Assumed Name (DBA) Registration in Tennessee
A Tennessee corporation or LLC that wants to operate under a name other than its legal name files an Application for Registration of Assumed Name with the Secretary of State; the assumed name is good for 5 years and is renewable (T.C.A. § 48-14-101 for corporations; § 48-249-106 for LLCs). Sole proprietors and general partnerships, which aren't registered with the Secretary of State, handle a business name at the county level.
By Find Local Law Editorial Team · Last reviewed: May 26, 2026
Researched and drafted with AI assistance and verified against primary sources (statutes, Judicial Council forms, and official court websites). This is general information, not legal advice.
This is general information, not legal advice. A Tennessee attorney can help you register the right way.
A “DBA” (doing business as) lets you operate under a name that isn’t your entity’s legal name. In Tennessee it’s called an assumed name, and where you register depends on your structure.
Registered entities: file with the Secretary of State
A Tennessee corporation or LLC that wants to use a name other than its legal name files an Application for Registration of Assumed Name with the Secretary of State (T.C.A. § 48-14-101 for corporations; T.C.A. § 48-249-106 for LLCs). The registered assumed name is good for 5 years and is renewable, so calendar the renewal before it lapses.
Sole proprietors and partnerships: county level
Sole proprietors and general partnerships aren’t registered with the Secretary of State to begin with, so they handle a business name at the county level rather than through the state assumed-name process.
Why register
An assumed name lets one entity run multiple brands or storefronts without forming separate companies — while keeping the underlying legal entity intact.
Next steps
Not sure which entity you have? Start with choosing a business entity, or see how to form an LLC and how to form a corporation. For help registering an assumed name, connect with a lawyer.
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Start your free intakeFrequently asked questions
- How does a Tennessee LLC or corporation register a DBA?
- It files an Application for Registration of Assumed Name with the Tennessee Secretary of State (T.C.A. § 48-14-101 for corporations; § 48-249-106 for LLCs).
- How long does a Tennessee assumed name last?
- An assumed name registered with the Secretary of State is good for 5 years and is renewable.
- How do sole proprietors handle a business name in Tennessee?
- Sole proprietors and general partnerships aren't registered with the Secretary of State, so they handle a business name at the county level.
Sources
Related guides
- Business Disputes in Tennessee When a contract is breached, remedies include money damages and, where damages are inadequate, specific performance. Tennessee's general statute of limitations for contract actions is six years (T.C.A. § 28-3-109). An exception: contracts for the sale of goods have a 4-year limit under the UCC (T.C.A. § 47-2-725).
- Choosing a Business Entity in Tennessee Tennessee recognizes sole proprietorships and general partnerships (no state formation filing), LLCs (Tennessee Revised Limited Liability Company Act, T.C.A. § 48-249-101 et seq.), and corporations (Tennessee Business Corporation Act, T.C.A. § 48-11-101 et seq.), formed by filing with the Secretary of State. LLCs and corporations generally shield owners' personal assets — but they're also generally subject to Tennessee's franchise & excise tax.
- Contract Basics in Tennessee A contract needs offer, acceptance, and consideration. Tennessee's statute of frauds (T.C.A. § 29-2-101) requires a signed writing for certain agreements — including a contract for the sale of land, a lease of land for more than one year, an agreement that can't be performed within one year, and a promise to answer for another's debt. Sales of goods have a separate UCC statute of frauds (T.C.A. § 47-2-201).
- How to Form a Corporation in Tennessee In Tennessee the incorporation document is called the charter (not articles of incorporation). You deliver a charter to the Secretary of State under the Tennessee Business Corporation Act (T.C.A. § 48-12-101, § 48-12-102), naming the corporation, incorporators, principal office, and registered agent, and file an annual report (§ 48-26-203). An S corporation is a federal tax election, not a Tennessee entity type. Confirm current fees on sos.tn.gov.
- How to Form an LLC in Tennessee To form a Tennessee LLC you file Articles of Organization with the Tennessee Secretary of State under T.C.A. § 48-249-202, naming the registered agent and office, principal office, and management type. The LLC must maintain a registered agent (§ 48-249-109) and file an annual report (§ 48-249-1017). Tennessee charges LLC filing and annual-report fees per member ($50 per member, subject to a minimum and a maximum) — confirm the current per-member rate, floor, and cap on sos.tn.gov.
- Related area: Real Property in Tennessee