How to Get a DBA in NY
Registering a DBA, known in New York 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 a New York 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 a New York 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)
File a DBA in NY for a Sole Proprietorship or General Partnership
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General partnerships and sole proprietors are required to file their New York 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 a New York Assumed Name Search
New York assumed names must be unique and must also meet New York’s business name requirements.
First, visit the New York Department of State's website and search for your new DBA name to make sure it isn’t already in use.
Next, review the New York naming requirements. In New York, assumed names should NOT include:
- Words that could confuse your business with a government agency (FBI, Treasury, State Department, etc.)
- Restricted words (e.g. Bank, Attorney, University) that may require additional paperwork and a licensed individual, such as a doctor or lawyer, to be part of your business.
Learn more about NY naming guidelines on the Department of State's website.
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 NY with the County Clerk
Sole proprietors and partnerships are required to file a business certificate 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.
In New York State, ALL PARTNERSHIPS must register a “Business Certificate for Partnerships” with the appropriate county clerk’s office(s) regardless of the name they operate under. Continue reading this section for instructions on completing this step.
We will give you step-by-step directions to get a New York County DBA (Manhattan). For directions in other counties, please contact your county clerk.
You can find your counties' contact information from the New York State Association of Counties.
Filing a DBA in NYC Contact Information:
- Kings County: (347) 404-9750
- Bronx County: (718) 590-3648
- Richmond County: (718) 675-8910
- Queens County: (718) 298-0601
- New York County: (646) 386-5955
How to File a New York County DBA
Before you start the DBA filing process, it is a good idea to search the New York County assumed name records. The assumed name records can be found at the New York County courthouse basement at 60 Centre Street in Manhattan.
The business certificate is X-74 for partnerships and X-201 for sole proprietorships. The county does NOT provide Business Certificate forms. Business owners are advised to purchase them in the lobby of the courthouse in Manhattan or at a legal stationery store.
Recommended: Use a reputable service. LegalZoom offers a hassle free DBA filing package starting at $99 + State Filing Fees.
File Your NY County Business Certificate
Learn More About Filing Form X-74 and X-201 With the New York State Unified Court System
Read InstructionsCost:
$100 Filing Fee
$10 Certified Copy
Office Address:
60 Centre St.
Room 161
New York, NY 10007
Note: The County Clerk accepts cash, Visa, MasterCard, or American Express. No personal or company checks are accepted.
Manage Your NY County DBA
DBA Questions
Call NY County at (646) 386-5955 for general questions about business certificates, assumed names, and DBA requirements.
Renew Your DBA
Your NY County business certificate does not expire.
Change Your DBA
To make changes to your business certificate, visit the County Clerk’s office to complete an amendment document. The New York County Clerk will supply the document and the fee to register is $121. Before heading to the County Clerk’s office, call (646) 386-5955 to confirm the process and requirements for the type of change needed.
Withdraw Your DBA
Register the Certificate of Discontinuance of Assumed Name Form with the New York County Clerk. For directions on how to get this form, call the county clerk at (646) 386-5955.
File a DBA in NY for an LLC, Corporation, or LLP
Incorporated businesses file their Certificate of Assumed Name with the New York Department of State.
The following business types are considered incorporated:
- For-profit Corporations, Nonprofit Corporations
- Professional Corporations, Professional Associations
- 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 a NY Business Entity Search
New York assumed names must be unique and must also meet New York’s business name requirements.
First, visit the New York Department of State's website and search for your new DBA name to make sure it isn’t already in use.
Next, review the New York naming requirements. In New York, assumed names should NOT include:
- Words that could confuse your business with a government agency (FBI, Treasury, State Department, etc.)
- Restricted words (e.g. Bank, Attorney, University) that may require additional paperwork and a licensed individual, such as a doctor or lawyer, to be part of your business.
Learn more about NY naming guidelines on the Department of State's website.
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 Certificate of Assumed Name NY
You are required to set up your DBA with the New York Department of State if your business is incorporated.
You will need to print a copy of the certificate of assumed name form. The form will ask for your new DBA name and information about your business.
Recommended: Use a reputable service. LegalZoom offers a hassle free DBA filing package starting at $99 + State Filing Fees.
File Your NY Assumed Name
File the Certificate of Assumed Name by Mail, by Fax, or In-Person
Download FormCost:
$25 for the Certificate of Assumed Name
$10 Certified Copy of Certificate of Assumed Name
$150 2-hour processing, $75 Same day, $25 within 24 hours
Office Address:
New York State Department of State
Division of Corporations
One Commerce Plaza
99 Washington Avenue
Albany, NY 12231
Mailing Address:
New York State Department of State
Division of Corporations
One Commerce Plaza
99 Washington Avenue
Albany, NY 12231
Fax: (518) 474-1418 (Include the Credit Card/Debit Card Authorization Form and your written request for a certified copy, if required)
Additional Fees For Corporations Only
- $100 for each NYC county where the business is or will be conducted within New York City (Bronx, Kings, New York, Queens, and Richmond Counties)
- $25 for each county where the business is or will be conducted outside New York City
- $1,950 to include every New York State county and the Certificate of Assumed Name combined
Payment
Fees must be paid by cash, check, money order, MasterCard, Visa or American Express. Checks and money orders should be made payable to the “Department of State.”
When using a credit card by mail or fax, you must complete and sign the Credit Card/Debit Card Authorization Form and submit it to the Division of Corporations with your Certificate of Assumed Name.
Do not send cash through the mail. All checks over $500 must be certified.
Manage Your NYS DBA
DBA Questions
Call the New York Department of State to learn more about DBA requirements: (518) 473-2492
Renew Your DBA with the State
Your Certificate of Assumed Name does not expire.
Change Your DBA
To make changes to your Certificate of Assumed Name, you must complete and submit the Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Assumed Name form.
Withdraw Your DBA
To withdraw or cancel your Certificate of Assumed Name, you must complete and submit the Certificate of Discontinuance of Assumed Name form.
After Filing Your New York 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 New York 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.