How to File a DBA in Wyoming
In Wyoming a DBA is a trade name registered with the Secretary of State for $100, notarized, with no newspaper publication and a ten-year term. Attorney review available.
Find out where you stand in Wyoming
DocDraft provides document preparation, not legal advice.
Introduction
Wyoming charges $100 to register a DBA, which it calls a trade name, with the Secretary of State, and the application must be notarized; a trade name lets you use a business name different from your legal name and creates no separate legal entity. You file an Application for Registration of Trade Name statewide with the Wyoming Secretary of State, not with a county, and there is one central filing office for trade names (Wyo. Stat. 40-2-104). The filing fee is one hundred dollars, which is higher than many states charge. The application asks for the applicant's name and business address, the trade name, and the general nature of the business, and the applicant's signature must be acknowledged before a notarial officer, so the Wyoming trade-name application is notarized (Wyo. Stat. 40-2-104(a)(iv)). You register a name you have adopted for use in the state. Unlike some states, Wyoming requires no newspaper publication of the name. Registering a trade name does not create a corporation or an LLC, does not shield the owner from liability, and gives no trademark or exclusive right to the name. A Wyoming trade name registration is effective for ten years, and within the six months before a term expires it may be renewed for another ten-year period with a fifty dollar renewal fee, the renewal stating that the trade name is still in use (Wyo. Stat. 40-2-105). The Secretary of State writes to the registrant's last known address about the need to renew. DocDraft builds your Wyoming Application for Registration of Trade Name from your facts, with attorney review available before you file.
Key Things to Know
- 1
In Wyoming a DBA is a trade name registered with the Secretary of State for a $100 fee and effective ten years. It lets you use a business name different from your legal name and creates no separate legal entity (Wyo. Stat. 40-2-101(a)(iv)).
- 2
You file an Application for Registration of Trade Name statewide with the Wyoming Secretary of State, not with a county (Wyo. Stat. 40-2-104). Wyoming uses one central filing office for trade names.
- 3
The filing fee is one hundred dollars to register a Wyoming trade name with the Secretary of State (Wyo. Stat. 40-2-104(a)). Wyoming sets one statewide fee, which is higher than many states charge.
- 4
The applicant's signature on the Wyoming application must be acknowledged before a notarial officer, so the trade-name application is notarized (Wyo. Stat. 40-2-104(a)(iv)). You register a name you have adopted for use in the state.
- 5
Wyoming requires no newspaper publication of a trade name. There is no publish step and no proof-of-publication filing once the Secretary of State accepts the application, unlike some other states.
- 6
A Wyoming trade name registration is effective for ten years, and within the six months before it expires it may be renewed for another ten-year period for a fifty dollar fee, with the renewal stating the name is still in use (Wyo. Stat. 40-2-105).
- 7
A DBA does not limit your liability and gives no trademark, so a sole proprietor with a Wyoming trade name is still personally responsible for the business. For exclusive name rights you seek a trademark, and for liability protection you form an LLC or corporation.
Key decisions before you file
Before you file a DBA (Doing Business As) in Wyoming, a few decisions shape the document: which option to choose and what each one means. The DBA (Doing Business As) guide walks through them.
Open the DBA (Doing Business As) guideCustomize your DBA (Doing Business As) Template with DocDraft
Wyoming Requirements for DBA (Doing Business As)
File With the Secretary of State
In Wyoming a DBA is a trade name registered statewide with the Wyoming Secretary of State, not with a county (Wyo. Stat. 40-2-104). Wyoming uses one central filing office for trade names, and the application is filed in duplicate.
One Hundred Dollar Fee
The filing fee is one hundred dollars to register a Wyoming trade name with the Secretary of State (Wyo. Stat. 40-2-104(a)). Wyoming sets one statewide fee, which is higher than many states charge.
The Trade Name
The exact trade name to register. It must be distinguishable from names on the Secretary of State records, and must not include a word such as Corporation, Incorporated, LLC, or Limited unless the applicant is that type of entity.
Applicant and Owners
The full legal name and business address of the applicant, the type of applicant, and, for a corporation, the state of incorporation. Any additional owner who will use the trade name is identified on the application.
Nature of Business and Use
The general nature of the business conducted under the trade name, and confirmation that the applicant has adopted the name for use in Wyoming. Wyoming registers a name a person adopts for use to identify a business.
Notarial Acknowledgment
The applicant signature on the Wyoming application must be acknowledged before a notarial officer (Wyo. Stat. 40-2-104(a)(iv)). Plan to have the trade-name application notarized before you submit it to the Secretary of State.
No Newspaper Publication
Wyoming requires no newspaper publication of a trade name. There is no publish step and no proof-of-publication filing once the Wyoming Secretary of State accepts the application.
Ten Year Term and Renewal
A Wyoming trade name registration is effective for ten years, renewed for another ten-year period within the six months before it expires for a fifty dollar fee, with the renewal stating the name is still in use (Wyo. Stat. 40-2-105). A DBA creates no entity, gives no trademark, and does not limit liability.