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

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

In Washington a "DBA" is called a trade name, and you register it with the Washington Department of Revenue's Business Licensing Service for $5 per name on the Business License Application. Washington registers trade names statewide under RCW Chapter 19.80, so there is no separate county DBA filing.

What a DBA (Trade Name) Is in Washington

A "DBA" - short for "doing business as" - is any name a business uses that is different from its owner's legal name or the entity's registered legal name. Washington calls this a trade name. A sole proprietor named Maria Lopez who wants to operate as "Cedar Coffee Roasters," or an LLC legally named "Lopez Ventures LLC" that wants to run a brand called "Cedar Coffee," would each register that brand as a trade name. Registering a trade name does not create a new legal entity; it simply links the public-facing name to the existing business. For the national explanation of how DBAs work, see what is a DBA.

Washington trade name registration is governed by RCW Chapter 19.80, Registration of Trade Names, and is administered centrally by the Department of Revenue rather than by county auditors. That statewide model is different from many states, where a DBA is filed with each county. In Washington one registration through the state covers you, and the name is searchable in state business records.

Washington Trade Name (DBA) Cost in 2026

The state charges $5 for each trade name you register. That $5 is added to the Business License Application, which is the single form the Department of Revenue uses to register businesses and their extra names. The application itself carries a nonrefundable processing fee that depends on your situation: opening a brand-new business account costs more than simply adding a trade name to an account you already have.

Because the processing fee can change and depends on the endorsements you add, confirm the current amount on the Department of Revenue's business license pages before you submit. Compare full formation and ongoing costs at Washington LLC cost.

The $5 trade name fee is a one-time charge, not an annual renewal - once recorded, the name stays on your account until you remove it. That makes a Washington trade name one of the cheapest filings in the small-business lifecycle, especially compared with states that charge $25 to $150 per county and require newspaper publication. The main variable cost is the underlying business license processing fee, which you pay once when you open the account and again only if you later reopen or substantially change your registration.

How to File a Washington DBA, Step by Step

You register a trade name through the same Business License Application used to license a Washington business. Complete these steps in the My DOR portal.

1. Choose and search the trade name. Pick the name you want to do business under. Search existing names in the Department of Revenue and Secretary of State records so you do not duplicate another registered business, and confirm the name does not infringe a federal trademark.
2. Open or find your business account. If you have not registered your business yet, do so first so you have a legal structure (sole proprietor, LLC, or corporation) and a Unified Business Identifier (UBI). If you already have an account, sign in to My DOR and locate it.
3. Add the trade name on the Business License Application. List each trade name in the application's fees section and pay $5 per name plus the application processing fee. You can register more than one name at once.
4. Use the trade name after approval. Once the Department of Revenue records it, use the trade name on signage, contracts, invoices, and - with the bank's requirements - a business bank account. Update it if your business information changes.

Because a trade name is tied to your underlying business, if you are also forming an LLC you can register the trade name during or after filing your Certificate of Formation.

Who Needs a Washington Trade Name

You need a trade name whenever your business operates under a name other than its legal name:

• Sole proprietors and general partnerships using any name other than the owner's full legal name - for example, "Puget Sound Plumbing" instead of "John Smith."
• LLCs and corporations that want a brand or product line different from the registered entity name, or that run multiple storefronts under different names.
• Any business that will open a bank account, sign contracts, or advertise under a name the public would not connect to the legal owner.

A sole proprietor who uses only their own legal name generally does not need a trade name, but still needs a Washington business license. Choosing between operating as a sole proprietor with a trade name versus forming an entity is a common early decision - see sole proprietorship vs LLC.

Keep in mind that a trade name does not change your liability or tax status. A sole proprietor with a trade name is still personally liable for business debts, and an LLC that adds a trade name keeps its liability shield only for the LLC itself. If limiting personal liability matters, the answer is forming an entity, not registering a name. For a single-owner business weighing the trade-off, see single-member LLC and what is an LLC.

