Last Updated: February 16, 2024, 12:13 pm by TRUiC Team

How to File a DBA in Georgia

Registering a DBA, known in Georgia as a trade name, will establish your business’s branding. DBAs are a simple way to start growing your business.

We’ll show you how to register a Georgia 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).

Learn how to file a DBA Georgia

Trade Name Registration in Georgia

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Registering a Georgia trade name, also known as a DBA, is easy!

Your Georgia trade name must be unique and must also meet Georgia’s business name requirements.

Before you file, you will need to search state records and county records to make sure your exact name isn’t already taken. We will provide contact information for county offices in Step 2. You will also need to consider any state naming rules.

Your Georgia trade name should NOT include:

  • Any business entity suffix, such as LLC, Incorporated, Corp, etc., unless the business is actually an LLC, corporation, etc.
  • The words bank, banc, banque, banker, banking company, banking house, bancorp, bankruptcy, credit union, savings & loan, trust, or trust company without approval from the Department of Banking and Finance.
  • The words “college” or “university" without approval from the Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission.
  • Language implying that the company is organized for an unlawful purpose
  • Obscene language
  • The words insurance, assurance, surety, fidelity, reinsurance, reassurance, or indemnity without approval from the Georgia Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner.

For more details about naming rules in Georgia, you can read Georgia's Name Availability Standards.

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.

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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: Get Your Georgia Trade Name

Georgia trade names are filed with the county where your principal place of business is located.

Filing a DBA With the County Clerk

DBA regulations are managed by the state of Georgia, which means the steps for getting a DBA are similar from county to county.

We will provide step-by-step directions to get a Fulton County trade name. If you need to file in a different county, contact the correct county clerk for instructions.

These links will lead you to the trade name websites for some of the more populated counties:

For a complete list of county contact information, visit the Georgia Superior Courts website.

How to File a Fulton County DBA

Before you start the DBA filing process, it is a good idea to use the State of Georgia's trade name search to make sure your name is unique.

Trade names can be filed by mail or in-person with the Application to Register a Business to Be Conducted Under a Trade Name. The completed form must be notarized.

Recommended: Use a reputable service. LegalZoom offers a hassle free DBA filing package starting at $99 + State Filing Fees.

File a Georgia Trade Name

File the Application to Register a Business to Be Conducted Under a Trade Name by Mail or In-Person

Download Form

Cost:
$172 Filing Fee

Filing Address:
Clerk of Superior Court
Attention: Recording Division
136 Pryor St. SW
Atlanta, GA 30303

Step 3: Register Your Georgia DBA

The state of Georgia requires that you publish notice of your trade name registration with a paper in the county once a week for two weeks.

If you have questions about publication in Fulton County, contact the Fulton County Daily Report at (404) 521-1227.

Manage Your Fulton County DBA

General Questions
Call the Clerk for Superior Court at (404) 613-5371 for general questions about Fulton County trade names.

Renew Your Fulton County DBA
Your Fulton County trade name does not need to be renewed.

Change Your Fulton County DBA
To make changes to your trade name, you need to fill out a new registration form with the appropriate amendments. The fee is $174 ($172 plus a $2 cross-referencing fee).

Withdraw Your Fulton County DBA
To withdraw your trade name in Fulton County, fill out the Affidavit to Cancel Registered Trade Name form and submit it to the Clerk of Superior Court. The fee is $174 ($172 plus a $2 cross-referencing fee).

After Filing Your Georgia 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 Georgia 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.