How to File a DBA in Maryland
In Maryland a DBA is a trade name registered statewide with the Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT) for $25, with no newspaper publication. Attorney review available.
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Introduction
In Maryland the DBA filing goes to the State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT) as a single statewide registration rather than a county one, and it records a trade name, the public filing that lets a person or business use a name different from its legal name; it creates no separate legal entity. Maryland files these statewide, not by county: you register the trade name with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT), the office that keeps the public agency record, and you can file online through Maryland Business Express (Md. Code, Corporations and Associations 1-406). This applies to individuals and to entities such as partnerships, LLCs, and corporations that do business under a name other than their legal name. The Department charges a recording fee of $25, and expedited processing is available for an added fee (about $75 total). Registering a trade name does not create a corporation or an LLC, does not shield the owner from liability, and does not give a trademark or an exclusive right to the name. Unlike some states, Maryland does not require you to publish the name in a newspaper, so there is no publication notice or affidavit step. A Maryland trade name registration is effective for five years from the date it is filed, and you renew it for $25 to keep the name on the public record (Md. Code Corp. and Assn. 1-406). DocDraft builds your Maryland trade name registration from your facts, with attorney review available before you file.
Key Things to Know
- 1
In Maryland a DBA is called a trade name, filed statewide with the SDAT and effective for five years. It is a public registration that lets you use a business name different from your legal name; it creates no separate legal entity.
- 2
You register the trade name statewide with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT), not with a county, and you can file online through Maryland Business Express (Md. Code, Corporations and Associations 1-406).
- 3
The recording fee is $25, and each renewal is also $25 (Md. Code Corp. and Assn. 1-406). Expedited processing is available for an added fee, which brings the total to about $75.
- 4
Maryland does not require newspaper publication of a trade name. There is no publication notice and no affidavit of publication to file after you register.
- 5
A Maryland trade name registration is effective for five years from the date it is filed. You renew it every five years for $25 to keep the name on the public record (Md. Code Corp. and Assn. 1-406).
- 6
A DBA does not give you any ownership of or exclusive right to the name, and it does not limit your liability. A sole proprietor with a trade name is still personally responsible for the business.
- 7
Both individuals and registered entities such as partnerships, LLCs, and corporations use the same statewide SDAT trade name registration when they do business under a name other than their legal name.
Key decisions before you file
Before you file a DBA (Doing Business As) in Maryland, a few decisions shape the document: which option to choose and what each one means. The DBA (Doing Business As) guide walks through them.
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Maryland Requirements for DBA (Doing Business As)
Register Statewide With SDAT
In Maryland a DBA is a trade name registered statewide with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation, not with a county, and you can file online through Maryland Business Express (Md. Code, Corporations and Associations 1-406).
Recording Fee and Expedited Option
The Department charges a recording fee of 25 dollars, and each renewal is also 25 dollars (Md. Code Corp. and Assn. 1-406). Expedited processing is available for an added fee, which brings the total to about 75 dollars.
The Trade Name
The exact trade name to register. It must not include a word such as Corporation, Incorporated, LLC, or Limited unless the person filing is that type of entity, and a filing is used whenever the name is different from the legal name.
Person Filing and Owners
The full legal name and type of the person filing, any Maryland SDAT department identification number for a registered entity, and the name and address of each additional owner. For a general partnership, each partner is identified.
Principal Place of Business
The Maryland address where business is conducted under the trade name, including the city or county. Because the filing is statewide with SDAT, this address does not change where you file, but it is stated on the registration.
No Newspaper Publication
Maryland does not require the trade name to be published in a newspaper. There is no publication notice and no affidavit of publication to file after the registration is recorded by the Department of Assessments and Taxation.
Five-Year Term, Renew to Keep
A Maryland trade name registration is effective for five years from the date it is filed. Renew it every five years for 25 dollars to keep the name on the public record (Md. Code, Corporations and Associations 1-406).
No Entity, No Trademark, No Liability Shield
A Maryland DBA is only a name registration. It creates no separate legal entity, gives no exclusive right or trademark in the name, and does not limit the personal liability of a sole proprietor or general partner.