Pennsylvania DBA Filing (Fictitious Name): Cost & Steps (2026)
In Pennsylvania a DBA is called a fictitious name. You register it on Form DSCB:54-311 with the Pennsylvania Department of State for a $70 fee under the Fictitious Names Act (54 Pa.C.S.). If any owner is an individual, you must also publish notice in two newspapers; LLCs and corporations are exempt from publication. A fictitious name does not expire.
Quick Answer
- What it is
- A "fictitious name" (DBA), under the Fictitious Names Act (54 Pa.C.S.)
- Form
- Registration of Fictitious Name, DSCB:54-311
- Filing fee
- $70 (2026), to the Pennsylvania Department of State
- Agency
- Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations
- Publication
- Required if an individual is a party; entities are exempt
- Renewal
- None - a fictitious name does not expire
Pennsylvania's DBA: The Fictitious Name
Pennsylvania does not use the term "DBA" in its statutes; the legal concept is a fictitious name, governed by the Fictitious Names Act of 1982, codified at 54 Pa.C.S. §§ 301 et seq. A fictitious name is any assumed name, style, or designation other than the proper name of the person or entity using it - what other states call a DBA, trade name, or "trading as" (T/A). Any individual or entity that conducts business in Pennsylvania under a name other than its own legal name must register that fictitious name with the Department of State. For the general concept, see what a DBA is.
The registration exists for public accountability, not brand ownership. It lets a customer, creditor, or court trace the fictitious name back to the real person or company behind it. It does not create a legal entity or protect personal assets - for that you form an LLC or corporation. If limiting liability is your goal, compare the options in sole proprietorship vs LLC and review how to form an LLC in Pennsylvania before filing a fictitious name.
Agency, Form, and Fee: DSCB:54-311, $70
You register a fictitious name by filing the Registration of Fictitious Name, form DSCB:54-311, with the Pennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations - the same office that accepts LLC formation documents. The state filing fee is $70. You can file online through the Department's business filing system at corporations.pa.gov, or submit the form by mail. The registration asks for the fictitious name, a brief statement of the character of the business, the principal place of business, and the real name and address of each party to the registration - every individual or entity that will use the name. Listing all parties correctly matters, because it determines both who is on record and whether the publication requirement applies.
How to Register a Fictitious Name, Step by Step
The process is short, with one extra step for individuals.
- Choose and check the fictitious name. Pick a trade name and search the Department of State records - via the Pennsylvania business entity search - to see how it is already used. A fictitious name need not be distinguishable from others, but a duplicate gives you no exclusivity. Check the federal trademark register too.
- Complete Form DSCB:54-311. List the fictitious name, the character of the business, the principal office address, and the real name and address of each party to the registration.
- File with the Department of State and pay $70. Submit the Registration of Fictitious Name online or by mail to the Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations with the $70 fee.
- Publish if an individual is a party. If any party is an individual, publish notice in two newspapers of general circulation in the county (one a legal newspaper) and keep proof of publication with your records. Entities are exempt from this step.
- Use the name and keep your EIN. Use the fictitious name on signage, invoices, and a bank account, and keep your existing EIN - a name registration does not require a new one.
Newspaper Publication: Required for Individuals
Pennsylvania's publication rule is narrower than many people expect. Under 54 Pa.C.S. § 311, the official publication requirement applies only when an individual (a natural person) is a party to the fictitious name registration - typically a sole proprietor or a general partnership of individuals. In that case, you must officially publish notice of the registration in two newspapers of general circulation in the county where the principal office is located, and one of the two must be a legal newspaper (a legal journal). If the county has only one newspaper of general circulation, publishing in that one is sufficient. The notice states the fictitious name, the parties, and that an application for registration is or was filed, and the proof of publication is kept with the business's permanent records rather than filed with the state.
Crucially, LLCs, corporations, and other entities are exempt from the newspaper publication requirement when no individual is a party - an LLC registering a second brand does not publish. Publication costs are set by the newspapers, not the state, and vary by county, so budget for them separately from the $70 filing fee if you are an individual filer. This publication rule is specific to fictitious names; it is not the same as the LLC formation publication some other states require.
Fictitious Name Filing Costs (2026)
The table shows the state-set costs. Newspaper publication, when required, is billed by the newspapers and varies by county.
| Item | Form | Fee (2026) | Agency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registration of Fictitious Name | DSCB:54-311 | $70 | Department of State |
| Amendment / cancellation / withdrawal | DSCB:54-312/313 | $70 | Department of State |
| Newspaper publication (individuals only) | - | Newspaper-set (varies by county) | Two newspapers |
| Renewal | - | None - does not expire | - |
| Federal EIN (unchanged by DBA) | IRS Form SS-4 | $0 (free) | IRS |
For how this fits alongside entity costs, see Pennsylvania LLC cost and the national how much an LLC costs guide.
