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Kentucky keeps this simple on paper. One certificate, one office, one flat fee. The Secretary of State's Business Filings page tells new entities to file a certificate of assumed name if they plan to transact business under any name other than the exact legal name of the entity. Its closing note goes wider: any individual or entity that conducts business under an assumed name must file one.
When is a Kentucky assumed name needed?
Whenever the name on your sign, website or invoices differs from the name on file. If your LLC is Alpha Services LLC and you trade as Alpha Plumbing, that second name is the assumed name. Using the exact legal name needs no certificate.
A DBA is a name filing, not a company. Our DBA vs LLC guide lays out the difference, and the Kentucky LLC page covers forming one.
What does it cost, and what else is on the fee list?
The fee schedule groups four assumed name filings under "Other Filing Fees" at $20 each:
- Certificate of Assumed Name
- Amended Certificate of Assumed Name
- Withdrawal Certificate of Assumed Name
- Renewal Certificate of Assumed Name
For comparison, the same schedule lists $40 for an LLC's Articles of Organization and $15 for the annual report. The assumed name fee is therefore a small add on to a formation budget. Our Kentucky LLC page has the rest of the formation steps.
How do I file and renew?
Use the online services page. It lists Renewal of Assumed Name under Online Filings, together with the annual report and the statements of change. The page also has a View and Print section. We did not read the form instructions, so look at the certificate form itself for the exact fields and the renewal term before you file.
When you stop using a name, file the withdrawal certificate so the record shows it is closed. The amended certificate is the filing for changing what the record says.
How do I search Kentucky records?
The same page links the state's business search. You can look up an organization by its name or identification number, check name availability, and search by officer, founding officer or registered agent. We could not confirm that assumed names show up as their own results, so treat the search as a way to find the legal entity behind a name. If you only know the trade name, try it in the search, then confirm with the Secretary of State's Business Filings office. The wider approach is in our DBA search guide.
Does the DBA change my annual report?
No. The LLC itself still files its annual report, which costs $15 and is due by June 30 each year after the year of formation. Miss it and the entity is listed in bad standing, which can lead to dissolution. The Secretary of State's fee data shows a $100 penalty when you reinstate. The report also confirms your principal office and registered agent, so keep the Kentucky registered agent record current.
What else sits next to a DBA?
An assumed name does not satisfy tax or local rules. After forming, the state lists next steps that include state tax accounts, local occupational license information and city or county permits. Those are in our Kentucky business license guide. Owners next door in Ohio have their own filing, covered on the Ohio DBA page. If you want to compare steps, how to file a DBA shows the common path.
Ready to form a company rather than trade under a name? Use the start an LLC form.