Certificate of Assumed Name in Minnesota
To get a certificate of assumed name in Minnesota, contact your county recorder’s office. Complete and file their form, and pay any fees. The form requires the business name, owner’s name and address, and business purpose.
Minnesota law requires a DBA filing for any individual, corporation, limited partnership or LLC conducting business under a name other than their full legal name. File an amendment if address or other certificate information changes. The assumed name is valid for 10 years.
Filing an Assumed Name Online
- Visit the Secretary of State’s online portal.
- Pay the $50 filing fee.
- Publish the certificate before conducting business.
- Every business name must be unique and meet requirements.
Registering Your DBA
- Choose and search your unique DBA name
- Register your DBA
- File your certificate
Use a service like LegalZoom to register your DBA and establish your brand.
Assumed Name vs. DBA
What is the difference between assumed name and DBA? An assumed name is simply any name other than the person’s or business’s legal name. DBA stands for "doing business as" and refers to the same concept.
Naming Your Business Legally
To legally name a business, form a company with the desired name, file a DBA, or file an amendment to change its legal name.
What does it mean to register a business name?
Registering a business name can mean applying for protection as a legal entity. There are four ways to register your business name:
- By entity name
- With a DBA
- By trademark
- With your state
Search online to see what comes up for your prospective name. Registering the business name ensures recognition as a legal entity, allows you to operate under that name, and is necessary for tax purposes.
To fix errors in your business name, file a certificate of correction. To change the legal business name, adopt a resolution, get approval from shareholders/partners/members, and file amended formation documents.
Check out domain availability for your business name. If the name cannot be used in a state, adopt an alternative name. Note that state filings don’t guarantee trademark rights. Search your industry to ensure no similar names exist.