Comparison

What each state calls a DBA

“DBA” is a convenient search label, not a universal statutory term. The table uses each authority’s own terminology and links the evidence beside it. Terminology alone does not determine the filing office: some states use a central business agency, while others assign sole proprietors or all filers to counties, cities, or towns. Entity type remains part of the answer.

Use this table to translate, then open the jurisdiction guide before filing. A trade name registration in one state can differ from an assumed-name certificate in another in duration, effect, and the entities covered. None of these notice filings automatically creates an entity or supplies trademark rights. Null or disputed operational details are handled on the individual guide instead of being generalized here.

Jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction reading notes

Alabama: The official material uses “trade name.” The measured guide documents 1 entity route and keeps the authority, form, fee, duration, publication, and change evidence separate. Open the guide before acting because the term itself does not identify which office handles a particular legal entity.

Alaska: The official material uses “business name.” The measured guide documents 1 entity route and keeps the authority, form, fee, duration, publication, and change evidence separate. Open the guide before acting because the term itself does not identify which office handles a particular legal entity.

Arizona: The official material uses “trade name.” The measured guide documents 1 entity route and keeps the authority, form, fee, duration, publication, and change evidence separate. Open the guide before acting because the term itself does not identify which office handles a particular legal entity.

Arkansas: The official material uses “fictitious name.” The measured guide documents 4 entity routes and keeps the authority, form, fee, duration, publication, and change evidence separate. Open the guide before acting because the term itself does not identify which office handles a particular legal entity.

California: The official material uses “fictitious business name.” The measured guide documents 1 entity route and keeps the authority, form, fee, duration, publication, and change evidence separate. Open the guide before acting because the term itself does not identify which office handles a particular legal entity.

Colorado: The official material uses “trade name.” The measured guide documents 4 entity routes and keeps the authority, form, fee, duration, publication, and change evidence separate. Open the guide before acting because the term itself does not identify which office handles a particular legal entity.

Connecticut: The official material uses “trade name.” The measured guide documents 1 entity route and keeps the authority, form, fee, duration, publication, and change evidence separate. Open the guide before acting because the term itself does not identify which office handles a particular legal entity.

District of Columbia: The official material uses “trade name.” The measured guide documents 1 entity route and keeps the authority, form, fee, duration, publication, and change evidence separate. Open the guide before acting because the term itself does not identify which office handles a particular legal entity.

Florida: The official material uses “fictitious name.” The measured guide documents 1 entity route and keeps the authority, form, fee, duration, publication, and change evidence separate. Open the guide before acting because the term itself does not identify which office handles a particular legal entity.

Georgia: The official material uses “trade name.” The measured guide documents 1 entity route and keeps the authority, form, fee, duration, publication, and change evidence separate. Open the guide before acting because the term itself does not identify which office handles a particular legal entity.

Hawaii: The official material uses “trade name.” The measured guide documents 1 entity route and keeps the authority, form, fee, duration, publication, and change evidence separate. Open the guide before acting because the term itself does not identify which office handles a particular legal entity.

Idaho: The official material uses “Assumed Business Name.” The measured guide documents 1 entity route and keeps the authority, form, fee, duration, publication, and change evidence separate. Open the guide before acting because the term itself does not identify which office handles a particular legal entity.

Illinois: The official material uses “assumed name.” The measured guide documents 4 entity routes and keeps the authority, form, fee, duration, publication, and change evidence separate. Open the guide before acting because the term itself does not identify which office handles a particular legal entity.

Indiana: The official material uses “assumed business name.” The measured guide documents 4 entity routes and keeps the authority, form, fee, duration, publication, and change evidence separate. Open the guide before acting because the term itself does not identify which office handles a particular legal entity.

Iowa: The official material uses “trade name.” The measured guide documents 4 entity routes and keeps the authority, form, fee, duration, publication, and change evidence separate. Open the guide before acting because the term itself does not identify which office handles a particular legal entity.

Kentucky: The official material uses “assumed name.” The measured guide documents 1 entity route and keeps the authority, form, fee, duration, publication, and change evidence separate. Open the guide before acting because the term itself does not identify which office handles a particular legal entity.

Louisiana: The official material uses “trade name.” The measured guide documents 4 entity routes and keeps the authority, form, fee, duration, publication, and change evidence separate. Open the guide before acting because the term itself does not identify which office handles a particular legal entity.

