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It can be hard to know what information is required for filing a DBA in Pennsylvania, but this guide will walk you through all the steps related to this filing. You’ll find out how quickly the process happens and why being well-informed could help you file a DBA in Pennsylvania without any hassle.
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 Pennsylvania you need to file the application to the Secretary of State. Here is what you need to do:
Pennsylvania Business Entity Search
Your company’s trade name should be unique and have not been acquired by any other entity in Pennsylvania. Moreover, this name must also meet the business name requirements of Pennsylvania.
First, you have to search the Pennsylvania Secretary of State’s Business Nmae 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 Pennsylvania. In general, your DBA should not include:
- Words such as LLC, Incorporated, Corp, or any business entity suffix, unless the business is actually an LLC, corporation, etc.
- Any terms related to financial institutions, including: “bank,” “banco,” “banc,” “banque,” “trust company,” “banker, ” “savings bank,” “savings and loan association,” “credit union” or other similar words.
Register Your Pennsylvania DBA ($70)
You can file a Pennsylvania DBA online with the PENN or by downloading the Registration of Fictitious Name form and sending it to:
DBA Filing Mail Address:
Pennsylvania Department of State
Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations
P.O. Box 8722
Harrisburg, PA 17105-8722
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The following information must include in the Pennsylvania 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
- Names of authorized persons who can amend or cancel the registration on behalf of the business.
Renew, Change or Withdraw Your Pennsylvania DBA
Renew Your Fictitious Name With the State
Assumed Business Name in Pennsylvania does not expire. So there is no need for the renewal of DBA in Pennsylvania.
Change Your Fictitious Name ($70)
If you wish to make changes in your Pennsylvania assumed business name, you can do it by filing a fictitious name online or completing the Amendment, Withdrawal, Cancellation of Fictitious Name Registration form and sending it to the address given below:
Mail Address:
Pennsylvania Department of State
Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations
P.O. Box 8722
Harrisburg, PA 17105-8722
Withdraw Your Fictitious Name ($70)
You can cancel your Pennsylvania assumed business name online by completing the Amendment, Withdrawal, Cancellation of Fictitious Name Registration form and sending it to the address mentioned in the above section.
