To file a DBA in Idaho, submit a Certificate of Assumed Business Name to the Idaho Secretary of State. The online filing costs $25 and is typically processed within one business day. Paper filings cost $45 and take 7 to 10 business days.
Who Has to File
Idaho requires a Certificate of Assumed Business Name from anyone doing business under a name other than their legal name. That covers two common situations:
- A sole proprietor or general partnership operating under anything other than the owner’s full legal name. Jane Smith selling goods as “Mountain View Bakery” needs to file.
- An LLC, corporation, or other registered entity operating under a name that isn’t its registered legal name. “Smith Holdings LLC” running a storefront as “Mountain View Bakery” also needs to file.
Using your own legal name with a generic descriptor, such as “Jane Smith, Consultant,” does not require a filing.
Check the Name First
Before you file, search the Idaho Secretary of State’s business database to see whether the name is already in use.1Idaho Secretary of State. Business Search Idaho will accept duplicate assumed business names, so the search is not a legal gate. It is a practical one. Two unrelated businesses can hold DBAs for the exact same name, which invites customer confusion and possible trademark disputes even when the state clears your filing.2Idaho Secretary of State. Business Entities – Assumed Business Names FAQ
Filing Online Through SOSBiz
The fastest way to file is through the state’s SOSBiz portal at sosbiz.idaho.gov. The fee is $25, and most online filings are processed within one business day.3Idaho Secretary of State. Certificate of Assumed Business Name
You’ll need to provide:
- The assumed business name you want to operate under.
- Your legal name (your full personal name if you’re a sole proprietor, or the registered entity name for an LLC, corporation, or partnership).
- Your principal business address.
- The general type of business, chosen from categories on the form such as retail trade, services, construction, or manufacturing.
Idaho does not require you to publish notice of your DBA in a newspaper. The Secretary of State filing is the entire requirement.
Filing by Mail
If you’d rather use paper, download the Certificate of Assumed Business Name from the Secretary of State’s website, complete it, and mail it to:
Idaho Secretary of State
PO Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720-0080
Paper filings cost $45, which is the $25 base fee plus a $20 manual processing surcharge, and generally take 7 to 10 business days.3Idaho Secretary of State. Certificate of Assumed Business Name
What a DBA Does Not Give You
A DBA is a notice filing. It puts your legal name on the public record behind a business name, and that’s the whole job. It does not create a legal entity, it does not shield you from personal liability, and it does not give you exclusive rights to the name.
Idaho’s statute is explicit that filing “does not confer any exclusive right to the use of an assumed business name in Idaho.”4Idaho State Legislature. Idaho Code 30-21-802 – Purpose Actual name protection requires a state or federal trademark registration, which is a separate process. Liability protection requires forming an LLC or corporation, also a separate step. Sole proprietors who file a DBA remain personally liable for their business debts.
What Happens If You Don’t File
Operating under an assumed name without filing has two concrete consequences under Idaho law. First, you cannot bring a lawsuit in Idaho courts on any claim connected to that business until you’ve filed. If a customer stiffs you or a contract is breached, you’re locked out of the courthouse until the certificate is on file.5Idaho State Legislature. Idaho Code 30-21-810 – Consequences of Noncompliance
Second, anyone who suffers a loss because you didn’t file, or because you filed false or incomplete information, can sue you for their damages plus attorney’s fees.5Idaho State Legislature. Idaho Code 30-21-810 – Consequences of Noncompliance Noncompliance is defined broadly enough to cover misleading or incomplete filings, not just missing ones.
Keeping the Filing Current
An Idaho DBA does not expire. Once filed, it stays active until you cancel it. But you’re responsible for keeping the information accurate.
If your address changes, ownership changes, or any other detail on the certificate needs updating, file an amendment. Online amendments cost $10; paper amendments are $30 with the manual processing surcharge.2Idaho Secretary of State. Business Entities – Assumed Business Names FAQ
If you close the business or stop using the name, cancel the certificate. Cancellation online is free, though paper cancellations still incur the $20 manual processing charge.2Idaho Secretary of State. Business Entities – Assumed Business Names FAQ Amendments and cancellations use the same form, the Cancellation or Amendment of Certificate of Assumed Business Name, on the Secretary of State’s site.
EIN and Bank Account
Filing a DBA does not require a new EIN. The IRS treats a change of business name or location as no reason to reissue an EIN for a sole proprietor, partnership, LLC, or corporation.6Internal Revenue Service. When to Get a New EIN You keep the number you have and use the DBA as your trade name.
Most banks will want to see your filed certificate before they’ll open an account in the assumed name, so have it in hand when you go in. Sole proprietors without an EIN can often use their Social Security number, though many banks prefer an EIN. Applying is free through the IRS website and takes only a few minutes.