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

How to Get a DBA in Alabama

Registering a DBA, known in Alabama 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 an Alabama 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 in Alabama

Register a DBA in Alabama

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

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

First, use the Alabama Secretary of State’s Business Entity Search and search for your new DBA name to make sure it isn’t already in use.

Next, review the Alabama naming requirements. In Alabama, your trade name should NOT include:

  • Any banking-related words without a letter from the Alabama Banking Commissioner’s Office, or any insurance-related words without a letter from the Alabama Insurance Commissioner’s Office.
  • Any words that could confuse your corporation with a government agency (FBI, Treasury, State Department, etc.).
  • A professional designation in the name (i.e., engineering, attorney) without a copy of the license of one officer/member or a letter from the governing agency allowing the use of the name without licensing.
  • Any words that indicate or imply that the corporation is engaged in a business that is not authorized by law to pursue.

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.

Find a Domain Now

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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. Use Your Alabama Trade Name

Alabama requires that you have operated under your trade name before you can register it. So, if you'd like to register and protect a trade name in Alabama, you need to start using it right away.

Alabama will require three "specimens" of trade name usage. Some examples of acceptable specimens include:

  • Business Cards
  • Brochures
  • Flyers
  • Labels
  • Decals

Specimens must be unaltered and legible. The trade name application will ask where and when you used the trade name for the first time in any state and in Alabama specifically, so it’s important to keep track.

Step 3. Register Your Alabama DBA

Your Alabama trade name can be filed online or by mail with the Secretary of State. You can file online with the Secretary of State’s website or you can complete the Application to Register or Renew Trademark, Service Mark or Trade Name form.

Some important sections of the form include:

  • Section 4: Description of the trade name
  • Section 5: Description of the goods or services that will be offered under the trade name
  • Section 6: An explanation of how the trade name will be used
  • Section 10: Any other entities authorized to use the trade name (if applicable)
  • Section 11: Date the trade name was first used

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

File an Alabama Trade Name

Option 1: File Online on the Secretary of State’s Website

File Online

- OR -

Option 2: File the Application to Register or Renew Trademark, Service Mark or Trade Name By Mail or In-Person

Download Form

Cost:
$30 Filing Fee

Office Address:
State of Alabama Office of the Secretary of State
Trademarks Division
11 South Union St., Suite 224
Montgomery, AL 36130

Mailing Address:
State of Alabama Office of the Secretary of State
Trademarks Division
P.O. Box 5616
Montgomery, AL 36103-5616

Manage Your Alabama Trade Name

General Questions
Call the Alabama Secretary of State’s Trademarks Division: (334) 242-5325

Renew Your Trade Name With the State
Your Alabama DBA should be renewed every five years. You can renew on the Secretary of State’s website or by completing and mailing the Application to Register or Renew Trademark, Service Mark or Trade Name. Mail the completed form to the address below:

State of Alabama Office of the Secretary of State
Trademarks Division
P.O. Box 5616
Montgomery, AL 36103-5616

Change Your Trade Name
To change your Alabama trade name, call the Alabama Secretary of State’s Trademarks Division: (334) 242-5325

Withdraw Your Trade Name
To cancel your Alabama trade name, call the Alabama Secretary of State’s Trademarks Division: (334) 242-5325

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After Filing Your Alabama 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.

Alabama DBA 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.