Short answer. Corporations, LLCs, LPs and other filing entities file with the Secretary of State (the county filing for them ended September 1, 2019). People doing business without an entity file an unincorporated assumed name certificate with the county clerk (Business and Commerce Code 71.051). County certificates are valid for ten years from the date of issue unless an earlier date is stated (Grayson County).
At a glance
- Called
- assumed name certificate
- Where to file
- Depends on the owner
- Filing fee
- $25 at the Secretary of State. County clerks set their own ($12.50 for one applicant in Grayson County).
- How long it lasts
- Individuals: 10 years; entities: 10 years
- Online filing
- Entities can file through SOSPortal.
Individuals and companies file in different places
Corporations, LLCs, LPs and other filing entities file with the Secretary of State (the county filing for them ended September 1, 2019). People doing business without an entity file an unincorporated assumed name certificate with the county clerk (Business and Commerce Code 71.051).
Renewal, with dates
County certificates are valid for ten years from the date of issue unless an earlier date is stated (Grayson County). A Secretary of State certificate is effective for up to ten years from filing and renewed by filing a new certificate within six months before it expires.
For a registration filed on Monday, November 23, 2026:
- Sole proprietor or partnership: expires Sunday, November 23, 2036
- LLC or corporation: expires Sunday, November 23, 2036; renewal window opens Friday, May 23, 2036
Your own date: open the calculator set to Texas.
Not stated on the pages we read: whether local fees differ and a newspaper notice.
Official sources
- Texas Secretary of State: Form 503 instructions (checked November 2026)
- Grayson County Clerk: Assumed names (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 Texas?
It's called a assumed name certificate. Corporations, LLCs, LPs and other filing entities file with the Secretary of State (the county filing for them ended September 1, 2019). People doing business without an entity file an unincorporated assumed name certificate with the county clerk (Business and Commerce Code 71.051).
What does it cost to register a business name in Texas?
$25 at the Secretary of State. County clerks set their own ($12.50 for one applicant in Grayson County).
How long does a Texas assumed name certificate last?
County certificates are valid for ten years from the date of issue unless an earlier date is stated (Grayson County). A Secretary of State certificate is effective for up to ten years from filing and renewed by filing a new certificate within six months before it expires.
Can the filing be done online in Texas?
Entities can file through SOSPortal.
All states: DBA registration by state · Rhode Island