Do I need a DBA if I have an LLC in Georgia?

Only if the LLC operates under a name different from its legal name on file with the Secretary of State. An LLC that does business only under its registered name does not need a separate trade name registration.

Georgia DBA Filing: Trade Name Steps & Cost (2026)

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

In Georgia a DBA is called a trade name, and you register it with the Clerk of Superior Court in the county where your business is located - not with the state. You file a notarized application, pay a county fee of roughly $150–$210, and publish notice in the county legal organ newspaper for two consecutive weeks. There is no statewide DBA filing in Georgia.

Quick Answer

Georgia's term: Trade name (DBA / "doing business as")
Where to file: Clerk of Superior Court, county where you operate
State filing?: No - Georgia has no state-level DBA
Typical fee: About $150–$210, varies by county (2026)
Publication: Legal organ newspaper, two consecutive weeks
Legal basis: O.C.G.A. § 10-1-490 (trade name registration)

What a DBA (Trade Name) Is in Georgia

A DBA - "doing business as" - is any name a business uses that is different from its owner's legal name or its registered entity name. Georgia law calls this a trade name. A sole proprietor named Maria Lopez who runs "Peachtree Cleaning" is using a trade name; a Georgia LLC formed as "Lopez Ventures LLC" that markets a storefront called "Peachtree Cleaning" is also using a trade name. Registering the trade name puts the public on notice of who actually owns and operates the business, which is the purpose of the registration statute. See the national what is a DBA explainer for background.

A trade name is not a business structure. It does not create a separate legal entity, change your taxes, or limit your liability. If you want liability protection, you form an LLC or a corporation; a DBA on its own leaves a sole proprietor personally liable. Registering a trade name is simply a public-record filing that lets you lawfully operate and, in practice, open a bank account and sign contracts under the assumed name.

Where You File: County Clerk of Superior Court

Unlike many states, Georgia does not register trade names through the Secretary of State. Instead, under O.C.G.A. § 10-1-490, a person or entity transacting business under a trade name must register that name with the Clerk of Superior Court in the county where the business is chiefly located. If you operate in more than one county, you may need to register in each county where you do business. Because it is a county filing, the exact form, fee, and process vary from county to county - Fulton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Cobb, and each other county set their own local procedures.

This is different from forming an entity: your Georgia LLC is created at the state level through the Secretary of State's Articles of Organization, while your trade name is recorded locally at the courthouse. The two filings are separate, and an LLC still registers a trade name at the county if it operates under a different name.

How to Register a Georgia Trade Name, Step by Step

The process has four main steps. Confirm the exact requirements with your county Clerk of Superior Court, since forms and fees are set locally.

Choose and check your trade name. Pick the name you will operate under and make sure it is not already registered in your county and not confusingly similar to an existing business. Confirm it does not infringe a trademark by searching the federal register.
Complete and notarize the application. Obtain the trade name registration application from your county's Clerk of Superior Court. Provide the trade name, the true owner's name and address, and the nature of the business. Most counties require the application to be notarized.
File with the Clerk of Superior Court and pay the fee. Submit the notarized application to the Clerk in the county where your business is located and pay the county filing fee (commonly around $150–$210, including or plus the publication charge).
Publish notice for two consecutive weeks. Georgia law requires you to publish notice of the trade name in the county's official legal organ newspaper once a week for two consecutive weeks. In many counties the Clerk coordinates publication for you as part of the fee.

Once the application is filed and publication is complete, your trade name is on the county's public record. Keep the stamped filing; banks generally ask for it before opening an account under the assumed name.

The Publication Requirement

Publication is a distinctive part of Georgia's trade name process. The registration is not simply a private filing - the law requires public notice so that anyone in the community can learn who is behind the business name. You publish in the county's designated legal organ, which is the newspaper the county has officially designated for legal notices, once a week for two consecutive weeks.

Publication costs are separate from, or bundled with, the Clerk's filing fee depending on the county. In counties where the Clerk arranges publication, the quoted fee usually already includes it; in others you pay the newspaper directly. Ask the Clerk's office whether the fee you are quoted covers publication so you are not surprised by a second charge.

Georgia DBA Fees (2026)

Because trade name registration is a county filing, there is no single statewide fee. The table below shows the typical components; confirm the exact amount with your county Clerk of Superior Court before filing.

