How to File a DBA in Arkansas
Registering a DBA, known in Arkansas as an assumed name, will establish your business’s branding. DBAs are a simple way to start growing your business.
We’ll show you how to register an Arkansas DBA below.
Or, you can save time and use a trusted DBA service.
Recommended: Register your DBA and establish your brand with LegalZoom. Packages start at $99 (plus state filing fees).
To get started with an Arkansas DBA, choose your business entity type:
- Sole Proprietorship or Partnership (if your business is not a formal structure)
- LLC, Corporation, or LLP (if your business has a formal structure such as LLC or corporation)
Register a DBA in Arkansas for a Sole Proprietorship
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General partnerships and sole proprietors are required to file their Arkansas DBA with the County Clerk in the county where their business is located. Estates and real estate investment companies are also required to file with the county.
Step 1. Start With an Arkansas Assumed Name Search
Arkansas assumed names must be unique and must also meet Arkansas’s business name requirements.
First, visit the Arkansas Secretary of State's website and search for your new DBA name to make sure it isn’t already in use.
Next, review the Arkansas naming requirements. In Arkansas, assumed names should NOT include:
- Words that could confuse your business with a government agency (FBI, Treasury, State Department, etc.)
- Words that imply that the company is organized for any unlawful purpose
- Restricted words (e.g. Bank, Attorney, University) may require additional paperwork and a licensed individual, such as a doctor or lawyer, to be part of your business.
We recommend checking if your name is available as a web domain (URL). You might not plan on starting a business website today, but you may want to prevent others from acquiring your URL.
Need Help Creating a Brand Name and Logo?
If you need help coming up with a DBA name, try our business name generator. Then, create a unique logo for your brand with our free logo generator.
Step 2. Filing a DBA in Arkansas with the County Clerk
Sole proprietors are required to file an assumed name registration with the appropriate county clerk’s office(s) in order to operate under a DBA.
Sole proprietors and partnerships must file in any county where your business conducts or transacts business.
We will give you step-by-step directions to get a Pulaski County DBA. For directions in other counties, please contact your county clerk.
You can find your counties' contact information with the Arkansas State Association of Counties.
How to File a Pulaski County DBA
Before you start the DBA filing process, it is a good idea to search the Pulaski County assumed name database to make sure your name is unique.
Once you have selected your name, you will then complete the Assumed Name Certificate and submit it to the Pulaski County Clerk. The certificate can be submitted either by mail or in-person.
Recommended: Use a reputable service. LegalZoom offers a hassle free DBA filing package starting at $99 + State Filing Fees.
File a Pulaski County Assumed Name
File the Assumed Name Certificate by Mail or In-Person
Cost:
$25 filing fee
Filing Address:
Pulaski Circuit/County Clerk
401 W Markham St, Ste 100
Little Rock, AR 72201
Manage Your Pulaski County DBA
DBA Questions
Call (501) 340-8500 for general questions about assumed names.
Renew Your DBA
Your assumed name does not expire.
Change Your DBA
You will need to file a new assumed name registration to change your assumed name.
Register a DBA in Arkansas for an LLC or Corporation
The following types of businesses file their Application for Fictitious Name with the Arkansas Secretary of State:
- For-profit Corporations, Nonprofit Corporations
- Professional Corporations, Professional Associations
- General Partnerships, Limited Partnerships, Limited Liability Partnerships
- Limited Liability Companies
- Any Foreign Filing Entities
You can file a DBA for your incorporated business yourself by using this guide. Or, use a professional service:
- LegalZoom ($99 + filing fees)
Step 1. Do an Arkansas Business Entity Search
Arkansas assumed names must be unique and must also meet Arkansas’s business name requirements.
First, visit the Arkansas Secretary of State's website and search for your new DBA name to make sure it isn’t already in use.
Next, review the Arkansas naming requirements. In Arkansas, assumed names should NOT include:
- Words that could confuse your business with a government agency (FBI, Treasury, State Department, etc.)
- Words that imply that the company is organized for any unlawful purpose
- Restricted words (e.g. Bank, Attorney, University) may require additional paperwork and a licensed individual, such as a doctor or lawyer, to be part of your business.
Learn more about Arkansas naming guidelines by reading the state statutes related to naming corporations and LLCs.
We recommend checking if your name is available as a web domain (URL). You might not plan on starting a business website today, but you may want to prevent others from acquiring your URL.
Need Help Creating a Brand Name and Logo?
If you need help coming up with a DBA name, try our business name generator. Then, create a unique logo for your brand with our free logo generator.
Step 2: Filing Your Arkansas Application for Fictitious Name
You are required to set up your DBA with the Arkansas Secretary of State if your business is NOT a sole proprietorship. You can file a hard copy or file online.
Unless your business’s registered office is in Pulaski County, you must submit a copy of the Application for Fictitious Name to the County Clerk in the county where your registered office is located.
Submit Your Application for Fictitious Name
Option 1: File Online With Arkansas’s Corporations Online Filing System
File Online- OR -
Option 2: File the Application for Fictitious Name by Mail or In-Person
Download FormCost:
Corporations and LLCs: $22.50 online, $25 by mail or in-person
All Partnerships: $13.50 online, $15 by mail or in-person
Filing Address:
Arkansas State Secretary of State
Business Services Division
1401 W. Capitol Avenue, Suite 250
Little Rock, AR 72201
Manage Your Arkansas DBA
DBA Questions
Call the Arkansas Secretary of State’s Business and Commercial Services office: (501) 682-3409
Renew Your DBA with the State
Your fictitious name registration does not expire.
Change Your DBA
You must complete a new registration to change your fictitious name.
Withdraw Your DBA
To withdraw or cancel your fictitious name, you must complete and submit the Cancellation of Fictitious Name form and submit it by mail or in-person.
Recommended: Use a reputable service. LegalZoom offers a hassle free DBA filing package starting at $99 + State Filing Fees.
After Filing Your Arkansas DBA
If filing a DBA marks the beginning of your business journey, then there are a few more steps that you should take before getting started:
- Create your Business’s Website - Every business needs a website. Luckily, drag-and-drop builders like GoDaddy and Wix make the job quick and easy. Check out our Best Website Builder article to find the tool that’s best for you.
- Get your Business Finances in Order - You’ll need to separate your business finances from your personal ones. This is accomplished by opening a business bank account. If your business has long lead times or other cash flow irregularities, you can also look into a business credit card.
- Protect Your Business - While an LLC will help to protect your personal assets in the case of a lawsuit, your business’s assets also need protection. Having the right business insurance will ensure that you’re covered if the worst happens. Most businesses start with general liability insurance as their base coverage.
DBA Arkansas FAQ
You can have as many DBAs as you can afford to create and are able to keep track of. Each one comes with additional incremental expenses and paperwork, meaning more is not necessarily better.
DBAs aren’t required to have a separate EIN because DBAs aren’t a business entity. The business entity that the DBA is under would have an EIN if an EIN is required.
To learn more about EINs and when you need one for your business, read our What is an EIN guide.
No. An LLC is a business 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 become an LLC.
To learn how to form an LLC, visit our Form an LLC state guides.
A DBA can only have Inc. in the name if the business entity the DBA is attached to is a corporation.
Holding a rental property in your name and with a DBA will not afford you any protection. The best option is to form an LLC to protect your personal assets in the event of an issue with the rental property. In any case, it is always best to consult an attorney.
Getting a DBA is often a better choice than changing your business’s legal name. If you want 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.
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.