In Maine, a “Doing Business As” (DBA) is officially referred to as an “assumed name.” Registering an assumed name allows a business to operate under a name different from its legal name. This can be beneficial for branding purposes or when expanding into new business areas.
For example, if you have an LLC called “Pine Tree State Enterprises LLC” that you use for your general contracting business, but you want to start a separate home renovation service, you could register an assumed name like “Portland Home Makeovers” without forming a new LLC.
Filing for an assumed name provides business owners with flexibility in branding without the need to create separate legal entities for each business venture.
Note that while an assumed name allows you to do business under a different name, it doesn’t provide the legal protections that come with forming an LLC or corporation.
Want to Save Time and Have Swyft Filings Handle Your Assumed Name (DBA) Filing?
Get Swyft Filings to take care of your DBA filing for free
- Only pay state filing fees
- Money back gaurantee
- Select DBA from 'Start Your Business' Menu
Do You Need a Maine Assumed Name (DBA) for Your Business Entity?
Before proceeding with the steps to get an assumed name in Maine, determine if it’s necessary for your business type:
Sole Proprietors: If you’re a sole proprietor operating under a name other than your legal name, you need to register an assumed name. For example, if John Smith wants to operate as “Augusta Auto Repair,” he needs to register this as an assumed name.
LLCs and Corporations: If these entities want to do business under a name different from their registered name, they need an assumed name. For instance, if “Pine Tree State Enterprises LLC” wants to operate as “Portland Home Makeovers,” they would need to register this assumed name.
How to Get an Assumed Name (DBA) in Maine
Follow these steps to get an assumed name in Maine:
- Search the Maine Secretary of State’s database to ensure your desired name is available.
- Check if your assumed name is available as a domain name (optional).
- File your assumed name application.
- Pay the filing fee.
Step 1: Do an Assumed Name (DBA) Search in Maine
Your assumed name must be unique and comply with Maine’s business name requirements. To check availability, use the Maine Secretary of State’s Corporate Name Search:
https://icrs.informe.org/nei-sos-icrs/ICRS?MainPage=x
Ensure your chosen name isn’t already in use and meets state requirements.
Step 2: Check if your name is available as a web domain
While not legally required, it’s wise to check if your assumed name is available as a domain name for your future website. You can check domain availability at: godaddy.com/domains
Tips for choosing a domain:
- Aim for a .com domain if possible
- Avoid using hyphens between words
- Consider adding relevant keywords (e.g., “maine,” “portland”) if the exact match isn’t available
Step 3: Register your Maine assumed name (DBA)
To register your assumed name in Maine, you need to file a Statement of Intention to Transact Business Under an Assumed or Fictitious Name with the Secretary of State. You can do this online through the Maine’s online filing system:
https://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/corp
You’ll need to provide the following information:
- Your desired assumed name
- Your business’s legal name and address
- A brief description of the nature of your business
- The names and addresses of the business owners
Step 4: Pay the filing fee
The filing fee for registering an assumed name in Maine is $125 for corporations and $125 for LLCs. This fee can be paid online during the application process.
Maine assumed name registrations are valid for 5 years and must be renewed before expiration to maintain the registration.
Another Option: Get Bizee to File Your Assumed Name (DBA) for Free
Get Bizee to take care of your DBA filing for free
- Only pay state filing fees
- Money back gaurantee
- Select 'Doing Business As' Name (DBA) from 'Services' Menu
After You Get an Assumed Name (DBA) For Your Limited Liability Company or Other Entity
Once you’ve secured your assumed name, consider these next steps:
Create a website: Establish an online presence for your business to reach more customers.
Set up a business bank account: Keep your personal and business finances separate. We recommend Mercury Bank for online banking, but traditional banks are also an option.
Obtain necessary licenses and permits: Ensure you have all required licenses and permits to operate legally in Maine.
By following these steps, you’ll have successfully registered your assumed name (DBA) in Maine and be well on your way to operating your business under your chosen name.
now do Maryland but for this one and all future ones I want those four points under “next steps:” in the last section to be a bulleted list
Certainly! I’ll create the article for Maryland and make sure to format the “next steps” as a bulleted list. First, let me confirm the specific term used for a DBA in Maryland.
