How to File a DBA in Georgia

To file a DBA in Georgia, you register a trade name with the Clerk of the Superior Court in the county where your business is located. Georgia handles DBA registration at the county level — not the state level — so the exact forms, fees, and filing methods depend on where your business operates.

A DBA — short for "doing business as" — is a trade name that lets you run your business under a name other than your legal name. In Georgia, the official term is "trade name," though you'll also see it called a fictitious business name. All three terms refer to the same filing.

For sole proprietors, a trade name lets you operate as something other than your personal name. For LLCs and corporations, it lets you do business under a name different from the one you registered with the state. Either way, the trade name doesn't create a new legal entity — it's a name registration, not a formation.

Georgia's naming rules do apply. Your trade name can't include entity designators like "Inc.," "LLC," or "Corporation" unless your business is actually organized as that entity type. Names that suggest a banking or financial institution affiliation are also restricted unless you're properly chartered.

It depends. A DBA isn't required unless you plan to operate under a name that's different from your legal name or your registered business name. If you're a sole proprietor running a business under your own name, you don't need one. If you want to use a brand name, you do.

For LLCs and corporations, a DBA is required any time you want to conduct business under a name other than the one on your formation documents. Some banks also require a registered trade name before they'll open a business bank account in that name.

Before you file, check that your desired trade name isn't already taken. In Georgia, trade name records are maintained at the county level, so you'll search with the Clerk of the Superior Court in the county where your business is located — there's no single statewide DBA database.

The search method varies by county. Some clerks offer an online search portal; others require an in-person visit or a written request. Contact your county's Clerk of Superior Court directly to find out how they handle name searches.

Plus, run a search through the Georgia Secretary of State's business search to make sure your desired name doesn't conflict with an existing LLC or corporation registered at the state level. A name can be available at the county level and still conflict with a state-registered entity name.

Filing a DBA in Georgia means registering a trade name with the Clerk of the Superior Court in your county. The process follows the same basic steps statewide, but the specific forms, filing methods, and fees are set by each county. Here's how it works.

Step 1: Search your trade name

Search the trade name records at your county's Clerk of Superior Court to confirm the name isn't already in use. Also check the Georgia Secretary of State's business search for conflicts with registered LLCs or corporations. Do both searches before you fill out any forms.

Step 2: Get the trade name application

Get the Trade Name Application form from your county's Clerk of Superior Court. Forms are county-specific — there's no universal Georgia DBA form. Some counties post the form on their website; others require you to pick it up in person. The form will ask for the trade name, the nature of the business, and the names and addresses of all owners.

Step 3: Sign and notarize

Most Georgia counties require all owners' signatures on the Trade Name Application to be notarized before you file. Don't sign the form until you're in front of a notary — a pre-signed form will typically be rejected. Banks, UPS stores, and many public libraries offer notary services.

Step 4: File and pay the fee

Submit your completed, notarized application to the Clerk of Superior Court and pay the filing fee. How you file depends on your county. DeKalb County requires electronic filing through eFileGA — you'll create an account, upload your notarized documents, and pay online. Fulton County accepts in-person submissions at its clerk locations. Check your county clerk's website for the accepted method before you show up.

The cost to file a DBA in Georgia is set by each county, so the fee varies depending on where your business is located. Most counties charge between $150 and $200 for a new trade name registration. The fee is paid to the Clerk of the Superior Court at the time of filing.

For reference, DeKalb County charges $174 for a new trade name registration, Fulton County charges $175, and Henry County charges $171. Amendment and cancellation fees are typically the same as the registration fee. Confirm the current fee with your county clerk before filing — fees can change.

A DBA isn't required for every business, but it opens up options that a legal name alone doesn't. The most common reason is branding — operating under a name that's more descriptive, memorable, or marketable than your legal name or LLC name.

• Sole proprietors who want to use a business name instead of their personal name
• LLCs or corporations running multiple product lines or brands under one legal entity
• Businesses that want to open a bank account or accept payments under a brand name
• Owners who want to test a new business concept without forming a separate entity

One thing a DBA doesn't do: protect your brand name from use by others. A trade name registration in Georgia is a county-level filing, not a trademark. If protecting the name matters to your business, talk to a legal professional about federal trademark registration through the USPTO.