How to File a DBA in Utah: Registering an Assumed Name
General information, not legal advice. Read the full disclaimer.
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 $18 (renewal opens 60 days before expiration)
What the DBA certificate must include
Under Utah Code § 42-2-201 (rewritten effective October 1, 2026), the certificate states the DBA name, the principal address where the business operates, and the true name and street address of each owner. It must also designate and maintain a registered agent in Utah, and be signed by each owner or an authorized representative. See Registered Agent in Utah: Requirements, Who Can Serve, and Cost for who can serve.
Name rules
The DBA name must be distinguishable from names and trademarks already on the Division's records. It can't imply the business is a state agency, can't contain "911" or certain restricted terms, and can't include "LLC," "L.L.C.," or "limited liability company" — or "Inc." and variations — unless the owner is actually a registered LLC or corporation. See Can Two Utah Businesses Have the Same DBA? for what happens when a name is too close to one already filed.
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 Sole Proprietorship vs. LLC in Utah.
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 Utah Business License Requirements by City you may also need.