In Pennsylvania, a DBA is a fictitious name, and you register it with the Pennsylvania Department of State by filing a Registration of Fictitious Name form, DSCB:54-311. The fee is $70, as of October 2026. Individuals, partnerships, corporations and LLCs all have to register any name that isn't their real name. If an individual is listed on the form, you must also advertise the filing in two newspapers in the county.
Pennsylvania's rules come from the Fictitious Names Act of 1982, 54 Pa.C.S. sections 301 and following. The Department of State says that since the early 1980s, fictitious names haven't been filed at the county seat, so there's one statewide office for everyone. The two details that catch people are the newspaper rule and what happens in court if you skip the filing.
Who has to register a fictitious name in Pennsylvania
The Department of State's guidance is broad: any individual, sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, LLC or other association doing business under a name other than its real name must register it. A fictitious name is any assumed name, style or designation other than the real name of the entity using it, and that includes a name used by a general partnership.
The guidance gives a practical test. The Act exists so the public knows who it's doing business with, so any time a name doesn't readily identify the owners, it should be registered. That has some knock-on effects for sole proprietors:
- trading under your own full name doesn't need a registration
- trading under a name that doesn't readily identify you as the owner does
- adding words that suggest other owners, such as & Sons or & Associates, makes the name a fictitious name, according to the Department, even if your own name is in it
Name rules the Department of State applies
A fictitious name must be distinguishable on the Department's records from the name of any registered association. Dropping a designator such as Inc., LLC or Company doesn't make it distinguishable, so an LLC can't register its own name minus LLC as a fictitious name.
Designators are restricted too. A fictitious name can't contain corporation, incorporated or limited, or an abbreviation of them, unless at least one entity named on the application is a corporation. The same goes for limited liability company or LLC unless an LLC is named on the application.
What it costs
The Department of State's fee schedule lists these fictitious name fees, as of October 2026:
| Fictitious name filing | Fee |
|---|---|
| Registration | $70 |
| Each ancillary transaction | $70 |
If you have to advertise, newspapers charge separately for the notices. Those costs vary by county and paper, so ask for quotes before you file.
The newspaper rule, and who it applies to
This is the part most people miss. An entity that includes an individual party must officially publish notice that it has filed, or intends to file, the registration. The Department's shorthand is easy to remember: if there's an individual listed in Box 4 of form DSCB:54-311, advertising is required, and if no individual is listed, it isn't.
When it's required, the notice goes in two newspapers of general circulation in the county where the business will be located, and one of them must be a legal newspaper. If only one newspaper of general circulation serves the county, that one is enough. The rules for official publication sit in 15 Pa.C.S. section 102, and the county courthouse or county bar association can tell you which legal newspaper to use.
You don't send proof of the adverts to the Department. The guidance says you should keep that evidence with your business records instead, so file it somewhere you'll find it later.
What a fictitious name doesn't give you
Registration doesn't create any exclusive right to the name, and the Department is clear that there are no ownership rights to a fictitious name. Other people can register the same one. It isn't a trademark or a copyright, it doesn't give liability protection, and it doesn't create a separate legal entity. It's just a description of who's behind the business.
If you want liability protection, you need an entity, which our Pennsylvania LLC guide covers. If you want to own the brand, our DBA registration guide explains where trademarks come in.
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Pennsylvania case law and surnames
The Department of State notes there's case law from Pennsylvania county courts suggesting that a surname on its own, or a surname with words describing the business, isn't a fictitious name and doesn't need registering. The Department cautions that those cases are all non-precedential county court decisions based on past versions of the Act, so registering is the way to remove the doubt.
Paperwork piles up fast, so the Ohio DBA guide is worth bookmarking.
The penalty for not registering
The Department of State sets out the consequence plainly. An unregistered business can't use the Pennsylvania courts to enforce a contract made under the fictitious name. The contract isn't void, but enforcement is blocked until you register. On top of that, the court can impose a $500 penalty where the business seeks to enforce the contract and then registers late.
So the cheapest moment to register is before you send your first invoice under the name. If a customer stops paying, the last thing you want is a delay and a possible penalty before you can even start a claim.
State rules differ, and the DBA rules in Illinois covers another state filing.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a DBA cost in Pennsylvania?
Registering a fictitious name with the Pennsylvania Department of State costs $70, and each ancillary transaction costs $70, as of October 2026. Newspaper notices, when required, are charged separately by the papers.
Where do I file a DBA in Pennsylvania?
With the Pennsylvania Department of State, using the Registration of Fictitious Name form DSCB:54-311. Fictitious names haven't been filed at the county seat since the early 1980s.
Does a Pennsylvania DBA need to be advertised?
Only if an individual is listed on the form. Then notice goes in two newspapers of general circulation in the county, one of them a legal newspaper. If no individual is listed, advertising isn't required.
Does a Pennsylvania LLC need a fictitious name registration?
Yes, if it trades under any name other than its real name. An LLC can't register its own name without the LLC designator, because that isn't distinguishable on the records.
What happens if I don't register my fictitious name in Pennsylvania?
You can't use the Pennsylvania courts to enforce a contract made under the name until you register, and the court can impose a $500 penalty if you register late to enforce it.
