How to get an Alabama DBA
By Bazal Razzaq
Chief Editor
Updated: October 23, 2023
Editorial Note: We earn a commission if you use the services recommended on this page. Commissions do not affect our opinions or recommendations.
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If you are looking for how to get an Alabama DBA, you have come to the right place. When you register a DBA in Alabama as a trade name, it will improve the branding of your business. “Doing Business As” is the best way to grow your business.
We have prepared a guide on how to register an Alabama DBA below or you can use a trusted DBA service.
Register a DBA in Alabama
It is easy to register an Alabama DBA as a trade name.
#1 Begin with an Alabama DBA Trade Name Search
Your Alabama trade name should be unique and must meet the business name requirements of the state.
Use the Alabama Secretary of State’s Business Entity Search and look for a new DBA name to ensure it is not in use already. Then, review the naming requirement in Alabama. The trade name shouldn’t include:
- A bank-related word without any consent from the Alabama Banking Commissioner’s Office, or an insurance-related word without a letter or consent from the Alabama Insurance Commissioner’s Office.
- Any word that confuses your corporation with a government agency (Treasury, State Department, FBI, etc).
- Any professional designation in the name (such as Engineer) without a proof of license of one officer/member or a letter from the govt agency allowing the name to be used without licensing.
- Any words which imply that a corporation is doing a business not authorized by law to do.
You can check if your name is available as a web domain (URL). Even though you don’t want to start a business website today, you can prevent others from obtaining your URL.
You can also use a business name generator and create a logo for your brand with the help of a free logo generator.
#2 Use Your Alabama Trade Name
Alabama state wants you to operate under your trade name before you register it. If you want to register and secure a trade name in Alabama, you must start using it. The Alabama state requires 3 “specimens” of trade name usage. Some examples are:
- Flyers
- Business Cards
- Labels
- Decals
- Brochures
Specimens should be unaltered and legible. The application for trade name will ask when and where the trade name was used for the first time in any state, especially in Alabama.
#3 Register Your Alabama DBA
You can file the trade name in Alabama state through the online application or by mailing the form to the Secretary of State. For online filing, visit the Secretary of State’s website or complete the Application to Register or Renew Trademark, Service Mark, or Trade Name form.
Cost: $30 Filing Fee
Office Address:
State of Alabama Office of the Secretary of State
Trademarks Division
11 South Union St., Suite 224
Montgomery, AL 36130
Mailing Address:
State of Alabama Office of the Secretary of State
Trademarks Division
P.O. Box 5616
Montgomery, AL 36103-5616
Following are some important sections of the form-
Section 4: Trade name description.
Section 5: Description of goods or services that will be provided by the trade name.
Section 6: Description of how the trade name will be used.
Section 10: Name of other entities authorized to use the trade name.
Section 11: Date of using the trade name for the first time.
Manage Alabama Trade Name
For General Questions:
Call Alabama Secretary of State’s Trademarks Division: (334) 242-5325
Renew Trade Name With the State:
Alabama DBA must be renewed every five years. You can renew the filing on the Secretary of State’s website or mail the Application to Register or Renew Trademark, Service Mark, or Trade Name.
You can mail the form to the address below-
State of Alabama Office of the Secretary of State
Trademarks Division
P.O. Box 5616
Montgomery, AL 36103-5616
Change your Alabama Trade Name-
To change the name, call the Alabama Secretary of State’s Trademarks Division: (334) 242-5325
Withdraw Alabama Trade Name-
To withdraw your Alabama trade name, call the Alabama Secretary of State’s Trademarks Division: (334) 242-5325.
After Filing Alabama DBA
You should pay attention to some additional steps before starting your business journey.
- Create your Business’s Website –
Every business needs to have a website. The drag-and-drop builders like GoDaddy and Wix are there to make the job easy.
- Secure your Business Finances-
You should separate your business finances from your personal ones. Then, open a separate business bank account and obtain a business credit card.
- Safeguard your Business-
Just as an LLC protects your personal assets, you must provide protection to your business assets. You can do so by getting business insurance that will cover up if anything goes wrong. The most common type of insurance is General Liability insurance.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
You can have as many DBAs as you can create and manage at the same time. Each involves an additional expense and paperwork implying more is not always better.
DBA does not require to have an EIN as it isn’t a business entity.
A DBA is simply a nickname for a business whereas an LLC is a business entity.
Acquiring a DBA is far better than going for a legal name change. “Doing Business As” allows you to rebrand and expand your business entity. Thus, filing an Alabama DBA is far better than filing for a legal name change.