Planning to get an Assumed Business Name in Maine for branding or any other purpose?. This guide will help you through the process step by step. So whether you want your legal name separated from your business name or want a unique name to attract customers, read on for all the information you need to file a ME DBA.
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 Maine you need to file the application to the Secretary of State. Here is what you need to do:
Maine Business Entity Search
Your company’s trade name should be unique and have not been acquired by any other entity in Maine. Moreover, this name must also meet the business name requirements of Maine.
First, you have to search the Maine Secretary of State’sBusiness 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 Maine. In general, your DBA should not include:
- Inappropriate or obscene language
- Any term or abbrevation that is ristricted to government bodies only or falsely suggests an association with public institutions
- Term that confuse your business with government institutions such as state department, FBI, treasury, etc
- Language that suggest business is involved in unlawfull activity
- The words bank, banker, banking, savings, banking company, savings bank, trust company, trust, and credit union (or any plurals or variations) without approval from the Maine Bureau of Financial Institutions.
Register Your Maine DBA
Businesses That Register DBA With County’s Clerk
Maine sole proprietors and partnerships are required to file an assumed business name application with the city clerk’s office(s) where the business is conducted or business orders are transacted.
Maine Secretary of State website helps you find your city clerk’s contact information.
Businesses that Register DBA with the Secretary Of State
The following businesses need to register their trade names with the Maine 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 Maine DBA by downloading the respective Assumed Name Application for LLC, Corporation, Limited Liability Partnership, Limited Partnership and send it to
DBA Filing Address:
Secretary of State
Division of Corporations, UCC, and Commissions
101 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0101
Maine DBA Filing Fee
$40: for Maine Fictitious Names
$125: for Maine Assumed Names
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The following information must include in the Maine 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 Maine DBA
Renew Your Fictitious Name With the State
Certificate of Maine Assumed Business Name does not expire. So there is no need for the renewal of DBA in Maine.
Change Your Fictitious Name
If you wish to make changes in your Maine assumed business name, contact the Maine Bureau of Corporations, Elections, and Commissions: (207) 624-7736.
Withdraw Your Fictitious Name ($20)
You can cancel your Maine assumed business name by filling the Cancellation Certificate of DBA application for LLC, Corporation, Limited Liability Partnership, Limited Partnership and sending it to:
DBA Cancellation Address:
Secretary of State
Division of Corporations, UCC, and Commissions
101 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0101
