Registering your trade name in Washington will establish your business’s branding but does not protect the name from use by others. Washington’s Business License Application is also how you register a trade name: two birds, one stone! If your business extends beyond Washington, file for a trademark with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. You can save time using a reputable DBA service.
To register a trade name, you’ll need to:
- Complete the Washington Business License Application
- File a Trade Name Registration form
- Pay a filing fee of $5 per name
Filing & Renewal Process
File your Washington DBA online or by mail with the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs. The filing fee is $55. Remember to renew your trade name every two years. Before registering your LLC or Corporation, search business names through the Office of the Secretary of State to verify availability.
DBAs for Different Business Types
Most sole proprietors and partnerships use a DBA to create a brand other than their name. Washington requires LLCs to register a DBA or trade name, which allows operating under a different name from the legal name.
Business Name Availability
Search for name availability on the Department of Revenue’s Business Lookup website. Your trade name must be unique and meet state requirements.
To add a DBA to an LLC in Washington:
- File a trade name registration with the Secretary of State.
- Choose a trade name not already in use and distinguishable from your LLC’s legal name.
- Check the availability in the business name database.
You can change an LLC’s name by filing a Certificate of Amendment, which takes 3-5 days to process. The amendment can be filed online to change an LLC or corporation’s name.
A trade name is the official name under which a business chooses to operate. Registering a trade name in Washington does not prevent others from using the same name, and it needs to be renewed every two years.
Additional Trade Name Information
Apply for a business license to collect sales tax through Washington’s Business License Application, through which you also register a trade name. The fee to file a trade name is between $5-24. Each entity desiring a shared trade name must get written consent from the original owner. There’s no limit on trade names per entity, but trade names registered in Washington are only valid there.
When forming a Washington LLC, choose a name that is distinguishable and must contain "Limited Liability Company" or "LLC". You can also file to use a trade name, and the Secretary of State offers a search functionality to verify if an LLC name is available.