In Washington state, a DBA is called a trade name, and you register it with the Department of Revenue's Business Licensing Service by filing a Business License Application. As of October 2026, the fee is $5 for each trade name plus the non-refundable application processing fee. You need one if you do business under any name that isn't the full legal name of the owner or the entity's registered name.
Washington is unusual in two ways. The registration sits with the Department of Revenue rather than the Secretary of State or a county, and it's handled through the same application you use for a business license. I've built this guide from the Department's trade name page, the WAC rule and chapter 19.80 of the Revised Code of Washington.
Who needs a trade name in Washington
The Department of Revenue says you must register a trade name, or doing business as name, under RCW 19.80 if you're:
- a sole proprietor or partnership using a name other than the full legal name of the owner or owners
- a corporation, limited partnership or LLC operating under a name other than the one registered with the Office of the Secretary of State
- using any business name that isn't your full legal name
The law's purpose, stated in RCW 19.80.001, is to make anyone trading under a trade name disclose the true and real name of each person behind it, and to keep a central registry of businesses using trade names. So it's a disclosure rule first.
What it costs
| Item | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Trade name registration | $5 per name | Department of Revenue, WAC 458-02-300 |
| Business License Application processing fee | Non-refundable, set by the application instructions | Department of Revenue |
| Cancelling a trade name | No charge | Department of Revenue |
Those amounts are as of October 2026. WAC 458-02-300 adds that trade name fees aren't refundable, so check spelling before you submit. A business can register an unlimited number of trade names, so a company running two brands can register both.
How to register a Washington trade name
- Search the name first. The WAC rule says a free search is available online through the Business Licensing Service.
- Check the Secretary of State's corporations data and the federal trademark register too, because a trade name doesn't stop anyone else's rights.
- File a Business License Application online with My DOR, or file on paper with the Business Information Change form, giving your Unified Business Identifier number.
- Pay the $5 per name and the processing fee.
- Keep a copy of the confirmation with your business license records.
If you're also setting up the license itself, the Washington business license guide covers the application in more detail.
Changes you must report
RCW 19.80.025 lists the changes that need a filing. A notice of change is required when the true and real name of a person behind the trade name changes, or when a mailing address on the registration changes. A notice of cancellation is required when you stop using the trade name.
Two changes need more than a notice. You must file a cancellation together with a new registration before doing business when a person is added, removed or changed, or when the wording or spelling of the trade name changes. So bringing in a partner means a fresh registration, not just an update.
How long it lasts
The Department says a trade name stays registered indefinitely until the owner asks for it to be cancelled. The statute allows the Department to set up renewals, but not more often than once a year and only alongside the business license renewal. It can also cancel a trade name when the business license account is inactive, after making a reasonable effort to notify the owner, who then has 20 days to respond.
What happens if you don't register
The consequence is about lawsuits. Under RCW 19.80.040, nobody doing business under a trade name can maintain a suit in Washington courts until the registration is complete. So if a customer doesn't pay an invoice issued under your trade name, you'd need to register before suing to collect.
The same section says failing to register doesn't make your contracts invalid, and it doesn't stop you defending a case brought against you. The burden lands on your ability to enforce, not on the other side.
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Sole proprietors and the true and real name
RCW 19.80.005 defines a trade name as a name that isn't, or doesn't include, the true and real name of everyone conducting the business, or one that includes words suggesting extra parties, such as company, and sons or and associates. For an individual, the true and real name is the surname together with one or more other names or initials. So Jane Smith and Associates needs a registration even though it includes the owner's name, and a sole proprietor trading as Cascade Cleaning needs one too.
For a sole proprietorship or general partnership, the registration has to give the true and real name of each person conducting the business, with a post office address for each of them. So a partner's details sit on a public registry, which is worth knowing before you add a new name to the business.
What a trade name doesn't do
Registering a trade name doesn't protect the name from use by others. Both the Department's page and the WAC rule say so. If you want rights in the name, look at a state trademark through the Secretary of State or a federal trademark if you'll trade beyond Washington.
My take: register the name before you print anything, and register every brand you trade under. At $5 a name it's the cheapest admin you'll do. The wider picture is in the DBA registration guide, and if you'd rather trade under a company's own name, the Washington LLC guide covers forming one.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get a DBA in Washington state?
File a Business License Application with the Department of Revenue's Business Licensing Service, online through My DOR or on paper, and register the trade name as part of it.
How much does a DBA cost in Washington?
As of October 2026, the trade name registration is $5 per name plus the non-refundable Business License Application processing fee. Cancelling a trade name is free.
Does a Washington trade name expire?
No. The Department of Revenue says a trade name stays registered indefinitely until the owner asks to cancel it, although the Department can cancel names on inactive license accounts after notice.
What happens if I don't register a trade name in Washington?
Under RCW 19.80.040, you can't maintain a lawsuit in Washington courts until the registration is complete. Your contracts stay valid and you can still defend a case.
Does a Washington trade name protect my business name?
No. Registering a trade name doesn't protect the name from use by others. A trademark is the route for that.
