Short answer. The Pennsylvania Department of State, for any individual, partnership, corporation, LLC or association using a name other than its real one.
At a glance
- Called
- fictitious name
- Where to file
- State office
- Filing fee
- $70 to register; each later transaction on the registration is also $70.
- Local fees vary
- No local filing
- Newspaper notice
- Yes, if an individual is listed
Renewal, with dates
For a registration filed on Friday, November 13, 2026:
- Sole proprietor or partnership: not confirmed
The newspaper notice
Only when an individual is listed on the form: advertise in two newspapers of general circulation in the county, one of them a legal newspaper (one is enough if the county has only one). The notice says you have filed or intend to file.
Your own date: open the calculator set to Pennsylvania.
Not stated on the pages we read: how long it lasts and online filing.
Official sources
- Pennsylvania Department of State: Fictitious names (checked November 2026)
- Pennsylvania Department of State: Fees and payments (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 Pennsylvania?
It's called a fictitious name. The Pennsylvania Department of State, for any individual, partnership, corporation, LLC or association using a name other than its real one.
What does it cost to register a business name in Pennsylvania?
$70 to register; each later transaction on the registration is also $70.
Does Pennsylvania require a newspaper notice?
Yes. Only when an individual is listed on the form: advertise in two newspapers of general circulation in the county, one of them a legal newspaper (one is enough if the county has only one). The notice says you have filed or intend to file.
All states: DBA registration by state · Oregon · Rhode Island