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Before going into the details, here is a quick checklist for registering a DBA in Connecticut.
| Official Term | Trade name (also called a fictitious name or "doing business as") [1] |
|---|---|
| Filing Agency | The town clerk in the Connecticut town where your business is primarily transacted. Connecticut has no statewide DBA filing; every trade name is filed locally with the town clerk [1] |
| Form | Trade Name Application (Natural Persons) or Trade Name Application (Business Organizations), effective January 1, 2025 [2] |
| State Fee | $20 filing fee payable to the town clerk [1] |
| Processing Time | Recorded by the town clerk at the time of filing; processing speed varies by town [1] |
| Renewal Required | Yes. A trade name expires 5 years after it is filed unless renewed. Trade names filed before January 1, 2025 expire December 31, 2029 [4] |
| Cancellation | File a Trade Name Cancellation form with the town clerk to end a trade name before it expires [7] |
A DBA stands for "Doing Business As." It is an alternative name your business uses instead of its registered legal name. In Connecticut the official term is "trade name," a fictitious name under which business is transacted, sometimes shortened to "d/b/a." [1]
A trade name can be registered by one individual, by a group of individuals, or by a business organization that is already registered with the Connecticut Secretary of the State, such as an LLC or a corporation. [1]
A DBA does not create a new legal entity, and it provides no liability protection on its own. It does not change your tax status, your liability protection, or your ownership structure, and it does not stop someone else from using the same name. It only gives public notice that you are conducting business under an assumed name. [1]
| Brand Fit | Commercial Banking | Multi-Entity Branding | Privacy & Trust |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sole proprietors operate under their personal names by default. A trade name lets you do business under a professional brand instead. | Connecticut banks generally require a registered trade name before opening a business account in a name other than your legal name. | One entity can run several brands or product lines under separate trade names without forming a new company for each. | A trade name keeps your personal identity off public branding and signals to customers that you are an established business. |
Connecticut routes every trade name registration through the local town clerk, not the Secretary of the State. You file in the town where your business is primarily transacted, so the first step is to confirm which town clerk receives your application. [1]
Your trade name should be distinct so that customers and the public are not confused about who is behind the business. Because trade names are filed town by town, you should check the records of the town clerk where you will file, and you can also use the statewide Connecticut Trade Name Search that the Secretary of the State is building. [3]
You can run a free statewide search through the Connecticut Trade Name Search. If you are filing as a business organization, verify your exact legal name, business ID, and active status using the Business Search tool first, because the application must match what is on file. [8]
Connecticut trade name rules are simple, but a few hard limits apply and town clerks enforce them.
| Your trade name must be distinguishable | Entity designators must match your structure | Business organizations must match their record |
|---|---|---|
| Choose a name that is not confusingly similar to one already in use in your town so customers can tell businesses apart. A trade name does not protect the name from use by someone else. [1] | A sole proprietor should not use "Limited Liability Company," "Inc.," or "Corp" in a trade name. An organizational identifier is not required and should match your actual business structure. | A registered business filing a trade name must use the exact legal name, business ID, and address on file with the Secretary of the State, and the business must be active. [6] |
Run a federal trademark search at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) as well. Filing a trade name in Connecticut gives you no trademark rights and does not stop a federal trademark holder from challenging your use of the name. [5]
Connecticut trade names are filed with the town clerk in the town where the business is primarily transacted, not with the state. There is no statewide DBA filing. Individuals file the Trade Name Application (Natural Persons), while a registered LLC, corporations, or other entity files the Trade Name Application (Business Organizations). Both forms took effect January 1, 2025, under Public Act 24-111. [2]
| Situation | Fee |
|---|---|
| File a new trade name with the town clerk | $20 payable to the town clerk [1] |
| Existing business adding a trade name | $20 per trade name, filed in the town where it is transacted [1] |
| Cancel a trade name before it expires | File a Trade Name Cancellation form with the town clerk; the fee is set by the town [7] |
In person or by mail: deliver the signed, notarized application and the $20 fee to the town clerk in the town where your business is primarily transacted [4]
Forms: download the current trade name application forms from business.ct.gov before you visit the clerk [2]
Name search: use the statewide Connecticut Trade Name Search and your local town clerk index to check the name first [3]
The application must be hand-signed and notarized, so leave the signature blank until you are in front of a notary. An incomplete or unsigned application will be rejected and must be re-filed.
