How to Get a DBA in Virginia

Step 1. Start with a Virginia Fictitious Name or Assumed Name Search

When you register your Virginia fictitious name or assumed name, you are essentially letting other business owners know that the name is in use. Your trade name isn’t protected from being used by others.

The next step is to check to see if your name is unique and also meets Virginia’s business name requirements. First, visit the Virginia State Corporation Commission website and search for your new DBA name to make sure it isn’t already in use.

Next, review the Virginia naming requirements. In Virginia, fictitious name or assumed names should not:

• Include any word, abbreviation or combination of characters that states or implies that it is a different type of business entity.
• Imply that it is or will be conducting business as a bank, trust company, insurance company, or public service company, such as a railroad, telephone company, utility, or water or sewer company, unless it will actually be engaged in such business.
• Include the word “bank” or “trust” unless it will be engaged in the banking or trust company business, unless it is clear from the context of the remaining words that it will not be engaged in such business.
• Include the word or words “engineer,” “architecture” or “land surveying,” or any modification or derivation of such words, unless the entity will be lawfully engaged in such services or it is clear from the context of the remaining words that the entity will not conduct such business.
• Include the words “United States,” “national,” “Federal” and “reserve” if the business entity is engaged in the banking, loan, building and loan, brokerage, factorage, insurance, indemnity, savings or trust 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.

Once you reserve a domain name for your DBA, consider setting up a business phone system to help strengthen your customer service and boost credibility. We recommend Phone.com because of its affordable pricing and variety of useful features. Start calling with Phone.com.

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. Register Your Virginia DBA

In Virginia, you register your DBA with the State Corporation Commission. You can file online with the State Corporation Commission or you can complete the PDF form. There are two different PDF forms to choose from depending on your business structure.

The Certificate of Assumed or Fictitious Name Business Conducted by an Entity, used for corporations, LLCs, LPs, and general partnerships, will ask for your new DBA name and information about your business, including:

• Section 1: The name of the entity conducting business under the DBA
• Section 2: The assumed/fictitious name being registered
• Section 3: The entity type
• Section 4: The jurisdiction under which the entity was formed
• Section 5: The entity’s SCC ID number or address

The Certificate of Assumed or Fictitious Name Business Conducted by an Individual, used for sole proprietorships, will ask for your new DBA name and information about your business, including:

• Section 1: The name of the individual that will conduct business under the DBA
• Section 2: The assumed/fictitious name being registered
• Section 3: The address of the individual registering

A DBA does not offer any legal protection for your personal assets in the event that your business is sued. For more information on setting up a limited liability company, visit our How to Form an LLC page and select your state.