DBA means "Doing Business As".  If you are an Individual Sole Proprietor and want to do business under a name which is different from your legal name then you have to Register a DBA Name with the West Virginia Secretary of State.

If you are a Corporation or LLC and want to do business under a name which is different from the name which is registered with the West Virginia Secretary of State then you have to Register a DBA Name with the West Virginia Secretary of State. We can Register a DBA Name with the West Virginia Secretary of State for you as quickly as possible.

Other names for a West Virginia DBA Name include:

• West Virginia Alternate Name
• West Virginia Assumed Business Name
• West Virginia Assumed Name
• West Virginia Business Name
• West Virginia Fictitious Name
• West Virginia Trade Name

Yes. You can Register a DBA Name with the West Virginia Secretary of State.

Yes. You can register a West Virginia DBA Name with the WV Secretary of State for a West Virginia Corporation or a West Virginia LLC.

Before a West Virginia Corporation or LLC can register a DBA Name, the WV Corporation or WV LLC must be in good standing with the West Virginia Secretary of State.

Yes. You can register a West Virginia DBA Name even if you have not formed a West Virginia Corporation or LLC. In fact that's what most skilled craftsman and professionals do when they want to use a business name other their own name.

Registering a DBA Name with the West Virginia Secretary of State and Reserving a Company Name with the West Virginia Secretary of State are NOT the same.

You Register a DBA Name with the West Virginia Secretary of State for an existing West Virginia business.  You Reserve a Company Name with the West Virginia Secretary of State for use with a West Virginia business that will be formed and legally registered with the WV Secretary of State sometime in the future.

Registering a DBA Name with the West Virginia Secretary of State is NOT the same as legally Registering a Corporation or LLC with the West Virginia Secretary of State.

When you legally Register a Corporation or LLC with the West Virginia Secretary of State there are certain tax and administrative obligations which must be met to keep the company in Good Standing.  Failing to keep up with those obligations can result in the administrative dissolution of your West Virginia company by the West Virginia Secretary of State.

The West Virginia state fees for Registering a DBA Name are less than the fees for Registering a Corporation or LLC and there are no tax or reporting obligation for a Registered West Virginia DBA Name.

Register a Corporation in WV

Register a LLC in WV

Reserve a Company Name in WV

No. The West Virginia Secretary of State will not issue a good standing certificate (Certificate of Existence) for a registered West Virginia DBA Name. West Virginia good standing certificates are issued only for companies which have registered with the West Virginia Secretary of State as a Corporation, LLC or LP.

You can renew the West Virginia DBA Name before the expiration date if you want to retain ownership of the West Virginia DBA Name.

If your Corporation or LLC was formed in a state other than the state of West Virginia and your company name is being used by another West Virginia Corporation or LLC then you are required to register a DBA Name with the West Virginia Secretary of State which is different from the company name in your home state.

If you are ready to Register a West Virginia DBA Name now, simply fill in the DBA Name Registration Order Form below and press the Place Order button. If you have any questions you can call us at 855-771-2477 or email us.