How To Get a DBA in Georgia

If you’re an entrepreneur in Georgia, you may not wish to use your business’s full legal name for all of your company’s activities. If so, a “doing business as” (DBA) name could be a helpful branding tool, allowing you to conduct your small business under a different title. Follow the steps below if you’re interested in creating a DBA name for your Georgia business.

Before your business, regardless of its entity type (sole proprietorship, LLC, corporation, etc.), does business under any name other than its legal name, it’s required by Georgia law to file an application for trade name registration in the county where the business is located. You’ll need to do the same for every county where you intend to do business.

Although we don’t currently support Georgia trade name registration, this guide will take you through the steps and considerations to get one. We will explain how to choose a name, the process to register your DBA name, and how to renew one to keep state compliant.

What is a Georgia “doing business as” (DBA) name?

A “doing business as” (DBA) name simply refers to the name the business operates under that is different from its legal name. It is also often called a “trade name” or “fictitious name.” In Georgia, a DBA name is referred to as a “trade name.” 

• A DBA name can be useful for a number of reasons:
• If you are starting a sole proprietorship or partnership, a DBA name will allow you to use a business name that is different from your personal legal name or names. For example, Joe Smith could then do business as “Joe’s Landscaping.” 
• A limited liability company (LLC) or corporation may have several lines of business and desire to operate each under a different name. You could set up your business’s legal name with something generic and file a DBA name that is more specific for each entity. For example, “Joe Smith Restaurants, LLC” could file separate DBA names for “Joe’s Place,” “Smith’s Bar and Grill,” and “Joe Smith on the Green.” 

However, a DBA name is not its own legal entity and will not afford you the same protections as an LLC or corporation. It will not make an impact on your taxes, which will be done through the legal entity you registered as or your personal taxes, depending on your structure. It is only a legal alias for your business. 

DBA names provide several benefits to companies that utilize them. These include:

• If you want to expand your business but don’t want to take on the expense of choosing another business structure and maintaining compliance, creating separate DBA names can help you grow.
• As a sole proprietor or partnership, your business name would be your legal name or names, which might make it hard to attract customers. Setting up the DBA name “Joanna’s Catering” would help customers know what the business is doing.
• A company might sell the same or similar products to different audiences. Maintaining two separate DBA names would help them keep everything separate and target those specific customers. 
• Setting up a DBA name allows you to open a bank account under that name, which can help keep finances separate. 

Keep reading through this guide to learn more about how to set up and maintain your Georgia DBA name. We’ll dive into the details on how to choose a name and how to maintain compliance. We’ll also answer some common questions around setting up a DBA name.

How do I register a Georgia DBA name?

When you are ready to register your DBA name, there are specific steps you need to follow to comply with Georgia law:

Obtain the DBA Name Application

Obtain the DBA name application from the office of the Clerk of Superior Court in the county your business is located. While the rules for filing a DBA name are set by the state, each Superior Court will have its own form, which may vary slightly from county to county. It’s important to locate the court where your business resides to fill out the correct form. If you plan to do business outside of your county, you’ll need to register a DBA with the Clerk of the Superior Court in each county you will do business in.

Enter Your Desired Business Name

Enter the name you wish to use for your business.

Provide Business Description

Briefly describe what your business will do.

Specify Business Entity Type

Check the box regarding what type of business entity it is. 

Provide Partner/Owner Information

Provide the appropriate names and addresses for the partners or owners involved. 

Enter Date and Signature

Provide the date and your signature.

Notarize Your Application

Have your application notarized.

Submit Application and Filing Fee

To file the application, you will need to mail the original notarized application to the appropriate Clerk of Superior Court. Make sure to include the filing fee required with the application. Filing fees vary by county, so be sure to check with your county clerk’s office to get your exact filing fee.

Advertise Your Trade Name

Once you have filed your application, Georgia law requires that you advertise the new trade name in the paper in which the sheriff’s legal advertisements are printed. You must advertise once a week for two weeks. The advertisement must include the names of each person, firm, or partnership that will be under the trade name. The clerk’s office will be able to provide you with any details for your county, and the local newspaper will also be familiar with the process.

How do I choose a Georgia DBA name?

Choosing a DBA name for your business is an exciting step, but there’s a lot to consider before settling on your final choice. The right name can aid in your business success; however, the wrong name can create extra work and even legal issues.

First, think about the logistics of your name. You don’t want anything that will be hard to spell since that will make it more difficult for customers to find you or share information about you. Your business will grow, and you want a name that can grow with you. At the same time, a name that helps customers identify what your business does will help you get started. 

Second, make sure to spend some time researching your top choices. As you research, you might find someone else already using that name. That may or may not mean you need a new name, but you need to know what is already out there. 

While you are researching names, make sure to conduct a name search on the Georgia Secretary of State’s Corporations Division database. Several businesses can operate under similar names. However, that can create confusion — especially if those other businesses are your competition.

While the state of Georgia does not require your DBA name to be unique, it does have certain naming requirements you must adhere to:

• A business may not use business suffixes like “LLC” or “Corp.” in their name unless they are set up as those types of entities. 
• You may not include words that would create associations with public entities, banking, or insurance industries without additional approvals. This includes words like “Insurance,” “Fidelity,” “Banking,” “Trust,” “Savings and Loan,” “University,” or “College.”

It’s best to try and find a name no one is using. When using the portal, try to use as few words as possible; that way, you will get the most results showing similar names. 

While you are checking names, you may also want to do a trademark search using the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) website to make sure your desired DBA name isn’t trademarked by someone on the federal level. To see if it’s trademarked at the state level, check the George trademark database. 

How do I manage ongoing DBA name compliance in Georgia?

Once you have filed and obtained your official DBA name and done the required advertising, you are ready to do business. However, it’s possible you may need to renew your Georgia DBA name, but when and if you need to renew will vary by county. Make sure to read up on the specific requirements in your county. If you can’t find them, the Superior Court will be able to answer your questions.  

If you need to change your DBA name, you will need to fill out a name change form. Here again, each county will have a slightly different process and filing fee associated with the form. Once you have completed your registration, here are a few tips to make the name change even less of a headache:

• Make sure to provide the amended name paperwork to your bank. Until you do, the bank will not be able to process payments made under the new name.
• Make sure you notify your customers so that they don’t wonder where you went and end up doing business elsewhere. Post the information at your physical locations and use your online presence — including your website and social media. If you have a mailing list, make sure to notify everyone on it, as well. If your budget allows for advertising, make sure to use that to reach a wider audience. The more times you reach your customers, the more likely it is that they will remember the change. 
• Remember to update your forms, letterhead, business cards, and any signage or existing advertising.

We Can Help!

While we don’t currently support DBA registration in Georgia, we can help you create one in states we do support, including: Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Texas and Utah. We can make creating a DBA name in another state simple.