Arkansas DBA Filing: Fictitious Name & Fee (2026)

Q: What is a DBA called in Arkansas?

In Arkansas a DBA is called a fictitious name. An LLC or corporation registers one by filing an Application for Fictitious Name with the Arkansas Secretary of State's Business and Commercial Services division.

Q: How much does an Arkansas DBA cost?

An entity fictitious name filed with the Arkansas Secretary of State typically costs about $25; confirm the current amount on the Secretary of State fee schedule. Sole proprietors and general partnerships file with the county clerk, where fees are set locally.

Q: Where do I file a DBA in Arkansas?

Registered entities such as LLCs and corporations file the fictitious name with the Arkansas Secretary of State. Sole proprietorships and general partnerships file with the county clerk in the county where they do business.

Q: Does an Arkansas DBA give me trademark rights?

No. Registering a fictitious name only lets you legally operate under a name. It does not grant exclusive rights or prevent others from using the name. For brand protection you register a trademark separately.

Q: Do I need a DBA if I use my LLC's legal name?

No. You need a fictitious name registration only if you operate under a name different from your LLC's exact legal name on file with the Secretary of State. Using your legal name requires no DBA.

Q: Does an Arkansas DBA create a separate business?

No. A fictitious name is only a name. It does not create a separate legal entity or provide liability protection. For a liability shield you form an LLC or corporation.

Fact-checked by the LegalGlass editorial team against primary sources · Published Aug 6, 2026 · Last updated Aug 6, 2026

In Arkansas a DBA is called a fictitious name. An LLC or corporation registers one by filing an Application for Fictitious Name with the Arkansas Secretary of State (Business and Commercial Services) for roughly $25; a sole proprietor or general partnership files instead with the county clerk where it does business. The registration simply lets you operate under a name other than your legal name - it grants no exclusive or trademark rights.

Quick Answer

Arkansas term: Fictitious name (the DBA equivalent)
Entity filing: Application for Fictitious Name - Arkansas Secretary of State, ~$25
Sole proprietor: File with the county clerk; fee set locally
Agency: Secretary of State, Business and Commercial Services (BCS)
Governing law: Arkansas Code Title 4 (fictitious/assumed names)
Rights granted: None exclusive - a DBA is not a trademark

What an Arkansas DBA (Fictitious Name) Is

A "DBA" - short for "doing business as" - lets a business operate under a name that is not its own legal name. Arkansas law calls this a fictitious name (sometimes an assumed name). You need one whenever the public-facing name differs from your legal name: a sole proprietor named Maria Lopez operating "Ozark Bakery," or an LLC legally named "Lopez Holdings LLC" running a storefront branded "Ozark Bakery." Registering the fictitious name makes that use lawful and puts the public on notice of who is behind the name. For the national concept and how it works in every state, see what is a DBA.

Where You File Depends on Your Entity

Arkansas splits fictitious name filing by whether your business is a registered entity. Registered entities - LLCs, corporations, and limited partnerships - file the fictitious name with the Arkansas Secretary of State, the same office where the entity itself is registered. Unincorporated businesses - sole proprietorships and general partnerships - file with the county clerk in each county where they do business, because those businesses are not on file with the Secretary of State at all. This split determines the form, the fee, and the office you deal with.

Who you are	Where to file	Form / fee (2026)
LLC, corporation, LP	Arkansas Secretary of State (BCS)	Application for Fictitious Name - about $25
Sole proprietor	County clerk (each county of business)	County fictitious name form - fee varies
General partnership	County clerk (each county of business)	County fictitious name form - fee varies

Because the Secretary of State periodically updates its charges, treat the ~$25 figure as a guide and confirm the exact amount on the official BCS fee schedule before you pay. County fees are set locally and differ from county to county, so this page does not quote a single county figure.

Filing a Fictitious Name as an LLC or Corporation

If you run an LLC or corporation, you register the fictitious name directly with the Arkansas Secretary of State by filing an Application for Fictitious Name. The application asks for your fictitious (assumed) name, your entity's exact legal name and filing number, the entity type, and the nature of the business conducted under the name. You can submit it through the Secretary of State's online Corporations filing system or on paper. Before you file, confirm the name is not already tied up by searching the state's business records with an Arkansas business entity search - although, unlike an entity name, a fictitious name is not held to the same strict distinguishability standard as the formal LLC or corporate name.

Filing a County DBA as a Sole Proprietor

If you operate as a sole proprietor or a general partnership, you file the fictitious name with the county clerk in every Arkansas county where you conduct business. The county form typically requires your fictitious name, your legal name and address, and a signature. Some counties accept filings in person or by mail. Keep a file-stamped copy - banks usually require it to open a deposit account under the fictitious name, and a check made out to your trade name is difficult to deposit without one. Because a sole proprietorship has no separate legal name of its own, operating under anything other than your own full personal name generally triggers this county filing requirement.

