In North Carolina, a DBA is an assumed business name certificate filed under Article 14A of Chapter 66 of the General Statutes. You file it with the register of deeds in a county where you do business, and if you trade in several counties, one filing is enough. One certificate can list up to five names, changes must be filed within 60 days, and the certificate lasts until you withdraw it.
North Carolina rewrote its DBA law in 2016, with the new Article 14A taking over from the old Article 14. Every certificate filed under the old law expired on December 1, 2022, under G.S. 66-71.15. If you filed years ago and never refiled, it's worth checking that you're on the current system.
Who needs an assumed business name in North Carolina
G.S. 66-71.4 says that before any person engages in business in North Carolina under an assumed business name, it must file an assumed business name certificate. Person covers almost everyone: individuals, partnerships, LLCs, corporations, trusts, associations and joint ventures.
An assumed business name is any name other than your real name. For an LLC, that's any name other than the one in its articles of organization filed with the Secretary of State. For a corporation, it's any name other than the corporate name in its articles of incorporation. For a sole proprietor, it's any name that isn't their own.
Where you file, and why one county is enough
The filing goes to the register of deeds of the county where you are, or will be, engaged in business. Unlike some states, North Carolina doesn't make you file in every county. Section 66-71.4(a) says that if you trade in multiple counties, filing is required in only one of them.
That works because of G.S. 66-71.9 and 66-71.10. The Secretary of State keeps a single statewide, searchable database of assumed business names, and each register of deeds must send a scanned copy of your certificate and its details to that database within 30 days of filing. So a customer in Wake County can find a name you filed in Mecklenburg.
What goes on the certificate
Section 66-71.5 lists the contents. The certificate must show the assumed business name, the real name of the person using it, and the other details the statute requires, and section 66-71.11 gives a standard form that meets the rules, though using it isn't mandatory. A few practical points from the statute:
- one certificate can include no more than five assumed business names, as long as the same person uses all of them
- if you use more than five names, or the names belong to different owners, you need more than one certificate
- an LLC or corporation signs through someone authorized to act for it
- each name gets an identification number from the Secretary of State, called the SOS ID, which you'll need for later changes
What it costs to file a DBA in North Carolina
Article 14A doesn't set its own fee. Registers of deeds charge under G.S. 161-10, and its general rule for any instrument with no other fee in that section is $26 for the first 15 pages plus $4 for each additional page, as of October 2026. An assumed business name certificate is normally a single page, and section 161-10 says fees are collected before filing.
If you operate in more than one state, our New York DBA walkthrough is worth a read.
Changes, withdrawal and how long it lasts
| Event | What the statute requires | Section |
|---|---|---|
| Any change to the information on the certificate | File a certificate of amendment within 60 days after the change, in the same county | G.S. 66-71.7 |
| You stop using the name | You may file a certificate of withdrawal in the same county | G.S. 66-71.8 |
| How long the certificate lasts | Effective on filing and in force until withdrawn | G.S. 66-71.12 |
A certified copy of a filed certificate is prima facie evidence of the facts stated in it, under G.S. 66-71.13, so it's worth keeping one with your business records. There's no renewal. That's convenient, but it also means old certificates sit on the database long after a business has changed. If you've moved, changed owners or converted from a sole proprietor to an LLC, file the amendment or a fresh certificate rather than leaving the old one.
Each state has its own quirks, and the Colorado DBA guide covers another set of them.
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What a DBA doesn't do, and the risks of skipping it
Section 66-71.12(b) is clear that filing a certificate doesn't give you exclusive rights to the name anywhere in North Carolina. Two businesses can file the same assumed name. If you want to own a brand, that's trademark territory, which our DBA registration guide compares.
Skipping the filing has two consequences under G.S. 66-71.14. Knowingly signing a certificate with false information that's delivered to the register of deeds is a Class 1 misdemeanor. And a person who fails to file a required certificate or amendment is liable to anyone injured by that failure for their reasonable expenses, including attorneys' fees, in finding out the information the certificate should have shown. In other words, if a creditor has to hire someone to work out who's behind your trading name, you can end up paying for it.
If you're still choosing a structure, our North Carolina LLC guide covers forming the company. Many owners find it simpler to trade under the LLC's own name and skip the DBA altogether.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file a DBA in North Carolina?
With the register of deeds in a county where you do business. If you trade in several counties, G.S. 66-71.4 says filing in one of them is enough, and the details go into a statewide Secretary of State database.
How much does a DBA cost in North Carolina?
Registers of deeds charge under G.S. 161-10, whose general instrument fee is $26 for the first 15 pages plus $4 for each additional page, as of October 2026.
Does a North Carolina DBA expire?
No. Under G.S. 66-71.12, an assumed business name certificate is effective on filing and stays in effect until you withdraw it.
How many names can one North Carolina DBA certificate list?
Up to five assumed business names, as long as the same person is or will be using each of them, under G.S. 66-71.4(b).
Does a DBA protect my business name in North Carolina?
No. G.S. 66-71.12(b) says compliance with the Article doesn't confer any exclusive rights to use an assumed business name in the state.
