To file a DBA in North Carolina, fill out an assumed business name certificate, have it notarized, and submit it with a $26 fee to the Register of Deeds in one county where your business operates. The filing takes effect the moment it is recorded, covers every county you list on the certificate, and does not expire.
Who Has to File
North Carolina law requires an assumed business name certificate before you start doing business under any name other than your legal name.1North Carolina General Assembly. North Carolina Code 66-71.4 – Filing of Certificate; Exception For a sole proprietor, your legal name is your personal name. For an LLC or corporation, it is the name on file with the North Carolina Secretary of State. If your LLC is registered as “Smith Holdings LLC” but you run a landscaping company as “GreenEdge Lawn Care,” GreenEdge needs a DBA.
The rule applies to sole proprietors, partnerships, LLCs, and corporations alike.2Wake County Government. Filing An Assumed Name (DBA) Each assumed name generally needs its own certificate, though the statute lets you bundle up to five assumed names into a single filing when the same person or entity is behind all of them.1North Carolina General Assembly. North Carolina Code 66-71.4 – Filing of Certificate; Exception
What Goes on the Certificate
The assumed business name certificate is a one-page form. You can download it from the North Carolina Secretary of State’s website, the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC) website, or pick one up at your local Register of Deeds office. The statute requires:3North Carolina General Assembly. North Carolina Code 66-71.5 – Contents of Assumed Business Name Certificate
- The assumed business name (your trade name).
- Your real name: your personal name if you are a sole proprietor, or the legal entity name for an LLC, corporation, or partnership. Partnerships must list up to five general partners.
- A brief description of the nature of the business.
- The street address of your principal place of business. P.O. Boxes are not accepted.
- Every county where you plan to use the assumed name.
If you are a corporation, LLC, or limited partnership registered with the Secretary of State, the form also asks for your Secretary of State ID (SOSID) number. Have that ready before you start.
Picking a Name
North Carolina does not run a formal name-availability check for DBAs the way it does for LLC or corporation names. Choosing a name deceptively similar to an existing business invites legal trouble, though. Before you settle on one, search the Secretary of State’s business name database and the federal trademark database at tmsearch.uspto.gov. Ten minutes now can spare you a cease-and-desist later.
Get It Notarized
The certificate must be signed and notarized before you submit it. This is the step people discover only after arriving at the Register of Deeds office. Most banks, UPS stores, and shipping centers offer notary services for a small fee. Some Register of Deeds offices have a notary on staff, but call ahead rather than count on it.
Where and How to File
File the completed, notarized certificate with the Register of Deeds in the county where your business operates. If you operate in multiple counties, you only need to file in one; that single filing covers every county you listed on the certificate.1North Carolina General Assembly. North Carolina Code 66-71.4 – Filing of Certificate; Exception2Wake County Government. Filing An Assumed Name (DBA)
Most counties accept filings in person or by mail. For in-person filing, bring the notarized certificate and $26. For mail submissions, send the notarized form with a check or money order for $26 (cash is generally not accepted by mail) and a self-addressed stamped envelope so the office can return your certified copy. Processing times vary. Some offices handle mail filings within a business day; others may take up to two weeks. The $26 fee applies to the initial certificate, amendments, and withdrawals alike, and the registration takes effect the moment the Register of Deeds files it.
After You File
You will receive a certified copy of your certificate. Keep it with your business records. Banks typically want to see this document before opening a business account under the assumed name, and it may come up when signing contracts or leases.
No Expiration or Renewal
Assumed business name certificates filed under North Carolina’s current law (Article 14A of Chapter 66) do not expire and do not require periodic renewal.4North Carolina General Assembly. North Carolina Code 66-71.15 – Expiration of Certificates Filed Under Article 14; Transition Provisions File once and you are done, unless something on the certificate changes.
Amendments
If anything on your certificate changes, whether that is your business address, the nature of your business, or the assumed name itself, you have 60 days to file a certificate of amendment with the same Register of Deeds office where you originally filed.5North Carolina General Assembly. North Carolina Code 66-71.7 – Amendment of Certificate The amendment costs $26. Missing the window does not automatically void your registration, but it leaves an inaccurate public record, which can create headaches with banks and vendors.
Withdrawals
When you stop using an assumed name, file a certificate of withdrawal with the same county office to clean up the record. The fee is $26. You will need the book and page number from your original filing, the SOS ID assigned to the assumed name, and a statement that you have stopped operating under that name.6North Carolina General Assembly. North Carolina Code 66-71.8 – Withdrawal of Assumed Business Name
What a DBA Does Not Do
A DBA does not create a new legal entity, does not give you liability protection, and does not grant you exclusive rights to the name. If you are a sole proprietor operating under a DBA, you are still personally liable for every business debt and legal claim. The filing is a public record connecting your trade name to your real identity so customers and creditors know who they are dealing with.
Because a DBA carries no name exclusivity, someone else in North Carolina could file the same assumed name. If protecting your brand matters, a federal trademark registration through the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office is a separate process that provides nationwide protection. A DBA and a trademark serve different purposes, and one does not substitute for the other.
Taxes and EIN
Filing a DBA does not change your tax situation. A DBA is not a separate entity for federal tax purposes, so it does not get its own Employer Identification Number. You continue using whatever EIN, or Social Security Number for sole proprietors without employees, you already use. If you are a sole proprietor who has never had an EIN and you do not have employees, you are not required to get one simply because you filed a DBA. Many banks require an EIN to open a business account, though, so applying for one through the IRS is often a practical step even when it is not legally required.
Income earned under your assumed name goes on the same tax return you already file. For sole proprietors, that is Schedule C on your personal return. For LLCs and corporations, the DBA income flows through whatever return the entity already files.