Kentucky DBA Filing: Assumed Name & $20 Fee (2026)
You file a Kentucky DBA by submitting a Certificate of Assumed Name. An LLC, corporation, or limited partnership files it with the Kentucky Secretary of State for a $20 fee; a sole proprietor or general partnership files with the county clerk. The certificate is effective for five years and is renewable.
Quick Answer
- Kentucky term
- Assumed name (filed on a Certificate of Assumed Name)
- Entities (LLC, corp, LP)
- File with the Kentucky Secretary of State - $20
- Sole proprietor / general partnership
- File with the county clerk - fee varies
- Duration
- Five years, renewable
- Statute
- KRS 365.015 (Certificate of Assumed Name)
- Trademark rights
- None - a DBA is not a trademark
What a DBA Is in Kentucky (Assumed Name)
A "DBA" - short for "doing business as" - is a trade name a business uses that is different from its legal name. Kentucky law calls this an assumed name, and you register it by filing a Certificate of Assumed Name under KRS 365.015. A sole proprietor named Dana Lee who wants to operate as "Bluegrass Bakery," or an LLC whose legal name is "Lee Holdings LLC" that wants to run a storefront called "Bluegrass Bakery," each need an assumed name on file to use that public-facing name lawfully.
Filing an assumed name does not create a separate legal entity and does not change your liability. It simply puts the public on notice of who is behind the trade name. If you want liability protection, you need an actual entity such as an LLC - see our national what is a DBA explainer for how a DBA compares with forming an entity.
Businesses register an assumed name for practical reasons. A sole proprietor may want to trade under a professional brand rather than a personal legal name. An existing LLC may launch a second product line, storefront, or website that needs its own name without forming a whole new company. Banks typically require an assumed-name certificate before they will open a deposit account or process card payments in a name that differs from the account holder's legal or entity name - so the DBA is often the missing piece that lets a business collect money under its brand. Because the certificate is a public record, it also helps customers and vendors identify who they are actually dealing with, which is the underlying policy purpose of KRS 365.015.
Where You File: Secretary of State vs County Clerk
Kentucky splits assumed-name filings by who is registering the name. Under KRS 365.015, registered entities file at the state level and unregistered businesses file locally:
- LLCs, corporations, limited partnerships, and other registered entities file the Certificate of Assumed Name with the Kentucky Secretary of State.
- Sole proprietors and general partnerships (which are not registered with the Secretary of State) file with the county clerk of the county where the business is located.
If a registered entity operates in several counties, the state-level filing covers it statewide; a sole proprietor operating in multiple counties may need to file in each county where it does business. Because your legal entity's true name is already on record - for an LLC, on its Articles of Organization - the assumed name is an additional public name layered on top of it. This division matters for cost and process: the state filing is a flat $20 with a standard form, while county clerk filings use local forms and fees that differ from one county to the next. If you are unsure which category you fall into, the deciding question is simple: are you already registered with the Kentucky Secretary of State? If yes, you file the assumed name there; if you are an unregistered sole proprietor or general partnership, you file with the county clerk.
How to File a Kentucky Assumed Name, Step by Step
- Choose and check the assumed name. Pick the trade name and make sure it is distinguishable from existing entity and assumed names. Search the Secretary of State's business records, and check that the name does not infringe a federal trademark.
- Determine where to file. If you are an LLC, corporation, or limited partnership, file with the Kentucky Secretary of State. If you are a sole proprietor or general partnership, file with your county clerk.
- File the Certificate of Assumed Name. Complete the certificate with your true name, the assumed name, and your address, then pay the fee - $20 at the Secretary of State (county fees vary). Entities can file with the state online or by mail.
- Track the five-year renewal. Calendar the renewal date. A Kentucky assumed name is effective for five years, and you must renew to keep it active.
After filing, use the assumed name on signage, marketing, and contracts, and provide the certificate to your bank if you want to accept payments under the trade name.
Kentucky DBA Fees and Renewal (2026)
The state-level Certificate of Assumed Name fee is $20. County clerk fees for sole proprietors vary, so confirm with your county. Verify current state fees on the Secretary of State fee schedule before filing.
| Item | Filed with | Fee (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate of Assumed Name (LLC, corp, LP) | Secretary of State | $20 |
| Renewal of assumed name (every 5 years) | Secretary of State | $20 |
| Assumed name (sole proprietor / general partnership) | County clerk | Varies by county |
| Federal EIN (not required for a DBA) | IRS | $0 (free) |
See Kentucky LLC cost for how a DBA fits into overall setup costs if you also form an entity.
