Texas DBA: How to File an Assumed Name Certificate (SOS vs County Clerk)
Texas DBA: How to File an Assumed Name Certificate (SOS vs County Clerk)
If you want to do business in Texas under a name other than your legal name or your LLC's registered name, you need an assumed name certificate. Most people call it a DBA ("doing business as"), and you will also see it called a Texas fictitious name filing. The filing is short and inexpensive, but the office you file with depends on how your business is organized. Entities file with the Texas Secretary of State. Sole proprietors and general partnerships file with the county clerk. This guide covers which office applies to you, what the filing costs, how to search for a name, and how long the certificate stays valid.
This guide is informational, not legal or tax advice. Fees and rules can change, so confirm current amounts with the agency before you pay.
Which office do you file with?
Your entity type decides the office. Find your row in the table below.
| Your business type | Where you file | Filing fee |
|---|---|---|
| LLC, corporation, limited partnership, LLP, registered series, or foreign filing entity | Texas Secretary of State, Form 503 | $25 |
| Sole proprietorship or general partnership | County clerk in each county where you maintain a business office or conduct business | Set by each county |
Since September 1, 2019, entities no longer file a second certificate with the county clerk. An LLC or corporation that files a DBA with the Secretary of State does not also need to file in its county. If you are a sole proprietor or general partner, the county clerk is your filing office. Texas has five county pages on this site, but the county clerk in your own county is the authority for your filing, so start there.
What a Texas DBA costs
The state fee is fixed. County fees are not, so the figure you pay depends on where you file.
| Filing | Cost | Filed with |
|---|---|---|
| Assumed name certificate (Form 503) for an entity | $25 | Secretary of State |
| Abandonment of an entity's assumed name (Form 504) | $10 | Secretary of State |
| Assumed name certificate for a sole proprietor or general partnership | Varies by county | County clerk in each county |
| Renewal of a sole proprietor or general partnership certificate | Confirm with the county clerk | County clerk |
Check each county clerk's current fee schedule before you file. The Secretary of State publishes its fee information on its website, and you should confirm the current Form 503 amount there as well. If you are an entity, expedited handling is also available from the Secretary of State as a paid add-on, which is covered in the filing section below.
Texas has no state general business license, and it has no statewide general contractor or roofing license. Counties do not issue a general business license either. The one county filing most small owners will make is the assumed name certificate, if they operate under a sole proprietorship or general partnership. Texas also does not require you to publish your DBA in a newspaper. Your real costs beyond the filing fee are usually the entity's formation cost (an LLC Certificate of Formation costs $300), any sales tax permit you need, and any license your specific industry requires.
How to file a DBA in Texas, step by step
Step 1: Confirm your entity type
Decide whether your business is an entity or a sole proprietorship or general partnership. An LLC, corporation, limited partnership, or LLP files with the state. A sole proprietor who operates under a name other than their own files with the county. If you are not sure which applies, a short call with an accountant or attorney is cheaper than a wrong filing.
Step 2: Search the name before you file
A filing does not guarantee that no one else uses the name. Search first, and search for close variations, not just exact matches. Use the search that matches your entity type:
- Entities: Search the Secretary of State's business records at sos.state.tx.us business search.
- Sole proprietors and general partnerships: Search the assumed name records at the county clerk's office in each county where you will do business. Each county keeps its own records, so a search in one county does not cover the others.
A clean state search does not clear you for a trademark. A DBA records a name in the Texas filing system, and it is not a trademark registration. If the name matters to your brand, talk to an attorney about trademark protection.
Step 3: Prepare the certificate
Gather your owner information, your business address, and the exact name you plan to use. Download the current form from the Secretary of State's website, and fill it in exactly as written. Check each field before you submit, since a typo can cost you a second fee and a second trip through the process.
Step 4: File and pay
For entities, file through SOSDirect, the Secretary of State's online portal. Electronic filing through SOSDirect or SOSUpload gives the fastest processing. Mailed or hand-delivered documents generally take at least one business day just to be entered, and the Secretary of State does not publish a guaranteed turnaround for standard filings.
If you need a guaranteed date, the Secretary of State offers paid Texas Express expedite tiers. Standard Expedite is $50 per document, Next Day Expedite is $500 per document, and Same Day Expedite is $750 per document. Expedite fees are charged on top of the filing fee. The published expedite schedule is written for its main filing types, so confirm that a tier applies to Form 503 before you pay for one.
