In Maryland, a DBA is a trade name, and you register it with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT) before you start trading under it. As of October 2026, the filing fee is $25, with expedited service an extra $50. Section 1-406 of the Corporations and Associations Article makes the filing last 5 years, and you can renew it in the last 6 months of that period.
Maryland keeps its DBA rules in one short section of law, and SDAT runs the filing. I've built this guide from that statute, section 1-406, plus SDAT's own trade name application and fee schedule, so every figure can be checked against the source.
Who needs a Maryland trade name
Section 1-406(a) says any person engaged in a mercantile, trading or manufacturing business, or doing business under any designation, title or name other than the person's own name, must file a certificate with the Department before starting to operate the business. Two points in that sentence matter:
- It applies before you start. The law says prior to commencing operation, not within a set number of days after.
- It covers any name other than your own. For an LLC or a corporation, that means any name other than the registered entity name.
If you're still deciding on a structure, the sole proprietorship guide explains when trading under your own name is enough.
What the certificate has to show
The statute lists four pieces of information, and SDAT's application asks for each of them:
- the true and correct names and addresses of the principal or owner of the business
- the character and location of the business
- the name, title or designation the business trades under
- the identification number SDAT has assigned for the associated business
The form adds some practical rules. Only one trade name can go on each application, each owner must sign it, and a post office box is accepted only as part of a physical address. For an individual or general partnership, it asks whether the owner already has a personal property account, which SDAT calls an L number.
Maryland trade name fees
| Filing | Fee | Expedited |
|---|---|---|
| Trade name filing | $25 | $50 extra |
| Trade name amendment | $25 | $50 extra |
| Trade name cancellation | $25 | $50 extra |
| Renewal | $25 | Not listed |
Those amounts are as of October 2026, from section 1-406(e) and SDAT's fee schedule. The application itself states a $25 filing fee, an additional $50 for expedited service and $75 in total for expedited filing. Paper filings are paid by check made out to the Department of Assessments and Taxation, and no cash is accepted. The instructions point to the online business registration portal too.
How to file a DBA in Maryland
- Check the name. SDAT only checks a new trade name against other trade names on its own records.
- If you run a home improvement company, contact the Maryland Home Improvement Commission first, because SDAT says registering the name doesn't guarantee that Commission will accept it.
- Complete the trade name application online or on paper, with every owner signing.
- Pay the fee and submit it. Paper filings go to the Charter Division in Baltimore or the drop boxes SDAT keeps in its building lobby.
- Wait for the acknowledgement. SDAT says it's ordinarily sent within 4 weeks of acceptance, to the owner's address unless you give another one.
The 5-year term and how renewal works
A Maryland trade name doesn't last forever. Section 1-406(f) makes a certificate effective for 5 years from the date it's filed. You renew by filing an application within the 6 months before the end of that period, and a renewal extends it for another 5 years from the end of the previous period.
SDAT's instructions spell out what happens if you miss it: the Department forfeits the trade name, and you have to file a new application. Put the renewal date in your calendar the day the acknowledgement arrives, because the window opens 6 months early and closes on the anniversary.
The public agency record
Section 1-406(d) tells SDAT to keep a public record called the agency record, holding every certificate filed under the section, indexed. That's why the owner's name and address on the form matter: anyone checking who's behind a trading name in Maryland can look it up there. Older registrations have their own rule. Under section 1-406(g), the section doesn't apply to anyone who filed a similar certificate with SDAT before July 1, 1991.
If you change the owner's address or the business location, file an amendment rather than waiting for renewal, so the record stays accurate. The fee is the same $25 as of October 2026.
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What a trade name doesn't give you
SDAT is blunt about this. Acceptance of a trade name application doesn't give the owner any greater right to use the name than they already had. Trade names aren't meant to reserve a name, act as a trademark filing or give anyone extra rights to it. If you want protection, a state service mark or a federal trademark is the route.
False certificates are a crime
Section 1-406(h) is the one penalty in the section. A person who willfully and knowingly files a false certificate is guilty of a misdemeanor. As of October 2026, the statute sets a fine of up to $1,000, up to a year in prison, or both. Accurate names and addresses on the form aren't a formality.
My take: file before you open, renew inside the 6-month window, and keep the L number with your records. The general picture is in the DBA registration guide, and if you'd rather trade under a company's own name, the Maryland LLC guide covers forming one.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a DBA cost in Maryland?
As of October 2026, SDAT charges $25 to file a trade name, plus $50 if you want expedited service. Amendments, cancellations and renewals are also $25.
How long does a Maryland trade name last?
Five years from the date it's filed. You can renew within the last 6 months of that period, and the renewal adds another 5 years.
Where do I register a DBA in Maryland?
With the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation, online through its business registration portal or on the paper trade name application.
What happens if I don't renew my Maryland trade name?
SDAT's instructions say the Department will forfeit the trade name, and you'll need to file a new application.
Does a Maryland trade name protect my business name?
No. SDAT says acceptance of a trade name doesn't give the owner any greater right to the name and isn't a trademark filing.
