Louisiana DBA Filing (Trade Name): Steps & Cost (2026)

Q: How much does a DBA cost in Louisiana?

Registering a trade name (DBA) with the Louisiana Secretary of State costs $75 using form #309, plus a $5 credit card convenience fee if you file online through geauxBIZ. Reserving a trade name first is $25, and expedited service is $30 for 24 hours or $50 for same day.

Q: What is a DBA called in Louisiana?

In Louisiana a DBA is called a trade name. It is the name a business uses that differs from the owner's legal name or the entity's registered name. Louisiana registers trade names at the state level with the Secretary of State, not at the parish clerk of court.

Q: Where do you file a Louisiana DBA?

You file with the Louisiana Secretary of State, online through geauxBIZ or by mail using form #309, the Trade Name, Trademark and Service Mark registration. Unlike many states, Louisiana handles trade name registration statewide rather than through the parish.

Q: How long does a Louisiana trade name registration last?

A Louisiana trade name registration is effective for ten years from the date of registration under RS 51:216, and it can be renewed for successive ten-year terms by filing a renewal application within six months before it expires.

Q: Does registering a trade name protect it like a trademark?

Not fully. A Louisiana trade name registration puts the name on the state record and supports use of the name, but it is narrower than a state trademark and does not grant nationwide rights. For broad brand protection, consider a federal trademark with the USPTO.

Q: Do you need a DBA to run a Louisiana business?

No. A DBA is only needed if you operate under a name different from your legal name or your LLC's registered name. An LLC can operate under its registered name without any trade name filing, and a sole proprietor can use their own legal name.

Fact-checked by the LegalGlass editorial team against primary sources · Published Aug 6, 2026 · Last updated Aug 6, 2026

In Louisiana a DBA is a trade name, registered with the Louisiana Secretary of State - not the parish - for a $75 fee using form #309, online through geauxBIZ. A Louisiana trade name registration is effective for ten years and is renewable. Reserving a trade name first costs $25.

Quick Answer

Louisiana term: Trade name (a DBA / “doing business as”)
Where to file: Louisiana Secretary of State (statewide), via geauxBIZ
Fee: $75 (form #309); +$5 online card convenience fee
Duration: 10 years, renewable (RS 51:216)
Reservation: $25 to reserve a trade name (form #396)
Expedite: $30 (24-hour) or $50 (same-day priority)

What a DBA Is Called in Louisiana

A DBA - short for “doing business as” - is any name a business uses that is different from the owner's legal name or the entity's registered name. Louisiana's legal term for a DBA is a trade name. A sole proprietor named Jane Boudreaux who wants to operate as “Bayou Bakehouse,” or an LLC that wants to run a second brand, uses a trade name to do it.

Louisiana differs from many states in where you register. In numerous states a DBA is filed with the county or parish clerk; in Louisiana, trade names are registered statewide with the Secretary of State, through the same geauxBIZ portal used for entity filings. Registering a trade name does not create a separate legal entity or change your liability; it simply records that you use the name. For the national concept, see what is a DBA.

When You Need a Louisiana Trade Name

You need a trade name registration when the public-facing name of your business differs from its legal name. Common situations include:

A sole proprietor or general partnership operating under a name other than the owners' legal names.
An LLC or corporation running a product line, storefront, or brand under a name different from the one on its Articles of Organization.
A business that wants to open a bank account or sign contracts under the brand name - banks typically require a trade name registration to do so.

You do not need a trade name if you operate under your own legal name or your entity's exact registered name. Forming an LLC and registering a trade name are separate steps; a trade name is not a substitute for forming an entity, and it provides none of the liability protection an LLC does.

How to File a Louisiana Trade Name

Registering a Louisiana trade name is a short process handled entirely at the state level:

Search availability. Check the Secretary of State's business database to confirm the trade name is not already registered or confusingly similar to an existing name or entity.
(Optional) Reserve the name. If you are not ready to register, reserve the trade name for 120 days with form #396 for $25.
File the registration. Submit form #309, the Trade Name, Trademark and Service Mark registration, online through geauxBIZ or by mail, and pay the $75 fee (plus a $5 card convenience fee online).
Keep the certificate. Once recorded, the registration is part of the public record; keep the confirmation for your bank and business files.

Expedited processing is available for an added fee - $30 for 24-hour handling or $50 for same-day priority - on top of the registration fee. After registering, you may still need a federal EIN and any business licenses your activity requires.

