How to File a DBA in Montana (2026)

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

Montana calls a DBA an "assumed business name," and you register it online with the Montana Secretary of State - not with a county clerk. Check that your name is available, file the assumed business name registration through the Secretary of State's online system, and pay the fee, which the Secretary of State lists as $20. Montana requires no newspaper publication, but the registration expires and must be renewed. A DBA is only a name registration - it is not a trademark.

Quick Answer

Montana term
"Assumed business name" (Montana's DBA)
Where to file
Montana Secretary of State - online (ePass Montana)
Fee
$20 per the Secretary of State (confirm current amount)
Publication
None - no newspaper notice required
Renewal
Registration expires; renew before it lapses
Not a trademark
A DBA grants no exclusive rights to the name

What a DBA (Assumed Business Name) Is in Montana

A "DBA" - short for "doing business as" - is a name a business uses that is different from its owner's legal name or an entity's registered name. Montana's legal term for a DBA is an assumed business name. If you are a sole proprietor named Jordan Reyes and you want to operate as "Big Sky Woodworks," or if your LLC is registered as one name but you market under another, you register that operating name as an assumed business name with the Montana Secretary of State (SOS). Unlike some states that file DBAs at the county level, Montana centralizes the registration at the state level.

Registering an assumed business name lets you open a bank account, sign contracts, and advertise under the business name, and it puts the public on notice of who is behind that name. It does not create a separate legal entity and does not, by itself, give you a liability shield - a sole proprietor using a DBA is still personally liable. If you want liability protection, form an LLC in Montana instead. For the concept generally, see our what is a DBA guide and the glossary.

Before You File: Name Availability

Start by making sure the name you want is available. Search the Montana Secretary of State's business database - the same registry behind the Montana business entity search - to confirm no other registered entity or assumed business name already uses your name or something confusingly similar. Montana generally requires names to be distinguishable from existing registrations. If the name is taken, choose a different one; if it appears clear, you can proceed to file.

A word of caution: a clear database result tells you the name is available for registration, but it does not tell you whether someone holds trademark rights in the name. Before you invest in signage, packaging, and marketing, it is smart to also search the federal trademark register (below) so you do not build a brand on a name someone else can stop you from using. It also helps to secure a matching domain name and social handles at this stage, since a name that is free on the state registry may already be taken online. Once you are confident in the name, gather the owner information you will enter on the registration - the individual or the registered entity that will own the assumed name. If the owner is an entity, make sure that entity is itself in good standing before you attach a DBA to it, because the assumed name rides on the underlying owner's record.

Steps to File a Montana Assumed Business Name

Montana handles assumed business name registration online. The process is short:

  1. Check name availability. Search the Secretary of State's business database to confirm your desired name is available and distinguishable.
  2. Set up your online account. Create or log in to your ePass Montana / Secretary of State filing account, which is how you submit business filings electronically.
  3. File the registration. Complete the Assumed Business Name registration online, entering the name and the owner (a person or a registered entity), and pay the fee - the Secretary of State lists it as $20. Confirm the current amount on the SOS fee schedule before paying.
  4. Receive confirmation. Submit the filing and save the confirmation that the assumed business name is registered. Keep the filed record with your business documents.
  5. Renew before it expires. Note the expiration date and renew the registration before it lapses so you keep rights to file under the name; confirm the current renewal cycle with the Secretary of State.

Because everything is online, most filers complete the registration in well under half an hour if the name is available and their owner details are ready. There is no newspaper publication requirement in Montana, which keeps the process simpler and cheaper than in some other states.

Renewal and Keeping the Name Active

A Montana assumed business name is not permanent. The registration expires after a set period and must be renewed to stay active. If you let it lapse, the name can become available for someone else to register, and you lose the tidy public record connecting the name to you. Because renewal cycles and any renewal fee can change, do not rely on a remembered interval - confirm the current expiration and renewal timing directly with the Secretary of State and calendar the deadline well in advance.

