How To File a DBA in Georgia in 3 Steps

Your Georgia DBA name has to be unique and not used by a competing Georgia business. You should follow Georgia's naming rules when choosing your trade name. If your business is not a corporation or LLC, you should avoid using words or abbreviations like “corp.", “incorporated" or “LLC," which could confuse the public.

Do a thorough search to find out if your business name is already being used.

• Start by doing a name search at the Georgia Secretary of State website.
• Search the county clerk's office where you operate the business for your proposed name.
• Do a simple internet screening search to see if a competitor uses the same or a similar name.
• Search the United States Patent and Trademark Office's (USPTO's) trademark database. This is a vital step to ensure that your name does not infringe on another company's trademark rights.
• Check for domain name availability before committing to a name. Even if you don't build your website right away, it's a good idea to make sure you have reserved your domain name. That way, it will be ready to go when you want to launch your online presence.

Your trade name application can be denied if the name is the same as another business registered in your county. So, the best policy is to make sure your business name is available to avoid the delays a denial will cause.

Your trade name application can get denied if the name is the same as another business registered in your county. So, the best policy is to make sure your business name is available to avoid the delays a denial will cause.

While conducting these searches, it would be wise to check for domain name availability before committing to a name. Even if you don't build your website right away, it's a good idea to make sure you have reserved your domain name. That way, it will be ready to go when you want to launch your online presence.

Finally, you should make sure to follow Georgia's naming rules when choosing your trade name. If your business is not a corporation or LLC, you should not include any words or abbreviations like “corp.", “incorporated," or “LLC" that could confuse the public.

In Georgia, you need to file your DBA name with the office of the clerk of the superior court where your principal place of business is located. This is the address you have listed with the Georgia Corporations Division.

Find Your Trade Name Application Form

You should go to your county clerk's website to find the application form for your assumed name. Georgia provides a complete list of county clerks on its Georgia clerks website. You can choose your county from the map or a list.

Some counties, like Fulton county, offer a downloadable trade name application. If the trade name registration form is not available on your county clerk's website, you should call or email their office directly. They can offer more information on how to get the paperwork you need.

Fill Out Your Trade Name Application

The paperwork to fill out may vary from county to county. But state-level laws require you to provide certain basic company details. This information is usually easy to gather. You will need to:

• Give your business's address.
• Provide your requested trade name.
• State the nature of your business.
• Provide names, contact information, and notarized signatures of company owners.
• Make payment for the fees listed on the form. These fees tend to change over time and by location, but they will generally be around $200 for the combined filing and publication fees.

Once you have completed the application, mail it, or return it to your county clerk. Their mailing address should be on the application.

It might seem old-fashioned, but Georgia law requires you to publish a notice of your new Georgia DBA name in a local newspaper. The notice should run every week for two weeks. It should appear in the same newspaper that runs the sheriff's advertisements. Your county clerk can probably inform you as to the correct local newspaper.

Some counties, like Gwinnett, make this step easy by including the publication fee as part of the trade name application. If you have additional questions about the publication requirement or any other aspects of the DBA filing, you should contact your county clerk.