For sole proprietors and general partnerships, call or visit the county clerk in each county where you maintain a business office or conduct business. Ask for the current fee and the accepted filing methods, since counties differ on whether they take mail, in-person, or online filings.
Step 5: Calendar the renewal and update dates
Once your certificate is on file, set reminders for its expiration and for any changes that trigger a new filing. Both are covered in the next section, and missing either one can leave your business operating under a name it no longer has on record.
How long a Texas assumed name certificate lasts
A certificate can run for up to 10 years. It is void unless you renew it within the six months before it expires, so the renewal window is short and easy to miss. You can renew as many times as you need. If your certificate lapses, file a new one rather than assuming the old filing still counts.
You must also file a new certificate within 60 days of a material change, such as a new business name, a new owner, or a new address. Under the Texas Business and Commerce Code, that obligation applies to the certificate itself, so do not wait until the next renewal to update the record. If your business moves to another county, ask that county's clerk whether you need to file there as well.
To stop using a name, an entity files an abandonment on Form 504 with the Secretary of State for $10. If you are a sole proprietor or general partner, ask your county clerk how to withdraw a certificate.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Filing with the wrong office. A sole proprietor who files only with the Secretary of State has not filed where Texas requires it for an individual or general partnership.
- Searching one county only. County records are separate, so a clean search in your home county says nothing about the next one.
- Letting the certificate expire. A certificate that is not renewed within the six-month window before expiration is void.
- Missing a material change. A new address or owner triggers a new filing within 60 days.
- Treating a DBA as trademark protection. It records a name for Texas filing purposes, and it does not give you federal or national rights to the name.
Other filings that may apply
A DBA does not change your other obligations, and some of them depend on your entity type. Texas has no state income tax, so the DBA itself creates no state income tax filing. Entities are subject to the Texas franchise tax, which is a privilege tax administered by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. For the 2026 and 2027 report years, the no-tax-due threshold is $2,650,000 in total revenue. Entities at or below that amount owe no franchise tax, but they must still file a Public Information Report with the Comptroller by May 15 each year. Entities above the threshold owe tax at rates of 0.375 percent for retail and wholesale and 0.75 percent for other entities, and a 0.331 percent rate applies under the EZ Computation for entities with under $20 million in total revenue.
Most businesses that sell taxable goods or services also need a Texas sales and use tax permit. The Comptroller issues it at no charge, and processing typically takes two to three weeks. Apply through the Comptroller's sales tax permit page. Your industry may also require a state or local license, so check the Texas Business Licenses and Permits Guide before you open.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a DBA if I operate under my own full legal name?
Generally, no. Adding a word such as Services, Studio, or Company to your personal name usually makes it an assumed name, which does require a filing. If you are unsure whether your name counts, confirm with the county clerk or an attorney before you start using it.
Does a DBA create a new legal entity?
No. A DBA is a name, not a separate business. Your liability, taxes, and ownership stay the same as they were before you filed.
Can an LLC use a DBA?
Yes. An LLC files its assumed name certificate with the Secretary of State on Form 503 for $25. The LLC does not also file with the county clerk.
Can I file a DBA online?
Entities can file online through SOSDirect. Sole proprietors file with their county clerk, and you should ask each clerk whether it accepts online submissions.
Official Texas resources
- Texas Secretary of State: sos.state.tx.us/corp
- Secretary of State assumed name FAQ: namefilingsfaqs
- Secretary of State business search: searches
- SOSDirect online filing: direct.sos.state.tx.us
- Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts: comptroller.texas.gov/taxes
- Texas Small Business Development Center Network: sbdctexas.org
When to talk to a professional
A single DBA for a sole proprietor is a straightforward filing. The situation gets complex when you run several names, operate in many counties, own an entity with multiple brands, or are considering trademark protection. In those cases, talk to a qualified attorney about your name and to a CPA about the tax side of your structure. The Texas Small Business Development Center Network can also point you to advising resources.
Disclaimer: This article is general information about filing an assumed name certificate in Texas. It is not legal advice or tax advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client or accountant-client relationship. Fees, forms, and deadlines can change. Confirm every figure with the Texas Secretary of State, your county clerk, or the Texas Comptroller before you file or pay, and consult a qualified attorney or CPA about your specific situation.