What a Fictitious Name Does Not Do
Three limits are worth stating plainly. First, a fictitious name creates no legal entity and provides no liability protection. A sole proprietor who registers a fictitious name remains personally liable for business debts, exactly as before; the registration only makes the responsible party findable. If you want to shield personal assets, the tool is an LLC or corporation, not a DBA. Second, a fictitious name gives little exclusivity: Pennsylvania does not require the name to be distinguishable from other fictitious names, so more than one business can register the same name. For exclusive brand rights, you pursue a federal trademark, not a fictitious name. Third, registering a name does not substitute for any business license or tax registration your activity requires.
Fictitious Names for LLCs and Corporations
A fictitious name is not just for sole proprietors. An existing Pennsylvania LLC or corporation can register one to run an additional brand under its single legal entity - for example, an LLC named "Keystone Ventures LLC" operating a storefront branded "Keystone Coffee." The entity files the same DSCB:54-311 for the $70 fee, and because no individual is a party, it does not have to publish in newspapers. This lets a company operate multiple trade names without forming a new entity for each. The fictitious name does not change the entity's registered name, its registered office obligations, or its annual report duties; it simply adds a public-facing name. If you have not yet formed the entity, file the Certificate of Organization first, then add the fictitious name.
After Registering: EIN, Bank Account, Taxes, and Renewal
A fictitious name does not change your tax identity. The IRS states you do not need a new EIN merely because you adopt or change a business name, so your sole proprietorship (using your SSN or EIN) or your entity keeps its existing number; the fictitious name appears on invoices, signage, and often a bank account. Banks generally ask to see the filed registration before opening an account in the trade name, so keep a copy. If you do not yet have a federal tax ID, see how to get an EIN. Registering the name does not register you for taxes: if you sell taxable goods or services, you must separately obtain a Pennsylvania sales tax license through the Department of Revenue's myPATH system. Finally, because a Pennsylvania fictitious name does not expire, there is no annual renewal - but you should file an amendment or cancellation (DSCB:54-312/313) if the name, owners, or address change, or if you stop using the name. See Pennsylvania LLC tax filing for the tax side.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a DBA called in Pennsylvania?
A "fictitious name," under the Fictitious Names Act (54 Pa.C.S.). You register it on Form DSCB:54-311 with the Department of State for a $70 fee. See what a DBA is.
How much does a fictitious name cost in Pennsylvania?
$70, paid to the Department of State. If an individual is a party, add newspaper publication cost, which varies by county. See Pennsylvania LLC cost.
Does a Pennsylvania fictitious name require newspaper publication?
Only when an individual is a party. You then publish in two newspapers of general circulation in the county, one a legal newspaper. LLCs and corporations are exempt.
Do I need a new EIN when I register a fictitious name?
No. The IRS says a name change alone does not require a new EIN. Your business keeps its existing tax ID.
Does a Pennsylvania fictitious name expire?
No. It does not expire and needs no renewal. You file an amendment or cancellation only if the name, owners, or address change.
Does a fictitious name protect my name or give liability protection?
No. It is only a registered trade name - no entity, no asset protection, little exclusivity. For protection you form an entity; for exclusive rights you pursue a trademark.
Related
- What is a DBA? (concept hub)
- How to form an LLC in Pennsylvania
- Pennsylvania Articles of Organization
- Pennsylvania business entity search
- Pennsylvania registered office requirements
- Business licenses in Pennsylvania
- How to trademark a business name
- New York DBA filing (sibling state)
- DBA (glossary)
Sources
- Pennsylvania Department of State - Fictitious Names (Fictitious Names Act 54 Pa.C.S.; Form DSCB:54-311; fictitious name = DBA/T/A/trade name).
- Pennsylvania Department of State - Registration of Fictitious Name (DSCB:54-311) (form and $70 fee, PDF).
- Pennsylvania Department of State - Fees and Payments ($70 fictitious name registration and amendment fees).
- Pennsylvania Department of State - Register a Business (online filing via Business Filing Services).
- Justia - 54 Pa.C.S. § 311, Registration (Fictitious Names) (registration and publication when an individual is a party).
- Pennsylvania Code & Bulletin - 19 Pa. Code § 17.208, Official advertising of fictitious names involving individual parties (two newspapers; one legal newspaper).
- U.S. Small Business Administration - Choose your business name (DBA = trade/fictitious/assumed name; no legal protection by itself).
- U.S. Small Business Administration - Register your business (name registration vs. entity registration).
- IRS - Do you need a new EIN? (no new EIN for a business name change).
- IRS - Get an Employer Identification Number (free EIN).
- Pennsylvania Department of Revenue - Sales, Use and Hotel Occupancy Tax (sales tax license required to make taxable sales).
- Cornell Law School, Legal Information Institute - Sole proprietorship (unincorporated; owner personally liable).
- Cornell Law School, Legal Information Institute - Limited Liability Company (LLC) (state-formed entity; limited liability).
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. Fictitious name rules, fees, and publication requirements change; verify current requirements with the Pennsylvania Department of State before filing.