Missouri DBA Filing: Fictitious Name Cost (2026)
In Missouri a DBA is called a Fictitious Name, and you register it with the Missouri Secretary of State - statewide, not by county - for a flat $7 fee. The registration lasts five years, requires no newspaper publication, and gives no liability protection. Renewal is also $7, and cancellation is free.
Quick Answer
- Missouri term
- Fictitious Name - the DBA equivalent
- Filed with
- Missouri Secretary of State (statewide), not a county clerk
- Fee
- $7 flat to register, renew, correct, or amend
- Term
- Five years, then renew
- Publication
- None required
- Liability protection
- None - a fictitious name is only a name
What a Missouri DBA (Fictitious Name) Is
A DBA ("doing business as") is a trade name a business uses that differs from the owner's true legal name. Missouri's statutory term for it is a Fictitious Name, governed by RSMo Chapter 417. A sole proprietor named James Carter who operates as "Gateway Lawn Care," or an LLC that markets a brand different from its exact registered name, registers that fictitious name with the Missouri Secretary of State. Under RSMo § 417.200, any person who transacts business in Missouri under a name other than their true name is required to register it. Filing publicly links the trade name to the true owner. For the national concept, see what is a DBA.
The most notable Missouri feature is the price and scope: at a flat $7, filed once statewide with the Secretary of State, it is among the simplest and cheapest DBA processes in the country. That contrasts with California, where DBAs are county filings that require newspaper publication, and with Maryland, where the state agency SDAT handles trade names.
The word "fictitious" here has no negative meaning. It simply signals that the name is not the owner's true legal name - it is the label the law uses for any assumed or trade name. A fictitious name registration is a transparency measure: it lets a customer, supplier, or creditor look up who actually stands behind "Gateway Lawn Care" and hold the right party accountable. Missouri does not limit how many fictitious names one owner can register, so a single sole proprietor or LLC can hold several brands, each with its own $7 registration, all pointing back to the same true owner.
A Fictitious Name Is Not an Entity or a Trademark
Registering a fictitious name does not create a business entity. It provides no liability protection and does not change how you are taxed. If you want a liability shield, you form an LLC or corporation with the Secretary of State - a separate filing (the Articles of Organization, sometimes searched as a "certificate of formation"). A fictitious name is also not a trademark: Missouri law is explicit that registering a fictitious name does not give the registrant any exclusive right to use the name. To secure exclusive brand rights, register a federal trademark with the USPTO - see how to trademark a business name.
Who Needs to Register a Fictitious Name
You generally register a Missouri fictitious name when:
- A sole proprietor or general partnership transacts business under a name that is not the owner's own true name.
- An LLC or corporation does business under a name different from the exact name on its charter documents (for example, a separate brand or division).
- A bank requires a filed fictitious name registration before opening an account in the trade name.
Because registration is inexpensive and statewide, many Missouri owners simply file to be safe. Remember that registration is a public notice mechanism, not a reservation - it does not stop another business from registering a similar name, which is one more reason to consider a trademark if the brand is central to your business.
How to File a Missouri Fictitious Name Step by Step
Because Missouri fictitious names are a single statewide filing, the process is short:
- Search existing names. Use the Secretary of State's business search to see whether the fictitious name is already on file.
- Complete the registration. Provide the fictitious name, the business address, and each owner's name, address, and percentage of ownership (Form Corp. 56).
- File with the Secretary of State online or by paper/mail, and pay the flat $7 fee.
- Keep the confirmation. Retain the stamped registration with your business records; banks often ask for it.
- Calendar the renewal. Note the five-year expiration and set a reminder to renew before it lapses.
Missouri requires no newspaper publication of a fictitious name, which makes the process faster and cheaper than in publication states. When you register online through the Secretary of State's business portal, the filing is usually processed almost immediately, and you can print a stamped confirmation the same day. Paper filings mailed with the $7 fee take longer to come back. If more than one person owns the business, list every owner and their ownership percentage on the registration; the total must add up to 100 percent, and leaving an owner off can make the filing defective. An entity owner (an LLC or corporation) is listed by its exact registered name and its charter number rather than by an individual's name.