Louisiana Trade Name Fees (2026)

The table lists the state fees for Louisiana trade name filings, verified against the Louisiana Secretary of State fee schedule. Amounts are effective for 2026; confirm the current schedule before filing.

Item	Form	Fee (2026)
Trade Name / Trademark / Service Mark registration	#309	$75
Name reservation (trade name, 120 days)	#396	$25
Online credit card convenience fee	-	$5
Expedited processing (24-hour)	-	$30
Priority (same-day) processing	-	$50
Federal EIN (IRS)	SS-4	$0 (free)

For the cost of forming the underlying entity, see Louisiana LLC cost; a trade name fee is separate from the $100 Articles of Organization fee.

Duration, Renewal, and Term

A Louisiana trade name registration is not permanent. Under RS 51:216, a registered trade name (like a state trademark or service mark) is effective for ten years from the date of registration. You can renew it for successive ten-year terms by filing a renewal application on a form furnished by the Secretary of State within six months before the current term expires. Missing the renewal window lets the registration lapse, freeing the name for others.

Keep track of the ten-year expiration the same way you track your LLC's annual report. The two are separate: the annual report keeps the LLC in good standing, while the trade name renewal keeps your brand name on the state record. Louisiana's trade name and trademark rules are found in Title 51 of the Revised Statutes, including the assumed-name provisions beginning at RS 51:281.

Trade Name vs. Trademark

Registering a trade name is not the same as owning a trademark. A Louisiana trade name registration records that you use a business name in the state; it is narrower than a trademark and does not grant nationwide rights or automatically stop others from using a similar name in commerce. A trademark protects a brand identifier used on goods or services and can be registered at the state level or, for broader protection, federally with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

If your brand is important to your business, consider a federal trademark registration in addition to - or instead of - a trade name. A trade name filing is cheap and fast for banking and local branding; a federal trademark is the tool for real brand protection. See our national trademark overview to compare.

After You Register: Taxes and Licenses

A trade name registration is a naming filing, not a tax or licensing step. If your business sells taxable goods or services, you must still register with the Louisiana Department of Revenue for the 5% state sales tax and collect any applicable local sales tax. Depending on your activity and parish, you may also need occupational or regulatory business licenses.

If you have not yet formed an entity, weigh doing so: an LLC gives you liability protection that a trade name does not. See how to form an LLC in Louisiana, and if you have employees or multiple owners, get a free EIN from the IRS. For the overall tax picture, see Louisiana LLC tax filing.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a DBA cost in Louisiana?

$75 to register a trade name with the Secretary of State using form #309, plus a $5 card convenience fee online. Reserving a trade name first is $25, and expedite is $30 (24-hour) or $50 (same-day). See what is a DBA.

What is a DBA called in Louisiana?

A trade name. Louisiana registers trade names statewide with the Secretary of State, not at the parish clerk of court.

Where do you file a Louisiana DBA?

With the Louisiana Secretary of State, online through geauxBIZ or by mail using form #309. It is a statewide filing.

How long does a Louisiana trade name registration last?

Ten years from the date of registration under RS 51:216, renewable for successive ten-year terms by filing within six months before expiration.

Does registering a trade name protect it like a trademark?

No. A trade name registration is narrower than a trademark and does not grant nationwide rights. For broad protection, consider a federal trademark.

Do you need a DBA to run a Louisiana business?

No. You only need one if you operate under a name different from your legal name or your entity's registered name.

Sources

Louisiana Secretary of State - Forms & Fee Schedule ($75 Trade Name/Trademark/Service Mark registration #309; $25 name reservation #396; $30/$50 expedite; $5 online convenience fee).
Louisiana Secretary of State - Start a Business (geauxBIZ).
Louisiana Secretary of State - File Business Documents (online trade name filing).
Louisiana Secretary of State - 2026 Fee Changes (Act 921) (Commercial Division fee updates).
Louisiana Revised Statutes (Justia) - RS 51:216, Duration and renewal (ten-year term; renewal within six months).
Louisiana Revised Statutes (Justia) - RS 51:213, Reservation of trade names, trademarks, and service marks.
Louisiana Revised Statutes (Justia) - RS 51:281, Assumed business names.
Louisiana Department of Revenue - General Sales & Use Tax (5% state rate).
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office - Trademarks (federal brand protection).
IRS - Limited Liability Company (LLC) (entity vs. trade name).
IRS - Get an Employer Identification Number (free EIN).
Legal Information Institute - Trade name (Wex legal definition).
Legal Information Institute - Trademark (Wex legal definition).

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 deadlines change; verify current requirements with the Louisiana Secretary of State before acting.