How to File a DBA in Texas

Filing a DBA in Texas means registering an assumed name so your business can operate under a name other than its legal one. Where you file depends on your business structure: sole proprietors file with the county clerk, while LLCs and corporations file Form 503 with the Texas Secretary of State for a $25 fee.

A DBA — short for "doing business as" — is an assumed name that lets a business operate under a name different from its legal registered name. In Texas, the terms "DBA" and "assumed name" mean the same thing and are used interchangeably in state law and county records.

A DBA is not a separate business entity. It doesn't change your tax structure, create liability protection, or give you a new Employer Identification Number (EIN). It's a name registration — nothing more. If you're a sole proprietor named Jane Smith and you want to run a bakery called "Sugar & Flour," a DBA is how you make that name official.

Texas requires the registration because it protects the public — anyone who does business with "Sugar & Flour" can look up who actually owns it. That transparency is the whole point of the assumed name system.

Filing a DBA in Texas lets you open a business bank account, sign contracts, and accept payments under your assumed name — all things that are difficult or impossible to do if the name isn't officially registered. Banks typically require proof of a DBA registration before they'll open an account in a trade name.

For LLCs and corporations, a DBA also gives you flexibility without the cost of forming a new entity. If your LLC is registered as "Smith Holdings LLC" but you want to market a product line under a different name, a DBA lets you do that under the same legal structure.

One thing people don't always realize: operating under an unregistered name in Texas can create problems when you try to enforce a contract or collect a debt. Courts have found that businesses operating under unregistered assumed names can face complications in legal proceedings. Registering the name is a straightforward step that keeps your business on solid ground.

Where you file your Texas DBA depends on your business structure. Sole proprietors and general partnerships file with the county clerk. LLCs, corporations, limited partnerships, and other entities registered with the state file Form 503 with the Texas Secretary of State. The two paths have different forms, fees, and processes.

Step 1: Search for name availability. Before filing, check whether your desired assumed name is already in use. For state-level filings, use the Texas Secretary of State's name search tools. For county-level filings, search the county clerk's records in each county where you'll operate. Most county clerks offer an online records search for this purpose.

Step 2: Choose the right filing path. If you're a sole proprietor or general partnership, file an Assumed Name Certificate with the county clerk in every Texas county where you have a business office or conduct business. If you're an LLC, corporation, or other entity on file with the Secretary of State, file Form 503 — Assumed Name Certificate — with the Texas Secretary of State.

Step 3: Complete the form. For Form 503, you'll need your assumed name, your entity's legal name as it appears in Secretary of State records, your entity type (LLC, corporation, etc.), your Secretary of State file number, your jurisdiction of formation, your principal office address, the counties in Texas where you'll use the name, and the duration of use (up to 10 years). An authorized representative — such as a manager, officer, or general partner — must sign the form.

Step 4: File and pay the fee. For Secretary of State filings, submit Form 503 in duplicate with a $25 filing fee. You can file by mail, in person at the Secretary of State's office in Austin, or online through the SOSDirect system. An original handwritten signature isn't required — faxed copies and photocopies with reproduced signatures are acceptable. For county-level filings, fees vary by county, so check with your county clerk's office directly.

Step 5: Manage your DBA going forward. A Texas assumed name certificate is valid for up to 10 years. When that period ends, you'll need to file a new certificate to keep using the name. If you stop using the assumed name before it expires, you can file an abandonment form with the same office where you originally registered.