Missouri Fictitious Name Fees (2026)
The fees below are set by the Missouri Secretary of State and are the same statewide. Amounts are effective for 2026.
| Item | Fee (2026) | Agency |
|---|---|---|
| Fictitious name registration | $7 | Secretary of State |
| Renewal (every 5 years) | $7 | Secretary of State |
| Correction or amendment | $7 | Secretary of State |
| Cancellation of fictitious name | $0 (no fee) | Secretary of State |
| Newspaper publication | Not required | - |
Because a fictitious name is not an entity, there is no separate report tied to it - and remember Missouri LLCs themselves file no annual report. For the complete cost picture, see how much a Missouri LLC costs.
Term, Renewal, and Changes
A Missouri fictitious name registration filed on or after August 28, 2004 is effective for five years (RSMo § 417.210). To keep the name, you file a renewal within the six months before it expires; a renewal continues the registration for another five years. If the owners or facts change, you file a correction or amendment (also $7). If you stop using the name, you can cancel it for free or simply let it lapse. Missing the renewal window means the registration expires and the name becomes available again, so calendar the date when you first file. The Secretary of State periodically publishes reminders when a wave of registrations is approaching its five-year mark, but the legal duty to track the deadline sits with the owner, not the state. Because a lapsed registration does not automatically shut down your business, it is easy to forget - yet operating under an unregistered fictitious name is exactly what the statute prohibits, so a quiet lapse can leave you technically out of compliance until you re-file.
DBA, EIN, Taxes, and Licenses
A fictitious name is often confused with a few other things. It does not by itself require a new EIN - a sole proprietor can keep an existing EIN or Social Security number, and an LLC keeps its own EIN, because a fictitious name is just a name (see IRS guidance on doing business as). It is also not a business license: depending on your activity and city, you may still need a local license, and if you sell taxable goods you must register for sales/use tax with the Missouri Department of Revenue. To verify names and owners statewide, use the Secretary of State's business search before you file, and compare structures at sole proprietorship vs LLC if you are deciding whether to stay a sole proprietor with a DBA or form an entity. The cleanest way to think about it: a fictitious name changes what you are called, not what you are. A sole proprietor with a fictitious name is still personally liable for the business; an LLC with a fictitious name still has its liability shield. If liability is your concern, the $50 online Articles of Organization does far more work than a $7 fictitious name - and you can hold both, using the fictitious name as a brand under the LLC.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a DBA in Missouri?
In Missouri a DBA is a Fictitious Name - a name different from the owner's true legal name. You register it with the Secretary of State, not a county clerk.
Where do I file a DBA in Missouri?
With the Missouri Secretary of State, Corporations Division, online or by paper (Form Corp. 56). Missouri uses one statewide filing.
How much does a DBA cost in Missouri?
A flat $7 to register, renew, correct, or amend. Cancellation is free. See what is a DBA for the national picture.
How long does a Missouri fictitious name last?
Five years. Renew within the six months before expiration to keep the name.
Does a Missouri fictitious name give liability protection?
No. It is only a name. For a liability shield, form an LLC or corporation with the Secretary of State.
Related
- What is a DBA? (cluster hub)
- How to form an LLC in Missouri
- Missouri Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1)
- Missouri "certificate of formation"
- Missouri registered agent
- How much does a Missouri LLC cost?
- How to get an EIN
- How to register a trademark
- Sole proprietorship vs LLC
- Maryland DBA / trade name filing (sibling)
Sources
- Missouri Secretary of State - Fictitious Name Registration FAQ (fictitious name is Missouri's DBA; $7 fee; five-year term).
- Missouri Secretary of State - Schedule of Fees and Charges (PDF) (fictitious name creation/renewal/amendment $7; cancellation no fee).
- Missouri Secretary of State - Registration of Fictitious Name, Form Corp. 56 (PDF) ($7 fee; required contents).
- Missouri Secretary of State - Business Fees & Forms (fictitious name and related forms).
- Missouri Secretary of State - Business Filing Resources (online filing and business search).
- Missouri Revisor of Statutes - RSMo § 417.200 (duty to register a fictitious name).
- Missouri Revisor of Statutes - RSMo § 417.210 (five-year effective period; renewal).
- Missouri Revisor of Statutes - RSMo § 417.220 (registration does not create exclusive rights).
- Missouri Department of Revenue - Business Tax Registration (sales/use tax for sellers).
- IRS - Doing Business As (a DBA does not by itself require a new EIN).
- IRS - Get an Employer Identification Number (free EIN).
- IRS - Limited Liability Company (LLC) (entity vs. trade name distinction).
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 Missouri Secretary of State before acting.