Name Rules and Availability
Your assumed name must be distinguishable from existing names on file and cannot use words that falsely imply a different entity type - for example, a sole proprietor's assumed name cannot include "LLC," "Inc.," or "Corporation," because those suggest a registered entity that does not exist. Before filing, search the Secretary of State's business database to confirm availability, and consider a broader trademark search if you plan to build a brand. Approving an assumed name for filing does not guarantee you have the right to use it against a prior trademark holder.
What a Kentucky DBA Does and Doesn't Do
A DBA lets you operate and market under a trade name, open a bank account in that name, and appear consistent to customers. A DBA does not create a separate legal entity, provide liability protection, change how you are taxed, or grant exclusive rights to the name. It does not replace an EIN, a business license, or a registered agent. Many small businesses use a DBA alongside an LLC: the LLC provides the liability shield and the DBA provides a customer-facing brand.
DBA, EIN, and Tax Considerations
Filing an assumed name does not require a new EIN. According to the IRS, operating under a trade name does not change your federal tax identification - you keep the same EIN (or your Social Security number if you are a sole proprietor without employees). If you sell taxable goods or services under the DBA, you still register for a Kentucky sales and use tax account with the Kentucky Department of Revenue using your underlying entity or individual. For how an LLC is taxed, see S-corp vs LLC.
Renewal, Change, and Withdrawal
A Kentucky Certificate of Assumed Name is effective for five years from the date of filing. To keep the name active, you file a renewal with the same office before the certificate expires; the Secretary of State renewal fee is the same $20 as the original filing. If you let it lapse, your legal right to use the assumed name ends, and the name may become available for someone else to register. It is worth calendaring the expiration the day you file, because the state generally does not guarantee a reminder the way it mails annual report notices for LLCs.
If the facts behind the assumed name change - for example, the entity behind it changes its legal name, or you stop using the trade name entirely - Kentucky provides for amending or withdrawing the certificate under KRS 365.020. Withdrawing a name you no longer use is good housekeeping: it removes the public record and frees the name. When you dissolve the underlying entity, remember that the assumed name does not automatically end its own separate life on the register, so address it as part of winding the business down.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a DBA called in Kentucky?
An assumed name, filed on a Certificate of Assumed Name. Entities file with the Secretary of State; sole proprietors and general partnerships file with the county clerk. See what is a DBA.
How much does a Kentucky DBA cost?
The Certificate of Assumed Name fee with the Secretary of State is $20. County clerk fees for sole proprietors vary by county.
Where do I file a Kentucky assumed name?
LLCs, corporations, and limited partnerships file with the Kentucky Secretary of State; sole proprietors and general partnerships file with the county clerk where they operate.
How long does a Kentucky assumed name last?
Five years, and it is renewable. If it lapses, you lose the right to use the assumed name until you renew or refile.
Does a Kentucky DBA give trademark rights?
No. An assumed name lets you operate under the name but does not grant exclusive trademark rights. For brand protection, look at a state or federal trademark.
Related
- What is a DBA? (cluster hub)
- Kentucky Articles of Organization
- How to form an LLC in Kentucky
- Kentucky registered agent
- Kentucky LLC cost
- Business licenses in Kentucky
- Kentucky operating agreement
- Sole proprietorship vs LLC
- What is an LLC?
Sources
- Kentucky Secretary of State - Business Filings (Certificate of Assumed Name filing).
- Kentucky Secretary of State - Business Filing Fees ($20 assumed name filing and renewal).
- Kentucky Secretary of State - Business Records Search (name availability).
- Kentucky Revised Statutes - KRS 365.015, Certificate of Assumed Name (where to file; five-year term).
- Kentucky Revised Statutes - KRS 365.020, Withdrawal or change of assumed name.
- Kentucky Revised Statutes - KRS 275.025, LLC name and Articles of Organization.
- Kentucky Business One Stop Portal - official business registration system.
- Kentucky Department of Revenue - Sales and Use Tax (registration for taxable sales under a DBA).
- Kentucky Department of Revenue - Register a Business (tax registration).
- IRS - Business Name Change (a trade name does not require a new EIN).
- IRS - Get an Employer Identification Number (free EIN).
- IRS - Limited Liability Company (LLC) (entity vs trade name).
LegalGlass provides general information for educational purposes and is not a law firm or a substitute for advice from a licensed attorney or tax professional. Laws, fees, and thresholds change; verify current requirements with the Kentucky Secretary of State and your county clerk before acting.