| Check | Where | What it protects | Cost |
|---|
| Entity name | Secretary of State search | Your name inside one state | Free |
| Trade name | County or city clerk | Your local public name | 10 to 100 dollars |
| Trademark | USPTO database | Your name nationally | Free to search, 350 dollars to file |
| Domain | Any registrar | Your web address | 10 to 50 dollars a year |
| Local licenses | City and county offices | Your right to operate locally | Varies |
Search steps and fees follow SBA and USPTO guidance from 2026.
How to register for a business name step by step?
Seven steps cover it: pick a name, check it, form the entity, file the DBA, get an EIN, register for state taxes, then handle licenses and a bank account.
Knowing how to register for a business name in your state comes down to which of the three layers you need. Step one is choosing the name and checking all three databases above.
Step two is forming the entity if you are not operating as a sole proprietor, which means filing articles of organization with the state and paying that state's formation fee.
Step three is filing the DBA with the Secretary of State, the county clerk or the city clerk, depending on your state. Step four is the EIN, which is free from the IRS and typically arrives online in about 15 minutes.
Step five is registering for state taxes and any state tax ID your state requires. Step six is the local licenses and permits, which vary by city and county. Step seven is opening a business bank account.
Keep every filing confirmation in one folder. Banks, landlords and licensing offices all ask for formation documents, and a missing article of organization can delay a business account by a week.
Banks want the EIN, the formation documents and the business address that matches the filing. Our guide to opening a business bank account for an LLC covers what to bring and what to expect.
| Step | Where you file | Typical cost | Time to complete |
|---|
| Name availability search | State registry and USPTO | Free | Same day |
| Form the entity | Secretary of State | Varies by state | Days to weeks |
| File the DBA | Secretary of State or clerk | 10 to 100 dollars | Days to weeks |
| Get an EIN | IRS online | Free | About 15 minutes |
| State tax registration | State revenue department | Free | Same day |
| Local licenses | City or county | Varies | Days to weeks |
| Business bank account | Any business bank | Free to open | One to five days |
Fees and timelines reflect 2026 SBA guidance and published state filing fees.
How much does it cost to register a business name?
Name registration alone usually costs under 100 dollars, and the federal tax number is free. Entity formation and trademark filing are the two larger line items.
The SBA describes registration fees as usually less than 100 dollars. South Dakota charges 10 dollars for a DBA registration, which must be renewed every five years if you keep doing business under that name.
Trademark filing is separate and more expensive. The USPTO charges 350 dollars per class for online filing, plus 125 dollars for each additional class in the same application. If the name is central to your brand, that fee buys protection in every state rather than one.
Third-party filing services charge to obtain an EIN that the IRS issues free, so avoid paying for that step. Formation fees vary widely by state, and our guide to how much it costs to form an LLC breaks down what drives the total.
Renewals are the forgotten cost. A South Dakota DBA renews every five years, and many state entity filings are annual, so put a calendar reminder on each one and on any registered agent appointment.
Do all states require a newspaper notice?
No, but the states that do treat it strictly, and California requires four weekly publications plus an affidavit. Plan for the extra step if you are in one of them.
California requires a notice published once a week for four successive weeks, and then an affidavit of publication filed with the county clerk within 30 days of the last publishing date. The SBA also describes publishing a public notice in a local newspaper.
Other states handle this differently. South Dakota runs DBA registrations through its Secretary of State business services system, and West Virginia files trade names online through its One Stop Business Portal.
Some cities also require a business license before you can open, and that fee is separate from the name registration. It usually depends on your revenue and the type of work you do.
Check your own state's requirements before you publish anything, because the affidavit step carries a deadline. Missing that window can mean restarting the publication cycle.
What are the next steps after the name is registered?
Protect the name, then set up the money side: trademark, EIN, business bank account and licenses, in that order.
Register the domain first if the name is brand-critical, since a domain you hold cannot be registered by anyone else while you keep paying for it. Then file the trademark application, which the SBA recommends once the business is formed.
Next, secure the EIN, the state tax registration and a business bank account. Keep the account separate from personal money, since mixing the two is one of the most common reasons small business bookkeeping breaks down.
If you registered as an LLC, our guide to starting an LLC in Texas shows a full state filing walkthrough, and a registered agent is worth understanding early.
Once the name is registered, write a short operating agreement even for a single-member LLC. It costs an hour, and it settles the questions that cause disputes later.
Finally, get the licenses and permits your city and county require. Local governments set licensing, registration and permitting rules, and missing one can stop you opening on schedule.
The order above is how to register for a business name without a wasted filing, because each step depends on the one before it.
Verify current requirements. Filing fees and rules change by state and county. Check your state office before you file.
Photo: StartupStockPhotos, Pixabay Content License, via Pixabay (https://pixabay.com/photos/entrepreneur-startup-start-up-man-593378/)
Fazlur Rahman
