A DBA in Texas is called an assumed name certificate, and you need one if you do business under any name other than your own legal name. Sole owners and general partnerships file with the county clerk, while LLCs and corporations file with the Texas Secretary of State, and each certificate lasts up to 10 years.
Texas runs DBAs under the Assumed Business or Professional Name Act, Chapter 71 of the Business and Commerce Code. Everything below comes from that chapter, read in October 2026, including the fees it sets.
Where to file your Texas assumed name
| Business type | Where to file | Statutory fee (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Sole owner, general partnership or other unincorporated business | County clerk in each county where you have premises, or where you do business if you have none | $2 per certificate plus 50 cents for each name indexed |
| Corporation, LLC, limited partnership, LLP or foreign filing entity | Texas Secretary of State | $25 per certificate |
| Abandoning an assumed name filed with the Secretary of State | Texas Secretary of State | $10 |
Those are the amounts in section 71.155. The county clerk can also waive the fees for a military veteran.
Who needs a Texas DBA
- A sole owner trading under a name that doesn't include their surname, such as Bluebonnet Cleaning instead of Maria Lopez Cleaning.
- A general partnership whose name doesn't include every partner's surname.
- An LLC or corporation trading under a name that differs from the name on its certificate of formation, such as Lone Star Ventures LLC trading as Lone Star Coffee.
If you're still choosing a structure, my guide to forming a Texas LLC explains when an LLC makes sense and how its name works.
The 10-year term and the six-month renewal window
This is the detail most people miss. Under section 71.151, a certificate lasts for the period you state on it, up to 10 years, and then it's void unless you renew. You can only renew in the six months before it expires, and you file the renewal with the county clerk and, if it applies to you, the Secretary of State. You can renew as many times as you like, but each term is capped at 10 years. Put the expiry date in your calendar the day you file.
When you must file a new certificate
Section 71.152 says you must file a new certificate within 60 days of any change that makes your existing one materially misleading. That includes:
- A change in the name, identity, entity, form of business or location of the business.
- A change in ownership of a sole proprietorship.
- A new partner joining a partnership, or a general partner leaving.
What the certificate has to say
For an LLC, corporation or other registered entity, section 71.102 lists what goes on the certificate. It must state:
- The assumed name the business will trade under.
- The registrant's legal name, exactly as it appears on its certificate of formation or registration with the Secretary of State.
- The state, country or other place where the registrant was formed.
- The period, up to 10 years, during which it will use the assumed name.
- The type of entity, such as a for-profit corporation, LLC or limited partnership.
Certificates for sole owners and partnerships ask for similar details, plus the names and addresses of the people behind the business. Getting the legal name exactly right matters, because the whole point of the filing is to let the public see who is behind the trading name.
How to file, step by step
- Search the name first, in the county records and the Secretary of State's records, so you don't pick a name someone else already uses.
- Decide where you file: county clerk for an unincorporated business, Secretary of State for an LLC or corporation.
- Complete the certificate with the assumed name, your legal name, your address, the period you'll use the name (up to 10 years) and the type of business.
- Sign it. For county filings, each individual named must sign and acknowledge it. For Secretary of State filings, an officer, partner, member, manager or authorised representative signs.
- File it and pay the fee, then keep a copy with your business records.
What happens if you don't file
Section 71.201 says failing to file doesn't cancel your contracts, and you can still defend yourself in court. But you can't bring a lawsuit over a contract made under the assumed name until you file. Section 71.202 makes intentionally trading under an unfiled assumed name a Class A misdemeanor. Section 71.203 makes it an offence to file a document with a false statement or a forged signature.
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Closing or changing a DBA
If you stop using a name, section 71.153 lets you file a statement of abandonment in the office where you filed the certificate. It's worth doing, because it shows the public record that you've stopped trading under that name. For DBA rules in other states, see my guide to DBA registration.
My verdict
A Texas DBA is cheap and quick, so there's no reason to trade without one. The traps are the ones that come later: the six-month renewal window before the 10-year term ends, and the 60-day deadline after a change of owner, partner or address. File it, diary both dates, and you'll never be stuck unable to sue over an unpaid invoice.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a DBA cost in Texas?
Chapter 71 sets a county clerk fee of $2 per certificate plus 50 cents per name indexed, and a Secretary of State fee of $25, as of October 2026.
Where do I file a DBA in Texas?
Sole owners and general partnerships file with the county clerk. LLCs, corporations and other registered entities file with the Texas Secretary of State.
How long does a Texas DBA last?
Up to 10 years from filing. You can renew it in the six months before it expires, for further terms of up to 10 years each.
Is it illegal to operate without a DBA in Texas?
Intentionally trading under an unfiled assumed name is a Class A misdemeanor, and you can't sue over contracts made under that name until you file.
Does an LLC need a DBA in Texas?
Only if it trades under a name different from the one on its certificate of formation. Then it files an assumed name certificate with the Secretary of State.
