Tennessee DBA Filing: Assumed Name Cost (2026)
In Tennessee a DBA is called an assumed name, and a registered entity files it on Form SS-4402 (Application for Registration of Assumed Name) with the Tennessee Secretary of State for a $20 fee. The assumed name is valid for five years and renewable. It gives no liability protection, and Tennessee has no statewide DBA registration for sole proprietors.
Quick Answer
- Tennessee term
- Assumed name - the DBA equivalent
- Form
- SS-4402, Application for Registration of Assumed Name
- Filed with
- Tennessee Secretary of State (state filing, not county)
- Filing fee
- $20 (2026)
- Term
- Five years, renewable
- Who files
- Registered entities (LLCs, corporations, LPs) - not sole proprietors
What a Tennessee DBA (Assumed Name) Is
A DBA ("doing business as") is a trade name a business uses that differs from its exact legal name. Tennessee's statutory term for it is an assumed name, and it is registered with the Tennessee Secretary of State. An LLC whose legal name is "Cumberland Holdings LLC" but that markets itself as "Cumberland Coffee," or a corporation running several brands, registers each assumed name so the public can connect the brand to the true legal entity. For the national concept, see what is a DBA.
Importantly, an assumed name is not 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 Tennessee LLC or corporation with the Secretary of State - a separate filing from the assumed name application.
Who Files an Assumed Name in Tennessee
Tennessee's assumed name registration is designed for registered entities - the businesses already on file with the Secretary of State:
- LLCs that market a brand different from the exact name on their Articles of Organization.
- Corporations, limited partnerships, and limited liability partnerships using a name other than their registered legal name.
This is a key difference from many other states: in Tennessee, sole proprietors and general partnerships do not file a statewide DBA. Because they are not registered entities, they cannot file Form SS-4402, and Tennessee does not maintain a statewide assumed-name registry for unincorporated owners, who instead operate under the owner's own name. A sole proprietor who wants a registered name and a liability shield generally forms an single-member LLC instead. Local county or city licensing rules may still apply - see business license in Tennessee.
How to File a Tennessee Assumed Name Step by Step
Registered entities file the assumed name directly with the Secretary of State:
- Confirm your entity is registered and active. Check your status on the Tennessee business entity search.
- Choose and check the assumed name. Make sure it is distinguishable from existing names and does not imply a different entity type.
- Complete Form SS-4402, the Application for Registration of Assumed Name, listing your legal entity name and the assumed name.
- File and pay the $20 fee. You can file online through Business Services Online or submit the paper form to the Division of Business Services.
Because the assumed name attaches to your registered entity, you do not get a new EIN and you do not file a separate tax return for it - see how to get an EIN. The Secretary of State's online assumed name filing makes the process quick for most entities.
Tennessee DBA Fees and Term (2026)
Assumed name fees are set by the Tennessee Secretary of State. The table shows the amounts a typical filer encounters; confirm current figures on the Secretary of State's Business Forms & Fees page before filing.
| Item | Form | Fee (2026) | Set by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Register an assumed name | SS-4402 | $20 | Secretary of State |
| Renew an assumed name (every 5 years) | SS-4402 (renewal) | $20 | Secretary of State |
| Certificate of existence (if requested) | Business Services Online | $20 | Secretary of State |
| Federal EIN | IRS Form SS-4 | $0 (free) | IRS |
An assumed name registration is valid for five years and may be renewed for additional five-year terms. If a registration lapses, the assumed name may become available for another entity to register, so calendar the renewal date.
Term, Renewal, and Changes
A Tennessee assumed name registration is valid for five years from the date it is filed. To keep using the name past that point, the entity files a renewal - again on Form SS-4402 - for the same $20 fee before the registration expires. If you let the registration lapse, the name is no longer reserved to you and another entity may register it, so it is worth calendaring the five-year renewal date the same way you track your annual report. If you stop using an assumed name before the five years are up, you can cancel it so it no longer appears attached to your entity. Because the assumed name is tied to the underlying legal entity, anything that changes the entity itself - a merger, a conversion, or dissolution - flows through to the assumed name automatically; you do not maintain the DBA as a standalone record. Keep the filed confirmation with your business records, because banks frequently ask to see the registered assumed name before opening or renaming an account in the trade name.
