Maryland is a great state for business and you might be planning to start a business there. Now if you’re wondering how to file a DBA here, don’t worry because we’ve got the answers. This guide will help take away any uncertainty and get started in just 3 simple steps – read on!
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 Maryland you need to file the application to the Secretary of State. Here is what you need to do:
Maryland Business Entity Search
Your company’s trade name should be unique and have not been acquired by any other entity in Maryland. Moreover, this name must also meet the business name requirements of Maryland.
First, you have to searchMaryland Business Express 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 Maryland. In general, your DBA should not include:
- Term that confuse your business with government institutions such as state department, FBI, treasury, etc
- LLC, Incorporated, Corp., or any business entity suffix unless the business is actually an LLC or corporation.
- Any terms used for financial institutions, including: “bank,” “banco,” ‘banque,” “banc,” “banker, “savings and loan association,” ”trust company,” “savings bank,” “credit union” or other similar words.
Register Your Maryland DBA
You need to file a Maryland trade name with the Maryland State Department of Assessments & Taxation. You can file a Maryland DBA Online at the Maryland Business Express website or download the Assumed Name Application and send it to:
DBA Filing Address:
Charter Division
Department of Assessments and Taxation
301 W. Preston Street, Room 801
Baltimore, MD 21201
Maryland DBA Filing Fee
$25: Regular DBA fee in Maryland
$50: Expedited DBA fee in Maryland
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The following information must include in the Maryland trade name form:
- Your business name and adress
- Owners/partners of the business and addresses
- Unincorporated account number (if the owner is a sole proprietorship or partnership)
- Entity type (eg; LLC, sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation)
- Trade name’s description
Renew, Change or Withdraw Your Maryland DBA
Renew Your Fictitious Name With the State
Certificate of Maryland Assumed Business Name expires after 5 years. So, you can renew your DBA in Maryland online. It can be renewed any time during the six months preceding the expiration date.
Change Your Fictitious Name ($25-$50)
If you wish to make changes in the owner’s name, address, or the address where the trade name is being used, you can do it by filling the respective DBA change application. However, for changing the Assumed Business name first you have to cancel the previous DBA and file a new one. You need to pay $25 for regular and $50 expedited DBA filing in MD.
DBA Change Address:
Charter Division
Department of Assessments and Taxation
301 W. Preston Street, Room 801
Baltimore, MD 21201
Withdraw Your Fictitious Name
You can cancel your Maryland assumed business name by filling the Cancellation Certificate of DBA application and sending it to the address mentioned in the above section.
