Assumed Name (DBA) Registration in Georgia

This is general information, not legal advice. A Georgia business attorney can help with your specific situation.

Many Georgia businesses operate under a name that is different from the owner’s legal name or the LLC or corporation’s formal registered name. Using that alternate name — commonly called a “DBA” (doing business as), trade name, or assumed name — triggers a registration requirement under Georgia law. The process is more local than most people expect.

What Is a DBA?

A DBA is simply a name a business uses publicly that differs from its legal name. For a sole proprietor named Jane Smith who runs a landscaping business under “Peach State Lawn Care,” that operating name is the DBA. For an LLC named “Smith Services LLC” that markets itself as “Peach State Lawn Care,” the marketing name is the DBA. Either way, Georgia requires registration.

Where to Register — County, Not Secretary of State

This is the most common point of confusion: Georgia DBA registrations are filed at the county level, with the Clerk of the Superior Court in the county where the business is primarily conducted (O.C.G.A. §§ 10-1-490 through 10-1-493). The Georgia Secretary of State’s office does not handle assumed name registrations.

Each county maintains its own trade name records. Fulton, DeKalb, Cobb, and every other county each have their own filing process, forms, and fees. Contact the Superior Court Clerk’s office in the relevant county directly for current requirements and fees.

30-Day Filing Deadline

Registration must be filed within 30 days of beginning to conduct business under the trade name (O.C.G.A. § 10-1-490). Operating under an unregistered trade name beyond that window puts the business out of compliance with Georgia law.

Publication Requirement

After filing, the registration must be published in a local newspaper — once per week for two consecutive weeks. The newspaper must be a publication of general circulation in the county. The Superior Court Clerk can typically provide a list of qualifying newspapers. Keep proof of publication.

Notarized Application

The trade name application must be notarized before submission. The specific form varies by county. Budget for the notary fee, the county filing fee, and the newspaper publication cost when planning the registration.

What DBA Registration Does Not Do

Registration is a disclosure requirement, not a trademark or name reservation. Multiple businesses can register the same trade name in different counties — or even in the same county. A DBA registration does not prevent another business from using the same name, and it does not give the registrant any exclusive rights to that name.

If protecting the business name matters — preventing competitors from using the same or similar name — the right tools are a Georgia state trademark registration with the Secretary of State or a federal trademark with the USPTO. Those are separate processes with their own requirements.

LLCs and Corporations Operating Under a DBA

A formed Georgia LLC or corporation that operates under a name different from its registered entity name still needs to register the DBA at the county level. The entity’s registered name with the Secretary of State is not the same as its right to use a trade name publicly without disclosure.

See related guides: How to Form an LLC in Georgia | Choosing a Business Entity in Georgia