Where To Register A Business Name In Alabama

How to Become a DBA in Alabama

An Alabama DBA (doing concern as) is chosen a trade name. Alabama trade proper noun registration allows a business organization to operate under a proper name that's dissimilar from its legal name.

DBA registration won't protect your personal assets like forming an LLC or corporation volition. Learn why in our DBA vs LLC guide.

Or, use a professional DBA service:

MyCompanyWorks ($99 + state fee)

Swyft Filings ($99 + country fee)

A person holding a tablet displaying "your name is your brand" File a DBA.

Concluding Updated: 2022-03-28

Register a DBA in Alabama

Registering an Alabama merchandise name, likewise known as a DBA, is easy!

Learn How to Get a DBA in Alabama yourself in three steps:

Start with an Alabama Trade Name Search
Utilize Your Alabama Trade Proper name
Annals Your Alabama DBA

Note: A DBA is only used for branding. Nosotros recommend forming an LLC to split your concern and personal avails.

Footstep 1. Start with an Alabama Merchandise Name Search

Your Alabama merchandise proper noun must be unique and must also meet Alabama'south business proper noun requirements.

First, use the Alabama Secretarial assistant of State'due south Business Entity Search and search for your new DBA name to make sure information technology isn't already in use.

Next, review the Alabama naming requirements. In Alabama, your trade name should NOT include:

Any banking-related words without a letter from the Alabama Cyberbanking Commissioner's Function, or any insurance-related words without a letter from the Alabama Insurance Commissioner'due south Office.
Any words that could confuse your corporation with a government agency (FBI, Treasury, Land Section, etc.).
A professional designation in the name (i.e., engineering, attorney) without a copy of the license of one officer/member or a letter from the governing agency assuasive the use of the name without licensing.
Any words that bespeak or imply that the corporation is engaged in a business that is not authorized past law to pursue.

We recommend checking if your name is available as a web domain (URL). You lot might non plan on starting a business website today, but you may want to prevent others from acquiring your URL.

Find a Domain Now

Once you reserve a domain name for your DBA, consider setting up a business phone system to help strengthen your client service and boost credibility. We recommend Phone.com because of its affordable pricing and variety of useful features. Start calling with Phone.com.

Need Help Creating a Make Proper name and Logo?

If you need help coming up with a DBA name, try our business proper name generator. And then, create a unique logo for your brand with our gratuitous logo generator.

Pace 2. Use Your Alabama Merchandise Proper name

Alabama requires that y'all have operated nether your trade proper name before you tin annals it. And so, if you'd like to register and protect a trade name in Alabama, you need to start using it right away.

Alabama will require 3 "specimens" of trade name usage. Some examples of acceptable specimens include:

Business Cards
Brochures
Flyers
Labels
Decals

Specimens must be unaltered and legible. The merchandise name awarding will ask where and when you used the merchandise name for the starting time time in any state and in Alabama specifically, and then it'due south important to go along rails.

Pace 3. Register Your Alabama DBA

Your Alabama trade name tin can be filed online or past mail with the Secretary of Country. You can file online with the Secretarial assistant of Land's website or you can complete the Application to Register or Renew Trademark, Service Mark or Merchandise Name form.

Some important sections of the form include:

Section four: Description of the trade name
Section 5: Description of the goods or services that will be offered nether the trade name
Section 6: An explanation of how the trade proper noun will exist used
Section 10: Whatsoever other entities authorized to utilise the trade proper noun (if applicable)
Section 11: Engagement the trade name was first used

A DBA does not offer any legal protection for your personal assets in the consequence that your business organization is sued. For more information on setting upward a limited liability company, visit our How to Form an LLC page and select your land.

