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You may be wondering how to file a DBA in Kentucky, but you’ll find the answers here. This guide will help take away any unnecessary steps and get started quickly. So, read on to file a DBA in Kentucky.
Important! Please keep in mind that DBA is not a business structure, so it won’t protect you from liabilities, lawsuits, or any other unforeseen situations. DBA stands for Doing Business As. – often precedes the name under which a business operates, which is not the legal name of the business.
Therefore, before starting, make sure you understand the difference between informal business structures such as sole proprietorship and formal ones like corporations and LLCs.
To register or renew the trademark, trade name, or service mark for your company in Kentucky you need to file the application to the Secretary of State. Here is what you need to do:
Kentucky Business Entity Search
Your company’s trade name should be unique and have not been acquired by any other entity in Kentucky. Moreover, this name must also meet the business name requirements of Kentucky.
First, you have to search the Kentucky Secretary of State’s Business Search portal for the DBA, Business, & Fictitious names. Check the portal thoroughly to know whether the name that you wish to have for your business has already been taken by someone or not. Make sure, this name isn’t already in use.
Note: You can also find a complete guide on business name search here.
Once you are done searching, the next step is to review the naming requirements of the state of Kentucky. In general, your DBA should not include:
- the term COOPRATIVE without approval
- Term that confuse your business with government institutions such as state department, FBI, treasury, etc
- The word “bank, university, attorney” require additional paperwork and physician, lawyer, or other licensed professional must be a part of the business.
Register Your Kentucky DBA
Businesses That Register DBA With County’s Clerk
Kentucky sole proprietors are required to file an assumed business name application with the county clerk’s office(s) where the business is conducted or business orders are transacted.
Kentucky Secretary of State’s list of county recorders helps you find your county clerk’s contact information.
Businesses that Register DBA with the Secretary Of State ($20)
The following businesses need to register their trade names with the Kentucky Secretary of State:
- Limited Liability Companies (LLCs)
- For-profit Corporations
- Nonprofit Corporations
- Any Foreign Filing Entities
- Limited Partnerships (LPs)
- Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs)
File a Kentucky DBA by downloading the LLC Assumed Name Application and sending it to:
DBA Filing Mail Address:
Room 154, Capitol Building
Office of the Secretary of State
700 Capital Avenue
Frankfort, KY 40601
DBA Filing In-Person Address:
Office of the Secretary of State
P.O. Box 718
Frankfort, KY 40602-0718
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The following information must include in the Kentucky trade name form:
- Your business name and adress
- Owners/partners of the business and addresses
- Entity type (eg; LLC, sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation)
- Trade name’s description
Renew, Change or Withdraw Your Kentucky DBA
Renew Your Fictitious Name With the State ($20)
After every five years, the Certificate of Kentucky Assumed Business Name expires. So for the renewal of DBA in Kentucky process file online or complete the Certificate of Renewal of Assumed Name form and send it to:
DBA Renewal Mail Address:
Michael Adams
Office of the Secretary of State
P.O. Box 718
Frankfort, KY 40602-0718
DBA Renewal In-Person Address:
Room 154, Capitol Building
700 Capital Avenue
Frankfort, KY 40601 (Hours of Operation: 8:00 AM-4:30 PM ET)
Change Your Fictitious Name ($20)
If you wish to make changes in your Kentucky assumed business name, you can do it by filling the respective DBA amendment certificate application and sending it to the address given in the above section.
Withdraw Your Fictitious Name ($20)
You can cancel your Kentucky assumed business name by filling the Cancellation or withdrawal Certificate of the DBA application and sending it to the address mentioned in the renewal section.
