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You may be wondering how to file a DBA in Tennessee in easy and straightforward steps. With this DBA guide, anyone can file an assumed business name in TN without getting themselves lost in unnecessary processes. So, let’s get started.
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 Tennessee you need to file the application to the Secretary of State. Here is what you need to do:
Tennessee Business Entity Search
Your company’s trade name should be unique and have not been acquired by any other entity in Tennessee. Moreover, this name must also meet the business name requirements of Tennessee.
First, you have to search the Tennessee Secretary of State’sBusiness Search website 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 Tennessee. In general, your DBA should not include:
- Words that falsely imply that your company is organized as, affiliated with, or sponsored by any charitable, fraternal, service, veterans’, religious, or professional organization.
- Any word or phrase that indicate that your business is established for unlawful purpose.
- 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 Tennessee DBA
Businesses That Register DBA With County’s Clerk
Tennessee sole proprietors and partnerships 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.
Tennessee Department of Revenue 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 Tennessee 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 Tennessee assumed business name online or download the LLC Assumed Name Application, LLC Assumed Name Application, corporate Assumed Name Application, LLP Assumed Name Application and sending it to:
DBA Filing Mail Address:
Room 154, Capitol Building
Corporate Filings
312 Rosa L. Parks Ave.
6th Floor, William R. Snodgrass Tower
Nashville, TN 37243
Top Tip:
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The following information must include in the Tennessee 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 Tennessee DBA
Renew Your Fictitious Name With the State ($20)
After every five years, the Certificate of Tennessee Assumed Business Name expires. So for the renewal of DBA in Tennessee process file online or complete the LLC Renewal of Assumed Name form, Corporation Renewal of Assumed Name form, LLP Renewal of Assumed Name form and send it to:
Mail Address:
Room 154, Capitol Building
Corporate Filings
312 Rosa L. Parks Ave.
6th Floor, William R. Snodgrass Tower
Nashville, TN 37243
Change Your Fictitious Name ($20)
If you wish to make changes in your Tennessee assumed business name, you can do it by filling the respective DBA amendment form for LLC, DBA amendment form for corporations, DBA amendment form for LLP, and sending it to the address given in the above section.
Withdraw Your Fictitious Name ($20)
You can cancel your Tennessee assumed business name by filling the Cancellation of the assumed business name for LLP form, Cancellation of the assumed business name for LLC form, Cancellation of the assumed business name for corporates form, and sending it to the address mentioned in the renewal section.