Choice 1: File Online on the Secretary of State's Website

File Online

- OR -

Option 2: File the Application to Annals or Renew Trademark, Service Mark or Trade Name By Mail or In-Person

Download Form

Cost:
$30 Filing Fee

Role Address:
State of Alabama Office of the Secretary of State
Trademarks Division
eleven Southward Union St., Suite 224
Montgomery, AL 36130

Mailing Address:
State of Alabama Office of the Secretarial assistant of Land
Trademarks Sectionalization
P.O. Box 5616
Montgomery, AL 36103-5616

Manage Your Alabama Trade Name

General Questions
Phone call the Alabama Secretary of Country's Trademarks Division: (334) 242-5325

Renew Your Trade Name With the State
Your Alabama DBA should be renewed every five years. You lot tin renew on the Secretary of Country's website or past completing and mailing the Application to Annals or Renew Trademark, Service Mark or Merchandise Name. Mail the completed course to the address below:

State of Alabama Role of the Secretarial assistant of Country
Trademarks Partition
P.O. Box 5616
Montgomery, AL 36103-5616

Change Your Trade Name
To change your Alabama trade name, call the Alabama Secretarial assistant of State's Trademarks Division: (334) 242-5325

Withdraw Your Merchandise Proper noun
To abolish your Alabama trade name, call the Alabama Secretary of State's Trademarks Division: (334) 242-5325

Subsequently Filing Your Alabama DBA

If filing a DBA marks the offset of your concern journeying, then there are a few more than steps that you should take before getting started:

Create your Business concern's Website - Every business concern needs a website. Luckily, drag-and-drop builders like GoDaddy and Wix make the job quick and piece of cake. Check out our Best Website Architect commodity to discover the tool that'southward best for you.
Go your Business Finances in Order - You'll need to separate your business finances from your personal ones. This is achieved by opening a business bank account. If your business has long lead times or other cash menstruum irregularities, you lot can also look into a business concern credit carte.
Protect Your Business concern - While an LLC volition help to protect your personal assets in the instance of a lawsuit, your concern'southward assets also need protection. Having the right business insurance volition ensure that you're covered if the worst happens. Most businesses first with general liability insurance as their base coverage.

Need Help Filing Your Alabama DBA?

Have a Professional Service File Your Alabama DBA For Yous

A professional service volition handle filing your DBA on your behalf, allowing you lot to focus on the other needs of your business.

Recommended: MyCompanyWorks ($99 + land fee)

Alabama DBA FAQ

How many DBAs can I have?

You tin accept as many DBAs as you tin can afford to create and are able to keep track of. Each one comes with additional incremental expenses and paperwork, meaning more than is not necessarily meliorate.

Tin can a DBA become an EIN or Taxation ID?

DBAs aren't required to take a split EIN because DBAs aren't a business organisation entity. The concern entity that the DBA is nether would have an EIN if an EIN is required.

To learn more about EINs and when you demand 1 for your business organisation, read our What is an EIN guide.

Can a DBA become an LLC?

No. An LLC is a business organization entity, while a DBA is just a name for a business.

Sole proprietorships are often confused with DBAs, but they are not the same: a sole proprietorship is a business entity, therefore it can choose to go an LLC.

To acquire how to form an LLC, visit our Form an LLC state guides.

Can a DBA have Inc. in the name?

A DBA can only have Inc. in the proper noun if the business entity the DBA is attached to is a corporation.

How do I set up a DBA for a rental property?

Holding a rental property in your name and with a DBA will non beget you any protection. The all-time option is to class an LLC to protect your personal assets in the outcome of an consequence with the rental property. In whatever example, it is always best to consult an attorney.

When would it exist good to become a DBA versus a legal name modify?

Getting a DBA is oft a improve choice than changing your business's legal name. If you desire to rebrand your company or focus on another line of business, filing for a DBA is a simpler process than filing for a legal name change.

Is my DBA protected from beingness used in other places?

Some state-level laws prevent DBAs that are too similar to existing ones from being used, but this varies from state to state. It is possible to trademark a DBA, which would offer stronger protection across state lines.

Useful Links For Your Alabama DBA

Alabama SOS Trademarks Division
Alabama SOS Business Services Website
What is a Sole Proprietorship?
What is an LLC?

Alabama Business Resources