Registering a Utah DBA (Assumed Name)
Short answer: If you're doing business under a name other than your own legal name (as a sole proprietor) or your entity's registered legal name (as an LLC or corporation), Utah generally requires registering that assumed name (DBA — "doing business as") with the Division of Corporations — a $22 filing, due within 30 days of starting to use the name.
Who this guide is for
Sole proprietors and small business owners in Utah operating, or planning to operate, under a name different from their own legal name or their registered business entity's legal name.
When you need a DBA
- A sole proprietor operating under a business name instead of their own personal legal name (for example, "Jane Smith" doing business as "Wasatch Web Design")
- An LLC or corporation operating under a trade name different from its registered legal entity name
If you're operating strictly under your own personal legal name, or your entity's exact registered name, you generally don't need a separate DBA filing.
The filing itself
- Fee: $22, nonrefundable
- Deadline: within 30 days of beginning to use the assumed name
- How to file: online through Utah's business registration portal, or by mail
- Duration: valid for 3 years, with renewal available for $27
Why registering matters beyond just following the rule
Beyond the legal requirement itself, a registered assumed name gives you a documented, official record of the name you're operating under — which can matter for opening a business bank account, entering contracts under that name, and establishing your business's public identity clearly and defensibly.
What a DBA does NOT do
Registering an assumed name doesn't create a separate legal entity, doesn't provide liability protection, and doesn't grant exclusive trademark-style rights to the name statewide — it's a public registration of the name you're using, not a business structure or a trademark. If personal liability protection is what you're actually after, that's a separate question about choosing a business structure.
What if you don't register a name you're actually using?
Operating under an unregistered assumed name can create complications — from difficulty opening accounts or entering contracts cleanly under that name, to potential compliance issues if it's later discovered. Given the modest $22 fee, this isn't a step worth skipping if you're genuinely operating under a name other than your own.
Frequently asked questions
Does an LLC automatically need a DBA? No — only if the LLC is operating under a trade name different from its own registered legal name on file with the state.
Can I register a name someone else is already using? Registering an assumed name doesn't necessarily guarantee exclusive rights to it — a name-availability check through the Division of Corporations' business search is worth doing before committing to a name.
Does a DBA registration cover the whole state, or just a specific city? It's a statewide filing with the Division of Corporations — separate from any city-specific business license you may also need.