Maine: The official material uses “assumed name.” The measured guide documents 4 entity routes and keeps the authority, form, fee, duration, publication, and change evidence separate. Open the guide before acting because the term itself does not identify which office handles a particular legal entity.

Maryland: The official material uses “trade name.” The measured guide documents 1 entity route and keeps the authority, form, fee, duration, publication, and change evidence separate. Open the guide before acting because the term itself does not identify which office handles a particular legal entity.

Massachusetts: The official material uses “business certificate.” The measured guide documents 1 entity route and keeps the authority, form, fee, duration, publication, and change evidence separate. Open the guide before acting because the term itself does not identify which office handles a particular legal entity.

Michigan: The official material uses “assumed name.” The measured guide documents 1 entity route and keeps the authority, form, fee, duration, publication, and change evidence separate. Open the guide before acting because the term itself does not identify which office handles a particular legal entity.

Minnesota: The official material uses “assumed name.” The measured guide documents 1 entity route and keeps the authority, form, fee, duration, publication, and change evidence separate. Open the guide before acting because the term itself does not identify which office handles a particular legal entity.

Missouri: The official material uses “fictitious name.” The measured guide documents 1 entity route and keeps the authority, form, fee, duration, publication, and change evidence separate. Open the guide before acting because the term itself does not identify which office handles a particular legal entity.

Nebraska: The official material uses “trade name.” The measured guide documents 1 entity route and keeps the authority, form, fee, duration, publication, and change evidence separate. Open the guide before acting because the term itself does not identify which office handles a particular legal entity.

New Jersey: The official material uses “trade name.” The measured guide documents 4 entity routes and keeps the authority, form, fee, duration, publication, and change evidence separate. Open the guide before acting because the term itself does not identify which office handles a particular legal entity.

New York: The official material uses “assumed name.” The measured guide documents 4 entity routes and keeps the authority, form, fee, duration, publication, and change evidence separate. Open the guide before acting because the term itself does not identify which office handles a particular legal entity.

North Carolina: The official material uses “assumed business name.” The measured guide documents 1 entity route and keeps the authority, form, fee, duration, publication, and change evidence separate. Open the guide before acting because the term itself does not identify which office handles a particular legal entity.

Ohio: The official material uses “trade name.” The measured guide documents 1 entity route and keeps the authority, form, fee, duration, publication, and change evidence separate. Open the guide before acting because the term itself does not identify which office handles a particular legal entity.

Pennsylvania: The official material uses “fictitious name.” The measured guide documents 1 entity route and keeps the authority, form, fee, duration, publication, and change evidence separate. Open the guide before acting because the term itself does not identify which office handles a particular legal entity.

South Carolina: The official material uses “assumed name.” The measured guide documents 4 entity routes and keeps the authority, form, fee, duration, publication, and change evidence separate. Open the guide before acting because the term itself does not identify which office handles a particular legal entity.

Tennessee: The official material uses “assumed name.” The measured guide documents 2 entity routes and keeps the authority, form, fee, duration, publication, and change evidence separate. Open the guide before acting because the term itself does not identify which office handles a particular legal entity.

Texas: The official material uses “assumed name.” The measured guide documents 4 entity routes and keeps the authority, form, fee, duration, publication, and change evidence separate. Open the guide before acting because the term itself does not identify which office handles a particular legal entity.

Virginia: The official material uses “fictitious name.” The measured guide documents 1 entity route and keeps the authority, form, fee, duration, publication, and change evidence separate. Open the guide before acting because the term itself does not identify which office handles a particular legal entity.

Washington: The official material uses “trade name.” The measured guide documents 1 entity route and keeps the authority, form, fee, duration, publication, and change evidence separate. Open the guide before acting because the term itself does not identify which office handles a particular legal entity.

Wisconsin: The official material uses “trade name.” The measured guide documents 4 entity routes and keeps the authority, form, fee, duration, publication, and change evidence separate. Open the guide before acting because the term itself does not identify which office handles a particular legal entity.

How to use the comparison

First identify the legal entity that already exists. Second, use the state guide’s entity rows to locate the authority. Third, follow only its official form or portal. Finally, record renewal, change, abandonment, and publication milestones from that authority. The direct citations and retrieval dates make it possible to check every term rather than trusting a blanket citation for an entire row. This analysis covers the measured launch states; incomplete national registry entries do not create indexable pages.