The town clerk records your trade name when you file. Keep a stamped or certified copy of the recorded certificate as your proof of filing. [1]
Banks, vendors, and payment processors will ask for the recorded trade name certificate before they let you open an account or accept funds under the trade name, so store it with your other business records.
A Connecticut trade name is not permanent. Under Public Act 24-111, a trade name expires 5 years after it is filed unless you renew it, and trade names filed before January 1, 2025 expire December 31, 2029. Calendar the renewal so your filing does not lapse. [4]
A DBA and an LLC are not the same thing. This is one of the most common points of confusion for new business owners, and getting it wrong can be costly.
A DBA is only a trade name. It does not create a legal entity, and Connecticut states plainly that a trade name provides no liability protection itself. If someone sues your business, your personal finances are exposed. [1]
Forming an LLC means you are creating a separate legal entity. That separation generally protects your personal finances, home, and savings from business debts and lawsuits.
If you are a sole proprietor who wants a business name without incorporating, a trade name is a fast, affordable option. If you want liability protection, you need an LLC or a corporation.
Many businesses do both: they form an LLC and then apply for a DBA to run a brand under a name different from the LLC legal name.
| Feature | DBA (Trade Name) | LLC |
|---|---|---|
| Creates a legal entity | No | Yes |
| Personal asset protection | No | Yes |
| Changes the tax treatment | No | Can elect a different tax status |
| Required to operate under a different name | Yes, if the name differs from your legal name | No, the LLC name is its legal name |
| Cost to register | $20 town clerk fee + Swyft service fee | State filing fee + Swyft service fee |
Most Connecticut trade name problems come down to the same handful of errors. Here is what to watch out for before you file.
Connecticut has no statewide DBA filing. Every trade name is filed with the town clerk in the town where the business is primarily transacted. Mailing your application to the Secretary of the State or business.ct.gov will not register your trade name. [1]
Connecticut trade name applications must be hand-signed and notarized by the town clerk or another notary. An unsigned or unnotarized form will be rejected, so do not sign it until you are in front of a notary. [1]
A sole proprietor cannot include "LLC," "Inc.," or "Corp" in a trade name unless the business is actually organized that way. The designator must match your real structure.
Connecticut trade names now expire 5 years after filing, and names filed before January 1, 2025, expire December 31, 2029. Calendar the renewal so your trade name does not lapse. [4]
A trade name is only a name. It does not create a legal entity and does not shield your personal finances. If you want protection, form an LLC.
State approval is not trademark clearance. Filing a trade name gives you no trademark rights, and a federal trademark holder could still force you to stop using the name. [5]
[1] Connecticut Secretary of the State, business.ct.gov. Trade Names Knowledge Base Article. Accessed on June 4, 2026.
[2] Connecticut Secretary of the State. Trade Name Application, Natural Persons. Accessed on June 4, 2026.
[3] Connecticut Secretary of the State. Connecticut Trade Name Search. Accessed on June 4, 2026.
[4] Connecticut Secretary of the State. Trade Names, Town Clerks, and Public Act 24-111 (C.G.S. sections 35-1a to 35-1e). Accessed on June 4, 2026.
[5] U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Trademarks. Accessed on June 4, 2026.
[6] Connecticut Secretary of the State. Trade Name Application, Business Organizations. Accessed on June 4, 2026.
[7] Connecticut Secretary of the State. Trade Name Cancellation, All Filer Types. Accessed on June 4, 2026.
[8] Connecticut Secretary of the State. Online Business Search. Accessed on June 4, 2026.
