How to File a DBA in Texas
Learn how to file a DBA in Texas step by step. Covers sole proprietors, LLCs, corporations, Form 503, county clerk filings, fees, and renewal requirements.
Bizee Editorial Staff
Editorial Team
Introduction
Filing a DBA in Texas means registering an assumed name so your business can legally operate under a name other than its legal one. Where you file depends on your business structure: sole proprietors file with the county clerk, while LLCs and corporations file Form 503 with the Texas Secretary of State.
What is a Texas DBA?
A DBA — short for "doing business as" — is an assumed name that lets a business operate under a name different from its legal registered name. In Texas, the terms "DBA" and "assumed name" mean the same thing and are used interchangeably in state and county filings.
A DBA is not a separate business entity. It doesn't change your tax structure, create a new legal entity, or give you a separate Employer Identification Number (EIN). It's a name registration — nothing more. Your existing business structure stays in place; you're just adding a public-facing name to it.
Texas assumed name certificates are valid for up to 10 years. After that, you'll need to file a new certificate to keep using the name.
Why filing a DBA in Texas matters
A DBA lets you run your business under a name that's different from your legal name or your LLC's registered name — which matters more than most people expect once you start opening bank accounts, signing contracts, or building a brand.
Without a registered assumed name, a bank may not let you open a business account under your trade name, and clients may see your personal name or legal entity name on invoices instead of your brand. A DBA closes that gap.
Plus, if you're a sole proprietor in Texas and you operate under any name other than your own legal name, state law requires you to file an assumed name certificate. Skipping it doesn't just create practical problems — it means you're operating outside the legal requirement.
How to file a DBA in Texas
How you file a Texas DBA depends on your business structure. Sole proprietors and general partnerships file with the county clerk in each county where they do business. LLCs, corporations, limited partnerships, and other entities registered with the state file Form 503 with the Texas Secretary of State.
Sole proprietors and general partnerships: county clerk filing
If you're a sole proprietor or general partnership, file your assumed name certificate with the county clerk in every Texas county where you have a business office or regularly conduct business. If you operate in 3 counties, you file in all 3.
Before filing, search that county's assumed name records to check whether your desired name is already in use. Most county clerks offer an online records search tool for this. County filing fees vary — check with your specific county clerk's office for the current amount.
LLCs, corporations, and other registered entities: Form 503
If your business is an LLC, corporation, limited partnership, or another entity on file with the Texas Secretary of State, you register your DBA at the state level using Assumed Name Certificate Form 503. The filing fee is $25.
Form 503 asks for your assumed name, your entity's legal name as it appears in Secretary of State records, your entity type, your Secretary of State file number, your jurisdiction of formation, your principal office address, the counties in Texas where you'll use the name, and the duration of use (up to 10 years). An authorized representative — such as a manager, officer, or general partner — must sign the form.
You can file Form 503 online through the SOSDirect system, by mail, or in person at the Secretary of State's office in Austin. Submit the form in duplicate with the $25 fee. Faxed copies and photocopies with reproduced signatures are acceptable — an original handwritten signature is not required.
Check name availability before you file
Before filing at the state level, check whether your proposed assumed name is available using the Texas Secretary of State's name search tools and name-filing FAQ. For county-level filings, search the county clerk's assumed name records for that specific county.
Texas doesn't guarantee exclusive rights to an assumed name the way a trademark does, but filing a name that's already in use in your county or at the state level creates confusion and may require you to refile. Checking first saves time.
Renewing your Texas DBA
A Texas assumed name certificate is valid for up to 10 years. There's no automatic renewal — when the certificate expires, you need to file a new one to keep using the name. The same form and fee apply. Mark the expiration date when you file so it doesn't catch you off guard.
Frequently asked questions
There is no difference. In Texas, "DBA" and "assumed name" refer to the same thing. The state's official forms and statutes use "assumed name," but both terms describe the same registration — a name under which a business operates that differs from its legal name.
The state-level filing fee for Form 503 with the Texas Secretary of State is $25. County-level filing fees for sole proprietors and general partnerships vary by county — check with your specific county clerk's office for the current amount before you file.
Yes. LLCs, corporations, and other entities registered with the state can file Form 503 online through the Texas Secretary of State's SOSDirect system. Sole proprietors and general partnerships file at the county level — some county clerks offer online filing, but availability varies by county.
No. A DBA is not a separate business entity, so it doesn't get its own Employer Identification Number (EIN). Your existing EIN — or your Social Security number if you're a sole proprietor without one — covers the business regardless of what assumed name you operate under.
No. A DBA doesn't change your business structure or tax classification. You're still taxed the same way you were before — as a sole proprietor, LLC, corporation, or whatever entity you formed. If you have questions about how your specific structure affects your taxes, a tax professional can help you figure out the details.
It depends. A Texas assumed name registration only covers Texas. If you want to use the same name in another state, you'll need to register it there separately under that state's rules. Requirements and fees vary by state, so check with each state where you plan to do business.
A Texas assumed name certificate is valid for up to 10 years from the date it takes effect. It doesn't renew automatically. When it expires, you need to file a new certificate to keep using the name. The same Form 503 and $25 fee apply at the state level.
For state-level filings, use the Texas Secretary of State's name search tools and name-filing FAQ at sos.state.tx.us. For county-level filings, search the assumed name records at the county clerk's office in each county where you plan to operate. Most county clerks offer an online records search.