Why Register an Assumed Name
Because the registration is inexpensive and quick, most entities that use a second name file for it. Registering an assumed name lets an LLC or corporation bank, contract, invoice, and advertise under a brand that differs from its formal legal name while keeping a single underlying entity. It gives the public a way to identify the real business behind the brand, which helps with credibility and with meeting bank "doing business as" documentation requirements. It also lets one entity run multiple brands - a common approach for a holding company that operates several storefronts - without forming and maintaining a separate LLC for each. What the registration does not do is give you exclusive rights to the name or any liability separation between the brands; every assumed name shares the single entity's assets and liabilities. For genuinely separate liability, you would form a separate Tennessee LLC for each line of business instead.
Assumed Name vs LLC, EIN, and Trademark
A DBA is often confused with three other things. It is not a Tennessee LLC, which is a liability-protected entity filed with the Secretary of State. It does not by itself require a new EIN - the assumed name attaches to your existing entity, which keeps its own EIN, because an assumed name is just a name. And it is not a trademark: a state assumed name registration gives no exclusive nationwide rights, which come only from a registered trademark. See how to trademark a business name for brand protection, and remember an assumed name does not replace your annual report or a local business license.
How Tennessee Compares to Other States
DBA rules vary widely, so a process that works in one state does not transfer. Tennessee files assumed names at the state level, only for registered entities, for a flat $20. Arizona files trade names at the state level too, but makes registration voluntary and available to sole proprietors - see Arizona DBA filing. California files DBAs at the county level and requires newspaper publication - see California DBA filing. Texas allows both state and county assumed-name filings - see Texas DBA filing. When you move a business across state lines, re-check the local DBA rule rather than assuming Tennessee's entity-only, state-level model applies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a DBA in Tennessee?
In Tennessee a DBA is an assumed name - a name a registered entity uses that differs from its exact legal name. An LLC or corporation files Form SS-4402 with the Tennessee Secretary of State.
How much does a Tennessee assumed name cost?
The Form SS-4402 filing fee is $20. The assumed name is valid for five years and can be renewed for another five-year term.
Where do I file a DBA in Tennessee?
With the Tennessee Secretary of State, Division of Business Services, using Form SS-4402. You can file online. It is a state filing, not a county filing.
Do sole proprietors file a DBA in Tennessee?
No. Assumed name registration applies to registered entities such as LLCs and corporations, not to sole proprietors or general partnerships, who operate under the owner's name.
Does a Tennessee assumed name give liability protection?
No. An assumed name is only a registered 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 Tennessee
- Tennessee Articles of Organization (Form SS-4270)
- Tennessee business entity search
- Tennessee registered agent requirements
- How much does a Tennessee LLC cost?
- Business license in Tennessee
- How to get an EIN
- Arizona DBA filing (sibling)
- California DBA filing (sibling)
Sources
- Tennessee Secretary of State - Business Forms & Fees (Form SS-4402 Application for Registration of Assumed Name, $20).
- Tennessee Secretary of State - What is the required filing fee? (assumed name and entity fees).
- Tennessee Secretary of State - Division of Business Services Announces Online Assumed Name Filings (online SS-4402 filing).
- Tennessee Secretary of State - Register an Assumed Name (Business Services Online) (online application).
- Tennessee Secretary of State - Businesses (Division of Business Services) (portal overview).
- Tennessee Secretary of State - Business Entity Search (confirm your entity is active before filing).
- Tennessee Code - § 48-249-106, Company name (LLC name and assumed name context).
- Tennessee Code - § 48-249-1007, Filing, service and copying fees.
- Tennessee Department of Revenue - BUS-13, Business Licenses Overview (local license thresholds).
- Tennessee Department of Revenue - Franchise & Excise Tax (an assumed name does not change the entity's tax).
- IRS - Doing Business As (a DBA does not by itself require a new EIN).
- IRS - Get an Employer Identification Number (free EIN).
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 Tennessee Secretary of State before acting.