Trade Name vs Business License in Washington

A trade name is not the same as a business license, though you request both on the same form. Nearly every Washington business must obtain a state business license through the Business Licensing Service, which issues the UBI and registers you for the state's business and occupation (B&O) tax and, where applicable, retail sales tax. The trade name is an optional add-on that reserves the public name; the license is the mandatory registration to operate and pay tax. Some cities require their own local endorsements on the same application. See business licenses in Washington and Washington LLC tax filing.

DBA vs Trademark: What Registration Does Not Do

Registering a trade name lets you legally do business under that name, but it does not give you exclusive rights to it. Another Washington business could register a similar name, and a trade name offers no protection against a competitor in another state. If you want to stop others from using your brand, you register a trademark - a state trademark with the Secretary of State for Washington-only use, or a federal trademark with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for nationwide rights. Learn the difference at trademarks and how to trademark a business name.

Changing, Renewing, or Removing a Trade Name

A Washington trade name stays tied to your business account. If you stop using a name, you can remove it; if your legal business information changes, update the account through My DOR. When you add new trade names later, each additional name is another $5 on the Business License Application. If you close the business entirely, cancel the license and, for an LLC, file a Certificate of Dissolution - see how to dissolve an LLC in Washington. Keeping the underlying business account and any B&O tax filings current keeps the trade name in good standing.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a DBA called in Washington?

A trade name. You register it with the Department of Revenue's Business Licensing Service under RCW Chapter 19.80, not with a county clerk.

How much does a Washington trade name (DBA) cost?

The state fee is $5 for each trade name. It is added to the Business License Application, which also carries a nonrefundable processing fee depending on whether you open a new account or update an existing one.

Where do I file a DBA in Washington?

With the Department of Revenue through the Business License Application in My DOR. Washington trade names are registered statewide, so there is no separate county DBA.

Does a Washington DBA give me trademark rights?

No. A trade name lets you operate under that name but grants no exclusive or trademark rights. For brand protection you register a state or federal trademark separately.

Do I need a DBA to run a sole proprietorship in Washington?

Only if you use a name other than your own legal name. A sole proprietor using only their legal name generally does not need one, but still needs a Washington business license.

Does an LLC need a DBA in Washington?

Only if the LLC operates under a name different from its registered legal name. The LLC registers each extra name as a trade name for $5 on the Business License Application.

Related

• What is a DBA? (cluster hub)
• Washington Certificate of Formation
• How to form an LLC in Washington
• Business licenses in Washington
• How much does a Washington LLC cost?
• Sole proprietorship vs LLC
• How to trademark a business name
• Texas DBA (assumed name) filing (sibling)

Sources

1. Washington Department of Revenue - Register Trade Names ($5 per trade name; Business License Application).
2. Washington Department of Revenue - Apply for a Business License (Business License Application, UBI, processing fee).
3. Washington Department of Revenue - Business & Occupation (B&O) Tax (no state income tax; gross-receipts tax).
4. Washington Department of Revenue - Business Lookup (search registered businesses and trade names).
5. Washington Legislature - RCW Chapter 19.80, Registration of Trade Names.
6. Washington Legislature - RCW 19.80.010, Registration required (who must register a trade name).
7. Washington Legislature - RCW 19.80.075, Fees (trade name fee set by law).
8. Washington Secretary of State - Corporations and Charities Filing System (CCFS) (entity name search).
9. Washington Legislature - RCW Chapter 23.95, Business Organizations Code (entity names).
10. Washington Secretary of State - State Trademarks (trademarks are separate from trade names).
11. U.S. Patent and Trademark Office - Trademarks (federal trademark registration).
12. IRS - Business Name Change / Doing Business As (DBA does not change tax identity).
13. IRS - Get an Employer Identification Number (free EIN).

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. Laws, fees, and thresholds change; verify current requirements with the Washington Department of Revenue before acting.