Short answer. The Clerk of the Superior Court in the county where the business is located. LLCs and corporations file a DBA too when they use another name. Trade names don't need to be renewed. A change to the name takes a new registration with a fee.
At a glance
- Called
- trade name (DBA)
- Where to file
- County
- Filing fee
- No state fee; the county sets it.
- Local fees vary
- Yes
- How long it lasts
- No expiry
- Newspaper notice
- Yes
Renewal, with dates
Trade names don't need to be renewed. A change to the name takes a new registration with a fee.
For a registration filed on Thursday, November 12, 2026:
- Sole proprietor or partnership: no expiry date
The newspaper notice
Once a week for two consecutive weeks in the newspaper the sheriff's office uses for legal ads. Keep the publisher's affidavit as proof.
Your own date: open the calculator set to Georgia.
Not stated on the pages we read: online filing.
Official sources
- Georgia.gov: File for a DBA (doing business as) (checked November 2026)
General information, not legal advice; we are not lawyers. Checked November 2026 against the pages above. Fees and forms change, and a county or town office can add its own steps, so confirm with the filing office before you file. We don't file DBAs or trade names for anyone.
Questions people ask
Where is a DBA filed in Georgia?
It's called a trade name (DBA). The Clerk of the Superior Court in the county where the business is located. LLCs and corporations file a DBA too when they use another name.
What does it cost to register a business name in Georgia?
No state fee; the county sets it. Local fees differ from one office to the next.
How long does a Georgia trade name last?
Trade names don't need to be renewed. A change to the name takes a new registration with a fee.
Does Georgia require a newspaper notice?
Yes. Once a week for two consecutive weeks in the newspaper the sheriff's office uses for legal ads. Keep the publisher's affidavit as proof.
All states: DBA registration by state · Florida · Illinois