Item	Where	Typical cost (2026)
Trade name registration (filing)	County Clerk of Superior Court	~$150–$210 (varies by county)
Legal-organ publication (two weeks)	County legal newspaper	Often included, or ~$20–$40
Certified copy of the registration	County Clerk of Superior Court	Small per-page/certification fee
Federal EIN (if you need one)	IRS	$0 (free)

These are typical ranges drawn from Georgia counties; your county controls the actual amount. A DBA does not require any payment to the Georgia Secretary of State or the Georgia Department of Revenue.

DBA vs. LLC vs. Trademark

A common misunderstanding is that registering a trade name protects the name. It does not. A Georgia trade name registration only lets you operate under the name in that county; it does not grant exclusive rights and does not stop a competitor from using a similar name. Three tools do different jobs:

Trade name (DBA) - lets you lawfully do business under an assumed name; a public notice filing, not a property right.
LLC or corporation - a legal entity that provides liability protection; formed at the state level. See sole proprietorship vs LLC.
Trademark - the tool that actually protects a brand name or logo and can stop others from using it. See how to trademark a business name and do I need to trademark my business name.

Do You Need a Georgia DBA?

You need a Georgia trade name registration when you transact business under a name that is not your legal personal name (for a sole proprietor or general partnership) or not your exact registered entity name (for an LLC or corporation). A sole proprietor operating under their own full name generally does not need one. A DBA does not by itself create tax obligations, but you may still need an EIN and a bank account - see do I need an EIN to open a business bank account. If you sell taxable goods, you register separately for sales tax with the Georgia Department of Revenue regardless of your DBA. Registering a trade name also does not replace any local business or occupational license your city or county requires, and it does not substitute for professional licensing in regulated fields; the trade name filing and those licenses are separate obligations you handle in parallel.

Renewing or Changing a Georgia Trade Name

A registered trade name generally stays on the county record until you change or withdraw it, but counties differ on whether periodic renewal is required, so check your county's rules. If your ownership, address, or the name itself changes, file an amendment or a new registration with the same Clerk of Superior Court and publish again if the county requires it. When you close the business, you can file a withdrawal or cancellation of the trade name. If you are winding down an LLC that used a trade name, handle the entity dissolution separately - see how to dissolve an LLC in Georgia and how to close a business.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do I file a DBA in Georgia?

With the Clerk of Superior Court in the county where your business is located. Georgia does not register trade names at the state level, so there is no Secretary of State DBA. See what is a DBA.

How much does a Georgia DBA cost?

Typically about $150–$210, depending on the county, plus any separate newspaper publication charge for the two-week notice.

Does registering a trade name protect the name?

No. It lets you operate under the name in the county but grants no exclusive rights. Only a trademark protects a brand name from others.

Do I need a DBA if I have a Georgia LLC?

Only if the LLC does business under a name different from its registered name. An LLC operating under its exact registered name does not need a separate trade name.

Do I need to publish my Georgia trade name?

Yes. Georgia requires publication of the trade name in the county's official legal organ newspaper once a week for two consecutive weeks.

Sources

Georgia.gov - File a DBA (Doing Business As) (trade name filed with county Clerk of Superior Court; publication requirement).
Georgia Code (O.C.G.A.) - Title 10, Chapter 1, Article 19, Registration of Business and Trade Names.
Georgia Code (O.C.G.A.) - § 10-1-490, Registration of trade names required.
Georgia Secretary of State - Business Division FAQ (entity names vs. trade names; name searches).
Georgia Secretary of State - How to Register a Domestic Entity (LLC name on file with the state).
Georgia Department of Revenue - Business Taxes (a DBA does not change tax registration).
Georgia Department of Revenue - Sales & Use Tax registration.
IRS - Sole Proprietorships (a trade name does not change federal tax status).
IRS - Business Name Change.
IRS - Get an Employer Identification Number (free EIN).
USPTO - Trademarks (trade name registration is not trademark protection).
U.S. Small Business Administration - Register Your Business (DBA / trade name overview).
U.S. Small Business Administration - Choose Your Business Name.

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. County procedures and fees change; verify current requirements with your Georgia county Clerk of Superior Court before acting.