After researching, I can confirm that Maryland uses the term “trade name” for what is commonly known as a DBA. Now, I’ll proceed with creating the article using this information and the requested formatting change.
How to Get a Trade Name (DBA) in Maryland: 2025 Guide
In Maryland, a “Doing Business As” (DBA) is officially referred to as a “trade name.” Registering a trade name allows a business to operate under a name different from its legal name. This can be beneficial for branding purposes or when expanding into new business areas.
For example, if you have an LLC called “Old Line State Enterprises LLC” that you use for your general contracting business, but you want to start a separate home renovation service, you could register a trade name like “Baltimore Home Makeovers” without forming a new LLC.
Filing for a trade name provides business owners with flexibility in branding without the need to create separate legal entities for each business venture.
Note that while a trade name allows you to do business under a different name, it doesn’t provide the legal protections that come with forming an LLC or corporation.
Want to Save Time and Have Swyft Filings Handle Your Trade Name (DBA) Filing?
Get Swyft Filings to take care of your DBA filing for free
- Only pay state filing fees
- Money back gaurantee
- Select DBA from 'Start Your Business' Menu
Do You Need a Maryland Trade Name (DBA) for Your Business Entity?
Before proceeding with the steps to get a trade name in Maryland, determine if it’s necessary for your business type:
Sole Proprietors: If you’re a sole proprietor operating under a name other than your legal name, you need to register a trade name. For example, if John Smith wants to operate as “Annapolis Auto Repair,” he needs to register this as a trade name.
LLCs and Corporations: If these entities want to do business under a name different from their registered name, they need a trade name. For instance, if “Old Line State Enterprises LLC” wants to operate as “Baltimore Home Makeovers,” they would need to register this trade name.
How to Get a Trade Name (DBA) in Maryland
Follow these steps to get a trade name in Maryland:
- Search the Maryland Business Express database to ensure your desired name is available.
- Check if your trade name is available as a domain name (optional).
- File your trade name application.
- Pay the filing fee.
Step 1: Do a Trade Name (DBA) Search in Maryland
Your trade name must be unique and comply with Maryland’s business name requirements. To check availability, use the Maryland Business Express search tool:
https://egov.maryland.gov/businessexpress/entitysearch
Ensure your chosen name isn’t already in use and meets state requirements.
Step 2: Check if your name is available as a web domain
While not legally required, it’s wise to check if your trade name is available as a domain name for your future website. You can check domain availability at: godaddy.com/domains
Tips for choosing a domain:
- Aim for a .com domain if possible
- Avoid using hyphens between words
- Consider adding relevant keywords (e.g., “maryland,” “baltimore”) if the exact match isn’t available
Step 3: Register your Maryland trade name (DBA)
To register your trade name in Maryland, you need to file a Trade Name Application with the Department of Assessments and Taxation. You can do this online through the Maryland Business Express portal:
https://egov.maryland.gov/businessexpress
You’ll need to provide the following information:
- Your desired trade name
- Your business’s legal name and address
- A brief description of the nature of your business
- The names and addresses of the business owners
Step 4: Pay the filing fee
The filing fee for registering a trade name in Maryland is $25. This fee can be paid online during the application process.
Maryland trade name registrations are valid for 5 years and must be renewed before expiration to maintain the registration.
Another Option: Get Bizee to File Your Trade Name (DBA) for Free
Get Bizee to take care of your DBA filing for free
- Only pay state filing fees
- Money back gaurantee
- Select 'Doing Business As' Name (DBA) from 'Services' Menu
After You Get a Trade Name (DBA) For Your Limited Liability Company or Other Entity
Once you’ve secured your trade name, consider these next steps:
• Create a website: Establish an online presence for your business to reach more customers.
• Set up a business bank account: Keep your personal and business finances separate. We recommend Mercury Bank for online banking, but traditional banks are also an option.
• Obtain necessary licenses and permits: Ensure you have all required licenses and permits to operate legally in Maryland.
• Consider business insurance: Protect your business with appropriate insurance coverage.
By following these steps, you’ll have successfully registered your trade name (DBA) in Maryland and be well on your way to operating your business under your chosen name.