides
- 378
- official sources
- 2
- states in research
Filing path finder
Start with the state.
We’ll show county choices only when that state has local filing guides. Then choose the legal entity that already exists.
Personal planners
Turn the official route into a plan you can finish
Both planners keep your answers, dates and progress only in your browser. Nothing is sent to us, and no account is needed.
Filing planner
Describe your situation, confirm the reviewed office, and get your next step first, with known government fees and their sources. Save progress on this device, print, or export calendar reminders.
Build my filing plan Publication plannerAlready filed in a California county? Check whether newspaper publication applies, open the authority’s newspaper directory, record quotes you can substantiate, and track appearances through proof of publication.
Plan my publicationPrimary directory
Browse state guides
49 researched state and District of Columbia guides. Each guide separates filing rules by entity type.
ALAlabamatrade name · 1 routeAKAlaskabusiness name · 1 routeAZArizonatrade name · 1 routeARArkansasfictitious name · 4 routesCACaliforniafictitious business name · 1 routeCOColoradotrade name · 4 routesCTConnecticuttrade name · 1 routeDEDelawaretrade name · 1 routeDCDistrict of Columbiatrade name · 1 routeFLFloridafictitious name · 1 routeGAGeorgiatrade name · 1 routeHIHawaiitrade name · 1 routeIDIdahoAssumed Business Name · 4 routesILIllinoisassumed name · 4 routesINIndianaassumed business name · 4 routesIAIowatrade name · 4 routesKSKansasDBA · 1 routeKYKentuckyassumed name · 4 routesLALouisianatrade name · 3 routesMEMaineassumed name · 4 routesMDMarylandtrade name · 1 routeMAMassachusettsbusiness certificate · 1 routeMIMichiganassumed name · 1 routeMNMinnesotaassumed name · 1 routeMSMississippiFictitious Business Name · 1 routeMOMissourifictitious name · 1 routeMTMontanaAssumed Business Name · 4 routesNENebraskatrade name · 1 routeNVNevadaassumed or fictitious name · 1 routeNHNew Hampshiretrade name · 4 routesNJNew Jerseytrade name · 4 routesNYNew Yorkassumed name · 4 routesNCNorth Carolinaassumed business name · 1 routeNDNorth DakotaTrade Name · 4 routesOHOhiotrade name · 1 routeOROregonassumed business name · 1 routePAPennsylvaniafictitious name · 1 routeRIRhode IslandFictitious Business Name · 2 routesSCSouth Carolinaassumed name · 4 routesSDSouth DakotaFictitious Business Name · 1 routeTNTennesseeassumed name · 2 routesTXTexasassumed name · 4 routesUTUtahassumed name · 1 routeVTVermontassumed business name · 4 routesVAVirginiafictitious name · 1 routeWAWashingtontrade name · 1 routeWVWest VirginiaTrade Name · 4 routesWIWisconsintrade name · 4 routesWYWyomingTrade Name · 1 route
Local layer
County guides, grouped by state
Counties are listed beneath the state that governs the broader filing system. Use a county guide only when your location and entity route call for it.
Coverage in progress
Still being researched
We do not publish a thin state page just to fill the map. These guides stay unlinked until their filing paths and official evidence pass review.
- NMNew Mexico
- OKOklahoma
01Start with the entity
An LLC may file somewhere different from a sole proprietor.
02Follow the jurisdiction
State rules come first; county guidance sits underneath the state.
03Verify the source
Every asserted filing fact links back to government evidence.