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Maryland uses the term trade name for what most people call a DBA. The rule sits in section 1-406 of the Corporations and Associations Article, which you can read on the General Assembly site. Anyone doing business under a designation, title or name other than their own name must file a certificate with the Department before the business starts operating.
The Department is SDAT, the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation. It is the same office that files LLCs, so a trade name and the company behind it end up in one system.
What goes into the certificate?
The certificate is in writing and affirmed or acknowledged under oath. It has to show four things.
- The true names and addresses of the principal or owner of the business.
- The character and location of the business.
- The name, title or designation the business uses.
- The identification number SDAT assigned to the associated business.
That last item matters if an LLC will own the trade name, because the LLC needs its SDAT number first. The Articles of Organization for a domestic LLC cost $100, and our Maryland LLC guide covers that step. The statute leaves the filing method to SDAT's regulations. Business Express carries a Register A Trade Name link in its quick links, which is where to start.
What does a trade name cost and how long does it last?
The recording fee is $25. Each amendment, cancellation or renewal also costs $25.
A certificate is effective for 5 years from the date it is filed. To renew, you file an application within the 6 months before the 5 year period ends. A renewal extends the certificate for 5 years from the end of the previous period. Note the date when you file so the window does not slip past you.
What if the owner or address changes?
File an amendment. If you stop using the name, file a cancellation. Both are on the same $25 schedule as a renewal. The certificate lists the owner, the business character and the location, so a move or a new partner is a reason to amend before the next renewal comes round. The statute does not spell out a deadline for amendments in the part we read, so ask SDAT if timing matters in your case.
Can I look up a Maryland trade name?
Yes. SDAT's Business Entity Search covers trade names alongside corporations and LLCs. SDAT's services page says the trade name record shows the name and address of the filer, the date of the first filing and the dates of later amendments.
The statute also requires SDAT to keep a public agency record of all certificates, properly indexed. So a trade name search is a record check, not a guess. Our DBA search guide shows how to read the results and what to do when a name turns up.
Does a trade name replace an LLC?
No. A trade name is a label on a business, and the certificate records who owns that business. Our DBA versus LLC guide lays out the difference. If you also need the step by step of the filing, see how to file a DBA.
Before you pick the name, run it through the LLC name search guide and check SDAT's records.
What this page leaves out
We did not read a county level trade name process for Maryland, and the pages we used do not describe one. We also cannot say what a clerk of a circuit court or your county will want for local licenses. Those are covered on our Maryland business license guide, which explains the basic license, the trader's license and the local permits.
Registered agents are a separate point. A Maryland LLC needs a resident agent, and the Maryland registered agent guide explains the rules.