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Georgia handles DBAs at county level. You file a trade name with the Clerk of the Superior Court in the county where the business is located, then publish it in a newspaper. Nothing goes to the Secretary of State, and the state keeps no single index of trade names.
Where does a DBA go in Georgia?
The Secretary of State's business division FAQ says trade names are filed with the county clerk of superior court. The state's own how-to page on filing a DBA says the same and adds that procedures vary by county.
A DBA is mainly for branding. It does not create a separate legal business or give liability protection. LLCs and corporations still register with the Secretary of State to exist at all, so form the company first. Our Georgia LLC guide covers that, and DBA vs LLC compares the two.
What do I bring to the clerk?
Georgia.gov lists what to gather before you go:
- The trade name you want.
- The nature of the business.
- The names and addresses of the owners.
- Notarized signatures of the owners.
- A Trade Name Application. The form can differ from county to county, so get it from the clerk.
- Payment for the filing fee and for the newspaper notice. Both amounts vary by county.
We have not found a single state fee for a Georgia DBA, so we do not quote one. Ask the clerk's office for the current filing fee and the publisher for its rate.
How does the newspaper notice work?
After you file, you must publish a copy of the trade name registration in your local newspaper. It has to run at least once a week for two consecutive weeks. It must appear in the paper the sheriff's office uses for legal advertisements. You pay the paper directly, and the paper gives you a publisher's affidavit. Keep that affidavit, because it is your proof the notice ran.
Applications can take several weeks to process, and the timing differs by county. Plan the publication around the clerk's schedule.
Keep the order straight. File with the clerk first, publish second, and keep the affidavit with your records. Georgia.gov lists the notice as a required step, so do not treat the clerk's receipt as the finish line. Ask the clerk if your county wants to see the affidavit.
Do I renew, and how do I change a Georgia DBA?
You do not renew. Georgia.gov states that trade names do not need renewal. If you want to change the trade name, you fill in a new registration form with the amendments and pay a fee.
How do I check whether a Georgia trade name is taken?
Georgia.gov advises you to verify the name is not already in use by searching county trade name records from the Clerk of the Superior Court. Because there is no state index, one county search will not cover the whole state. Search the county where you plan to file, and try other counties if the brand matters to you. Our DBA search guide explains how to search by owner as well.
Your name should also follow the state's business name standards. For the LLC itself, use the LLC name search guide.
Most Georgia businesses also need a local business license from the city or county. We cover that in the Georgia business license guide. For the general steps, see how to file a DBA.
This page does not cover county fee schedules, trademark registration, or other states' rules.