Excellent
7,486 reviews
Before going into the details, here is a quick checklist for registering a DBA in Minnesota.
| Official Term | Assumed name (certificate of assumed name) [1] |
|---|---|
| Filing Agency | Minnesota Secretary of State, filed statewide [1] |
| Form | Certificate of Assumed Name [2] |
| State Fee | $30 by mail, $50 online or in person [6] |
| Publication | Required. Publish for two consecutive issues in a qualified legal newspaper in the county of the principal place of business [1] |
| Renewal Required | Yes. An annual renewal is required to stay in good standing, and the renewal is free [5] |
| Cancellation | File a Cancellation of Assumed Name signed by all current applicants or an authorized agent [1] |
A DBA stands for "Doing Business As." It is an alternative name your business uses instead of its registered legal name. In Minnesota, the official term is "assumed name," and the document you file is the Certificate of Assumed Name.
Any type of business can register an assumed name in Minnesota. This includes sole proprietors, general partnerships, LLCs, and corporations. You must file if you do business under a name that is not your true full legal name, or, for a company, a name other than its legal name.
A DBA does not create a new legal entity. It does not change your tax status, your liability protection, or your ownership structure. It is only a name your business is authorized to operate under.
| Brand Fit | Commercial Banking | Multi-Entity Branding | Privacy and Trust |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sole proprietors operate under their personal names by default. An assumed name lets you do business under a professional brand instead. | Minnesota banks generally require a registered assumed 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 assumed names without forming a new company for each. | An assumed name keeps your personal identity off public branding and signals to customers that you are an established business. |
Minnesota routes all assumed name registrations through the Minnesota Secretary of State, and you file once at the state level rather than county by county. After filing, you must also publish the certificate in a legal newspaper. [1]
The Secretary of State will accept an assumed name even if it is not distinguishable from another assumed name already on file. However, the office will not accept an assumed name that is not distinguishable from a corporation, LLC, limited liability partnership, cooperative, or limited partnership name that is in use or reserved, or from a registered mark, unless you file a written consent. [5]
Run a free name search before you file. You can search existing business names through the Minnesota Business Filings Online system, and if you find a conflict, you can submit a Consent to Use of Name form with your certificate. [1]
Assumed name rules are simple in Minnesota, but the Secretary of State enforces them on every filing.
| Your assumed name must be distinguishable | Entity designators must match your structure | Conflicts may require written consent |
|---|---|---|
| Your assumed name cannot be confusingly similar to an existing corporate, LLC, partnership, or cooperative name in use or reserved in Minnesota, or to a registered mark. [5] | A sole proprietor should not use "LLC," "Inc.," or "Corp" in an assumed name. An organizational identifier should match your actual business structure. | If your chosen name conflicts with an existing business name, the other business must sign a Consent to Use of Name form that you file with your certificate. [1] |
Run a trademark search at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) as well. Filing an assumed name in Minnesota gives you no trademark rights and does not stop a federal trademark holder from challenging your use of the name. [7]
File the Certificate of Assumed Name with the Minnesota Secretary of State. Minnesota Statutes Chapter 333 requires you to file the certificate before you commence business under the assumed name. [4]
| Situation | State Fee |
|---|---|
| File the Certificate of Assumed Name by mail | $30 [6] |
| File the Certificate of Assumed Name online or in person | $50 [6] |
| File the annual renewal | Free, no fee [5] |
Online: Minnesota Business Filings Online, the Secretary of State online filing system [1]
By mail: Minnesota Secretary of State, First National Bank Building, 332 Minnesota Street, Suite N201, Saint Paul, MN 55101 [1]
Publication: after filing, you must publish the certificate for two consecutive issues in a qualified legal newspaper in the county where your principal place of business is located. The newspaper returns an affidavit of publication, which you should keep with your records. [1]
Filing fees are not refundable, and a rejected or incomplete certificate must be corrected and refiled before it takes effect.
The Secretary of State does not issue a separate certificate. The approved form returned to you is your proof that the certificate of assumed name has been filed with the office. [1]
Keep the approved filing and your affidavit of publication. Banks, vendors, and payment processors will ask for proof of your assumed name before they let you operate or accept funds under it.
A Minnesota assumed name does not expire on a fixed date, but it stays effective only as long as you file an annual renewal in each calendar year. If you miss a year, the certificate expires, and you can reinstate it by filing the annual renewal with a $25 reinstatement fee. [5]
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 name. It does not create a legal entity. It does not protect your personal assets. If someone sues your business, your personal finances are exposed.
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, an assumed 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's legal name.
| Feature | DBA (assumed 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 | $30 to $50 state fee, plus publication, plus Swyft service fee | State filing fee plus Swyft service fee |
Most Minnesota assumed name problems come down to the same handful of errors. Here is what to watch out for before you file.
Filing the certificate is only half the job. Minnesota law also requires you to publish it for two consecutive issues in a qualified legal newspaper in the county of your principal place of business, and to keep the affidavit of publication. Skip this, and your filing is incomplete. [1]
A Minnesota assumed name stays active only if you file a free annual renewal every calendar year. Miss a year, and the certificate expires, and reinstatement costs $25. [5]
A sole proprietor cannot include "LLC," "Inc.," or "Corp" in an assumed name unless the business is actually organized that way. The designator must match your real structure.
Checking Google or a domain registrar is not an official search. Search the Minnesota Business Filings Online system, because a name that conflicts with a registered entity name can be rejected without written consent. [5]
An assumed 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. A federal trademark holder could still force you to stop using the name. [7]
[1] Minnesota Secretary of State. Assumed Name/DBA Forms and Filing Information. Accessed on June 4, 2026.
[2] Minnesota Secretary of State. Certificate of Assumed Name Registration Form. Accessed on June 4, 2026.
[3] Minnesota Secretary of State. Business Filings Online Search. Accessed on June 4, 2026.
[4] Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Minnesota Statutes 333.02, Filing of Certificate. Accessed on June 4, 2026.
[5] Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Minnesota Statutes 333.055, Term of Certificate. Accessed on June 4, 2026.
[6] Minnesota Secretary of State. Business Filing and Certification Fee Schedule. Accessed on June 4, 2026.
[7] U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Trademarks. Accessed on June 4, 2026.
[8] Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Minnesota Statutes Chapter 333, Assumed Names. Accessed on June 4, 2026.
Minnesota Secretary of State, Business Services. Business forms, fees, and online filing for assumed names.
Minnesota Department of Revenue. State tax registration and information for Minnesota businesses.
IRS. Get an Employer Identification Number (EIN).
U.S. Small Business Administration. SBA Minnesota District Office supports local small businesses.
