To register a DBA in Delaware, file a trade name certificate online through the Delaware One Stop portal at onestop.delaware.gov, pay a flat $25 fee, and link the name to a valid Delaware business license. As of February 2, 2026, this is the only way to register a new trade name — the old county-by-county filings through each Prothonotary’s Office have been replaced by a single statewide registration handled by the Division of Revenue. Notarization is no longer required.1Delaware Division of Revenue. Trade Names FAQs
Who Has to Register
Under 6 Del. C. § 3101, any person, firm, or unincorporated association doing business in Delaware under a name that doesn’t disclose the legal name of every owner must file a trade name certificate before conducting business.2Delaware Code Online. Delaware Code 6 – Registration of Trade Names In practice that means sole proprietors and general partnerships operating under anything other than the owners’ own names. If you’re Jane Smith selling baked goods as “Sweet Morning,” you need to register. If you and a partner trade as “Smith & Jones Bakery,” you don’t.
LLCs and corporations aren’t required to file a DBA, but they can register one through the same portal and pay the same $25 fee if they want to operate under an alternate name.3Delaware One Stop. Register or Modify Your Delaware Trade Names
What You Need Before You File
A trade name registration has to attach to a valid Delaware business license from the Division of Revenue.3Delaware One Stop. Register or Modify Your Delaware Trade Names If you already have one, you’re ready to file. If not, there are two routes:
- A standard Delaware business license if you operate in the state.
- A Trade Name–Only License if your business is based outside Delaware but needs a Delaware DBA for contract or branding reasons. This license costs $25 per year and must be renewed annually.3Delaware One Stop. Register or Modify Your Delaware Trade Names
Delaware LLCs and corporations that don’t do business in the state but want a DBA must also provide a Certificate of Good Standing from the Division of Corporations with the Trade Name–Only License.1Delaware Division of Revenue. Trade Names FAQs
Have this information ready before you open the application:
- The exact trade name you want to register.
- Your business’s full legal name as it appears on your license.
- Names and addresses of all owners, members, or partners.
- The date your business or partnership was formed.
- A short description of what the business does.
- Your Delaware business license number.
Picking a Name That Will Clear
Delaware One Stop checks availability automatically during the application, so a separate name search isn’t necessary.3Delaware One Stop. Register or Modify Your Delaware Trade Names If the name is already taken, the system will flag it and you’ll need to choose something else.
Watch for restricted language. Suffixes like “Corp,” “Inc,” or “Incorporated” are reserved for entities formed through the Division of Corporations. Words like “Bank,” “Trust,” “Insurance,” “College,” and “University” generally require sign-off from the relevant state agency and shouldn’t appear in your trade name unless your business qualifies and you’ve obtained clearance.
Filing Through Delaware One Stop
Create an account at onestop.delaware.gov if you don’t already have one.4Delaware One Stop. Delaware One Stop Home Log in, find the trade name registration section, and enter the information from your checklist. The system verifies name availability as you go, so any conflict surfaces before you pay.
The filing fee is a one-time $25 per trade name.2Delaware Code Online. Delaware Code 6 – Registration of Trade Names That single payment registers the name statewide. The old system required a separate filing and fee in each county; the online process consolidates everything. Notarization has been eliminated, so no affidavit is attached.1Delaware Division of Revenue. Trade Names FAQs
Getting a Trade Name Certificate
Banks and other third parties often want a trade name certificate before opening a business account or signing a contract. The Division of Revenue issues these certificates, but only for names in its own Delaware Trade Name Registry.1Delaware Division of Revenue. Trade Names FAQs A name that exists only in the old county court records won’t qualify until it’s re-registered through Delaware One Stop.
If You Registered at the County Before February 2, 2026
County registrations filed before the transition date remain valid, and the court lists will be kept alongside the Division of Revenue’s new registry. You don’t have to re-register just to stay legal. But if you need a trade name certificate for a bank or any other third party, you’ll have to re-register through Delaware One Stop. Re-registration is free as long as you supply the original court file number, and you still need a valid Delaware business license to complete it.1Delaware Division of Revenue. Trade Names FAQs
Keeping the Registration Active and Making Changes
Delaware trade names don’t expire and don’t require periodic renewal. What has to stay current is the underlying business license. If you hold a Trade Name–Only License, renew it annually or the trade name’s standing lapses with it.3Delaware One Stop. Register or Modify Your Delaware Trade Names Switching to a standard Delaware business license replaces the Trade Name–Only License, so you don’t need both.
Changes to ownership, address, or partners have to be reflected in the record. Under 6 Del. C. § 3102, a supplemental certificate must be filed within 10 days of any change in the firm’s membership.2Delaware Code Online. Delaware Code 6 – Registration of Trade Names Updates and cancellations are handled through Delaware One Stop and carry no fee.1Delaware Division of Revenue. Trade Names FAQs If you close the business or stop using the name, submit a termination through the same portal. Leaving an unused registration active keeps you in the public record as a registrant and can create confusion later.
What Happens If You Don’t Register
Operating under an unregistered trade name is a criminal offense in Delaware. Under 6 Del. C. § 3106, a violation carries a fine of up to $100, imprisonment of up to three months, or both, and the penalty applies to each individual in the firm or association rather than only to the business.2Delaware Code Online. Delaware Code 6 – Registration of Trade Names
The practical consequences tend to show up sooner than the criminal ones. Banks typically refuse to open a business account without proof of registration, and anyone checking public records before signing a contract won’t find your business listed. Given a $25 fee and an online form, there’s little reason to leave the registration undone.