What a DBA Does and Does Not Do

A fictitious name registration is a disclosure filing, not a grant of rights. It lets you legally transact and open a bank account under the name, and it tells the public who owns the business. It does not create a separate legal entity, does not shield your personal assets, and does not give you exclusive rights to the name. If you want to stop competitors from using your brand, you need a trademark, which is a separate state or federal registration through the USPTO or the state. And if you want the liability protection a DBA cannot provide, you form an LLC or corporation - see how to form an LLC in Arkansas.

DBAs, EINs, and Taxes

Filing a fictitious name does not change how you are taxed. A sole proprietor with a DBA still reports business income on a Schedule C and pays self-employment tax; an LLC with a DBA is taxed exactly as the LLC would be without one. A DBA does not require its own EIN - the underlying person or entity uses its existing taxpayer ID, though a sole proprietor may choose to get an EIN to avoid putting a Social Security number on forms. If you sell taxable goods or services, you still need an Arkansas sales and use tax permit from the Department of Finance and Administration, and your Arkansas LLC tax filing obligations are unaffected by the name you trade under.

When You Actually Need an Arkansas DBA

You need a fictitious name registration only when your public-facing name differs from your legal name, but that situation is more common than founders expect. A sole proprietor almost always needs one, because a sole proprietorship has no separate legal name - operating as anything other than your own full personal name triggers the requirement. An LLC or corporation needs one whenever it runs a brand, product line, or storefront under a name other than the exact entity name on file. Common triggers include launching a second brand under one LLC, opening a location with a distinct trade name, or shortening a long legal name for marketing. By contrast, if "Lopez Holdings LLC" simply does business as "Lopez Holdings LLC," no fictitious name filing is required. Banks are often the practical forcing function: most will not open a deposit account or accept checks made out to a trade name unless you show a file-stamped fictitious name registration matching that name. Filing early avoids a scramble when you try to open the account or sign your first contract under the brand.

DBA Versus Forming an LLC

A DBA and an LLC solve different problems, and it is worth being clear about which you need. A fictitious name registration is a naming tool: it lets an existing person or entity use a trade name. Forming an LLC is a liability tool: it creates a separate legal entity that, when maintained properly, shields your personal assets from most business debts and lawsuits. A sole proprietor with a DBA still has unlimited personal liability - the DBA changes the name on the sign, not the exposure. Many owners therefore file an Arkansas Certificate of Organization to create an LLC and then, only if they want to operate under a different brand, add a fictitious name on top. If you are weighing the two, our sole proprietorship vs LLC comparison lays out the trade-offs in cost, paperwork, and protection so you can decide before you file anything. You may also want an Arkansas operating agreement once the LLC exists.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a DBA called in Arkansas?

It is called a fictitious name. An LLC or corporation registers one by filing an Application for Fictitious Name with the Arkansas Secretary of State's Business and Commercial Services division.

How much does an Arkansas DBA cost?

An entity fictitious name filed with the Secretary of State typically costs about $25; confirm the current amount on the BCS fee schedule. Sole proprietors file with the county clerk, where fees are set locally.

Where do I file a DBA in Arkansas?

Registered entities such as LLCs and corporations file with the Arkansas Secretary of State. Unincorporated businesses file with the county clerk in each county where they do business.

Does an Arkansas DBA give me trademark rights?

No. A fictitious name only lets you operate under a name; it grants no exclusive rights. For brand protection you register a trademark separately.

Do I need a DBA if I use my LLC's legal name?

No. You need one only if you operate under a name different from your LLC's exact legal name on file with the Secretary of State.

Does an Arkansas DBA create a separate business?

No. A fictitious name is only a name; it creates no separate entity and no liability shield. For protection you form an LLC or corporation.

Sources

Arkansas Secretary of State - Business and Commercial Services (BCS) (fictitious name filing for registered entities).
Arkansas Secretary of State - Business Forms & Fees (Application for Fictitious Name; fee schedule).
Arkansas Secretary of State - Corporations / Business Entity Search.
Arkansas Code, Title 4 - Chapter 70, Fictitious Names (county filing for individuals and partnerships), via Justia.
Arkansas Code, Title 4 - Chapter 27, Business Corporation Act (corporate assumed names), via Justia.
Arkansas Code, Title 4 - Chapter 38, Uniform Limited Liability Company Act, via Justia.
Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration - Sales and Use Tax (permit for taxable sales).
IRS - Doing Business As (DBA) name (tax treatment unchanged).
IRS - Get an Employer Identification Number (free EIN).
IRS - Sole Proprietorships (Schedule C reporting).
Cornell Legal Information Institute - Doing business as (DBA).
Cornell Legal Information Institute - Trademark.
USPTO - Trademark basics (why a DBA is not a trademark).

LegalGlass provides general information for educational purposes and is not a law firm or a substitute for advice from a licensed attorney or tax professional. Fees and county procedures change; verify current requirements with the Arkansas Secretary of State and your county clerk before acting.