How To Get a DBA in Iowa in Three Steps
By Catherine Hodder, Esq. | Legally reviewed by Jordan Walker, J.D. | Last reviewed September 17, 2024
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Using a name other than your company name is a fictitious name or DBA in Iowa. Depending on the type of business, owners must register a fictitious name for an Iowa business in different ways. This article will explain DBA filings in Iowa.
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What Is a DBA?
A DBA stands for “doing business as” and is also known as a trade name, assumed name, or fictitious name. A DBA name is a different name a business uses that is not its registered legal name. An Iowa DBA is often referred to as a fictitious name or trade name.
Do I Need a DBA in Iowa?
Entrepreneurs may want a DBA name to describe their products or services better. For example, Diane starts a small business making wedding cakes. Her business is a sole proprietorship in her own name. The owner, Diane, decides she would like the name of her business to describe her products. She files for the DBA, “Wedding Cakes By Diane.” As her business grows, she expands into making other baked goods and sandwiches for catered events. She can file for another DBA to call it “Diane’s Catered Delights.”
How To Register a DBA
How you register your DBA depends on your business structure. Business entities such as corporations, limited liability companies (LLCs), and limited partnerships file a fictitious business name on the state level with the Secretary of State. Sole proprietors and general partnerships file a DBA registration with the county recorder in the jurisdiction where the business is located.
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Choose a Name
You must select a fictitious business name that is unique and not registered or trademarked by another business. Check the name availability through the Iowa Secretary of State’s website. You may also want to search the name on the internet or through ICANN to check for domain registrations and with the United States Patent and Trade Office (USPTO) for registered trademarks.
Complete the Form
Once you have a name, complete the “Fictitious Name Resolution” form. You can download this form from the Iowa Secretary of State’s website.
File the Form
You file the Fictitious Name Resolution with the Iowa Secretary of State using the Fast Track Filing online system.
You can also file by mail or in person. The address for the Iowa Secretary of State is:
Iowa Secretary of State Business Services Division
Lucas Building, 1st Floor
321 E. 12th St.
Des Moines, IA 50319
There is a $5 filing fee for each resolution. Make checks payable to the Secretary of State.
Choose a Name
Follow the same steps to choose a name like you were filing as a registered business entity. Conduct a name search with the state, the internet, and the USPTO. Because you register your DBA with the county recorder’s office, you may also want to check the preferred name in the county records.
Complete a Registration Form
You must register your DBA with the county recorder’s office where your business operates. Each county recorder will have its own application. For example, in Polk County, they use a Trade Name form. Contact your local county recorder’s office for the appropriate form and filing fees.
File the Registration Form
Check with your county recorder’s office for forms, filing instructions, and fees.
After Filing a DBA in Iowa
Once you receive confirmation of your filing, you can add the name to your business bank accounts, business licenses, and insurance policies.
While you do not have to renew your DBA, you should keep your contact information up to date with the Secretary of State or county clerk’s office.
Frequently Asked Questions
Need Help Filing Your DBA?
If you have questions about DBAs for your business type, you can contact a local business attorney.
Or, for $99 plus filing fees, you can let our trusted partner LegalZoom handle your new name search and DBA application filing.
Disclaimer: The information presented here does not constitute legal advice or representation. It is general and educational in nature, may not reflect all recent legal developments, and may not apply to your unique facts and circumstances. Consider consulting with a qualified business attorney if you have legal questions.
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Need Help Registering Your DBA?
FindLaw's trusted partner, LegalZoom, provides a straightforward process to register your DBA. Join the millions who launched their businesses with LegalZoom.
DBA registration starts at $99 + filing fees.