Illinois DBA

What Is a DBA (Assumed Business Name)?

A DBA (“doing business as”) name is any name used to do business that isn’t the legal business name. DBAs are called assumed business names in Illinois, but these two names mean the same thing.

For Illinois LLCs and corporations, a DBA is any name besides the business name written on the Articles of Organization/Incorporation.

For sole proprietors, general partnerships, and professional corporations (PCs), a DBA is any business name that doesn’t include the full legal name of the owner(s).

Who needs a DBA in Illinois?

Sole proprietorships, general partnerships, and PCs need a DBA if they don’t want to include the full name of the owner(s) in their business name. For example, a sole proprietor wouldn’t need an DBA for the name “Alice Martin Landscaping Service.” But she would need a DBA for “Martin Landscaping Service” or “Alice’s Gardens.”

LLCs, corporations, LPs, and nonprofits need a DBA if they want to use a business name other than the name on their formation paperwork. For example, if Romano’s Pizzeria LLC wants to branch out using the name Romano’s Italian Catering, they would first need to register “Romano’s Italian Catering” as a DBA.

What is the purpose of an assumed business name?

An assumed business name (DBA) can have a few different purposes:

1. Rebranding

Sometimes a business starts out as one thing and then evolves into something completely different. With a DBA, you can rebrand your business without needing to officially change your company name.

2. Using a creative business name as a sole proprietor

Sole proprietors, general partnerships, and PCs don’t always want to use their full legal name as their business name. It’s clunky and doesn’t describe what the business actually does. To get around this, these businesses can register a DBA.

3. Creating a new branch of your business

A DBA lets you branch into a new market without needing to form an entirely new business. For example, Elysian Fields Winery might start a side business selling artisanal cheeses, using the DBA “Heavenly Cheeses.”

What is NOT the purpose of an assumed business name?

An assumed business name isn’t a business structure. It’s just a name. So getting a DBA doesn’t give your business any type of legal protection or affect how you’ll pay taxes.

If you’re looking for a business structure that will protect your personal assets if your business is sued or goes into debt, you’ll need to form a business entity with limited liability protection, like an LLC, corporation, or limited partnership (LP).

Guide to Filing a DBA in Illinois

Depending on the structure of your Illinois business, you’ll either need to file your DBA with the Secretary of State or your local county clerk’s office. We explain both processes.

Check name availability

All types of businesses first need to make sure their preferred DBA is available. Your DBA name can’t be the same as another business name registered with the Secretary of State. You can find out if the name you want is available using the Illinois Business Entity Search or submitting a Corporate Name Availability Inquiry Form.

It’s also a good idea to check the Illinois Trademark Database and USPTO Trademark Database to make sure your desired DBA name isn’t trademarked.

You aren’t required to do an assumed name search at the county level, but it may be a good idea to avoid using the same name as another business in the same county. Some counties in Illinois, including Cook County, have an online search tool for assumed business names. Otherwise, you can find out if an assumed name is registered by calling your local county clerk’s office.

LLCs, LPs, corporations, and nonprofits

LLCs, corporations, nonprofits, and LPs register their assumed name with the Secretary of State, NOT the county clerk’s office.

LLCs and corporations can file online, by mail, or in person.

• Online: Illinois Secretary of State
• Paper Form:
  • LLC Application to Adopt, Change or Cancel Assumed Name
  • Corporation Application to Adopt, Change, or Cancel Assumed Name

LPs and nonprofits must file by mail or in person:

• LP Application to Adopt, Change, or Cancel Assumed Name
• Not for Profit Corporation Application to Adopt, Change, or Cancel Assumed Name

Filing fees

The state’s fee structure for getting a DBA in Illinois is a little confusing and varies depending on the year.

Years ending in…	Fee
0 or 5	$150
1 or 6	$120
2 or 7	$90
3 or 8	$60
4 or 9	$30

So, if you’re submitting your assumed name application in 2025, the fee would be $150. In 2026, the fee will be $120, and so on.

Sole proprietors, general partnerships, and professional corporations

Illinois sole proprietors, general partnerships, and PCs register their DBA at the county level, NOT the state level. If you do business in multiple counties, you’ll need to register your DBA in every county where you’ll be using it.

First, you’ll need to find the office for your Illinois county clerk. Some counties, such as Cook County, have an online form you can use to register your assumed name. In other counties, you may need to fill out a paper application form or write your own assumed name application. Reach out to your local county clerk’s office to find out their requirements.

NOTE: If you file an assumed name using a paper form, the form must be notarized beforehand.

Filing fees

The fee for filing an assumed name varies by county. For example, the filing fee in Cook County is $50, whereas in Peoria County the fee is only $5.

Assumed name publication requirement

After you register your assumed name with the county clerk, there’s one more required step: publishing a notice of your assumed name in a local newspaper for three consecutive weeks. Your county clerk’s office can give you detailed information for how to do this in your county.

You’ll need to publish the first notice within 15 days after your assumed name registration is filed with the county clerk. After fulfilling the publication requirement, you must send a Proof of Publication to the county clerk’s office (no more than 50 days after filing your assumed name certificate).

If you’re registering your DBA in Sangamon County, you’re in luck! The county will publish your newspaper notice for you, and all you have to do is pay the fee.

How to Maintain Your Illinois DBA

Assumed names registered with the Secretary of State need to be renewed in all years ending in 0 or 5. The due date is the first day of the month in which you registered your assumed name. For example, if you registered your assumed name on September 13, 2021, you’ll need to file your renewal by September 1, 2025.

How you file your assumed name renewal will vary depending on your business type:

• Corporations and nonprofits must renew their assumed names online through the Illinois Secretary of State website.
• LLCs can use the online renewal form if renewing one or two assumed names. If renewing more than two DBAs, you must use the paper LLC Assumed Name Renewal form.
• LPs must use the paper LP Assumed Name Renewal form.

The renewal fee for all entity types is $150. If you file after the deadline, you’ll need to pay an additional $100 late fee.

Assumed names registered at the county level DON’T need to be renewed.