Keeping the assumed business name active matters most if you rely on it publicly - on your bank account, contracts, invoices, and marketing. If you form or already have an LLC, the assumed name is separate from the entity's own registration and its annual report; both need to stay current. For related filings, see Montana articles of organization and Montana registered agent.

DBA vs. Trademark: Why They Are Different

A common and costly misunderstanding is treating a DBA like a trademark. They solve different problems. An assumed business name is just a name registration - it lets you lawfully operate under a name and tells the public who owns it, but it grants no exclusive rights. Another business could register a similar assumed name or use the name elsewhere. A trademark, by contrast, protects a brand used to identify goods or services and can give you the exclusive right to use it in commerce, plus the ability to stop others from using a confusingly similar mark.

Federal trademarks are registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) through the Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS), and offer nationwide protection; some states also offer state trademark registration. If your name is central to your brand, consider both: file the Montana assumed business name so you can operate, and evaluate a trademark to protect the brand. Read our trademark overview and DBA guide to see how the two fit together. You may also need a Montana business license and, depending on your taxes, a registration with the Montana Department of Revenue and a federal EIN - all separate from the DBA. In short, the assumed business name answers the question of what you may call yourself, while a trademark answers who owns the brand. Filing the DBA is inexpensive and fast; building and protecting a brand is a longer effort, and the two should not be confused when you plan your budget and timeline.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a DBA called in Montana?

Montana calls a DBA an assumed business name. It is the name a person or entity uses to do business that differs from their own legal name. You register an assumed business name with the Montana Secretary of State, not with a county clerk.

How do I file a DBA in Montana?

Check that your name is available in the Secretary of State's business database, log in to the ePass Montana filing system, complete the Assumed Business Name registration online, and pay the filing fee. The Secretary of State lists the fee as $20. You then receive confirmation of the registration.

How much does a Montana DBA cost?

The Montana Secretary of State lists the assumed business name registration fee as $20. Confirm the current amount and any renewal fee on the Secretary of State's fee schedule before filing, since fees can change over time.

Does Montana require newspaper publication for a DBA?

No. Montana does not require you to publish an assumed business name in a newspaper. You register it directly with the Secretary of State. Some other states require publication, but Montana's assumed business name process does not.

Do I need to renew a Montana assumed business name?

Yes. A Montana assumed business name registration must be renewed periodically to stay active, and it expires if you do not renew. Track the expiration date and confirm the current renewal cycle with the Secretary of State so the name does not lapse.

Is a DBA the same as a trademark in Montana?

No. A DBA (assumed business name) is only a name registration that lets you operate under a name; it does not grant exclusive rights. A trademark protects a brand and can give exclusive rights. Federal trademarks are registered with the USPTO, which is separate from a Montana DBA.

Related

More Montana business guides

Form An Llc Annual Report Registered Agent Articles Of Organization Llc Cost Business Entity Search Operating Agreement Llc Tax Filing Business License Dissolve An Llc Get An Ein Sole Proprietorship Start A Business

Sources

  1. Montana Secretary of State - Business Services.
  2. Montana Secretary of State - Assumed Business Name Registration ($20 fee).
  3. Montana Secretary of State - Business Filing Fees.
  4. Montana Secretary of State - Business Search (name availability).
  5. Montana Secretary of State - Business Forms.
  6. Montana Legislature - MCA Title 30, Ch. 13, Part 2, Assumed Business Names.
  7. Montana Department of Revenue - Taxes.
  8. Montana Department of Revenue - Businesses.
  9. U.S. Patent and Trademark Office - Trademark Basics.
  10. U.S. Patent and Trademark Office - Apply for a Trademark (TEAS).
  11. U.S. Patent and Trademark Office - Search Trademarks.
  12. IRS - Employer ID Numbers (EINs).
  13. IRS - Sole Proprietorships.
  14. Cornell Law School Legal Information Institute - Trade name (Wex).
  15. Cornell Law School Legal Information Institute - Trademark (Wex).

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 Montana Secretary of State, the Montana Department of Revenue, and the USPTO before acting.