Show
Filing a DBA in Harris County, TexasFiling a Texas DBA ('doing business as'), also known as an 'assumed name', is a simple process. You will file the DBA at the county or state level, depending on the type of legal business structure you created for your business. Read below for answers to your questions about DBAs, plus important details and links, why you might consider filing an assumed name (DBA), and how a DBA can help or hurt you. If you need to research how to file a DBA in another U.S. state or territory, select it below. Texas law decides whether you will file your assumed name certificate with the state or county you operate in based on the type of business. The following entities must file an assumed name certificate with the county clerk and not the Texas Secretary of State:
The following entities must file an assumed name certificate with the Texas Secretary of State and not the county they operate in:
Filing a Texas DBA (doing business as), known as an assumed name, is a simple process that's done at the county or state level depending on the type of business structure you have.
Learn How to Get a DBA in Texas yourself. The process for getting a DBA depends on how your business is structured.
For a look at DBA filing in every state, check out our other step-by-step How to Get a DBA guides. How to File a DBA in Texas for Sole Proprietors and General PartnershipsSole proprietors and partnerships are required to file their DBA with the County Clerk where their business is located. Estates and real estate investment companies are also required to file with the county. A sole proprietorship is a business owned by a single individual that isn't formally organized. If you run a business and file taxes under your own name, you are a sole proprietor. Two or more people starting a business together without a formal business structure is known as a general partnership. In both cases, the name of the business is legally the name(s) of the owners of the business. A DBA is useful to change it to a more marketable name and open a bank account with that name.
If you need to learn how to get a DBA in Texas for an LLC or Corporation, you can click here to skip ahead. Step 1: Start With a Texas DBA Name SearchIf you haven't already, head on over to the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts website to make sure your name isn't taken by -- or too similar to -- another registered Texas business.
Next, a quick search in the U.S. Trademark Electronic Search System will tell you whether someone else has already trademarked your name. Now would be the perfect time to make sure there’s a web domain available for your DBA as well.
Find a Domain NowPowered by GoDaddy.com
Step 2: Register Your DBA with the County ClerkIf your business is a sole proprietorship or partnership, then you are only required to file at the County level. You will need to know which county or counties you need to file an assumed name in. Knowing which county office to file an Texas assumed name in is simple:
We will give you step-by-step directions to get a Harris County DBA. If you need to file in a different county than Harris, the first thing to do would be to get in touch with the county clerk for instructions. You can find your counties' contact information here.
|