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Before going into the details, here is a quick checklist for registering a DBA in Vermont.
| Official Term | Assumed business name (formerly trade name) [1] |
|---|---|
| Filing Agency | Vermont Secretary of State, Business Services Division, filed statewide [1] |
| Form | Assumed Business Name Registration, filed through the Online Business Service Center [2] |
| State Fee | $70 registration fee [6] |
| Processing Time | Less than 1 business day online; 7 to 10 business days by mail [1] |
| Renewal Required | Yes. You must reregister every five years for a $65 fee [7] |
| Cancellation | File a certificate of cessation of business; the fee is $35 [10] |
A DBA stands for "Doing Business As." It is an alternative name your business uses instead of its registered legal name. In Vermont, the official term is "assumed business name," which was formerly called a trade name.
Any type of business can register an assumed business name in Vermont. This includes sole proprietors, general partnerships, unincorporated nonprofit associations, LLCs, and corporations. A business entity must already be registered with the Secretary of State before it can register an assumed business name. [1]
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 an additional name your business is authorized to operate under.
| Brand Fit | Commercial Banking | Multi-Brand Flexibility | Name Notice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sole proprietors operate under their personal names by default. An assumed business name lets you do business under a professional brand instead. | Vermont banks generally require a registered assumed business 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 business names without forming a new company for each. | Registration informs the public that you are using the name and gives you some degree of name protection under the distinguishable standard. |
Vermont registers assumed business names at the state level with the Secretary of State, so there is no county filing to track. The preferred method is to file online through the Online Business Service Center, and there is no extra fee for filing online. [1]
Vermont applies a "distinguishable on the record" standard. The Secretary of State will reject a requested name if it is too similar to a name already registered or reserved, such that it would not be distinguishable in the records of the Secretary of State. [1]
Search existing names for free through the Online Business Service Center business search before you file. Do not invest in websites, signs, or marketing materials until you receive a certificate confirming the availability and registration of the name. [1]
Vermont assumed business name rules are light, but a few hard limits apply.
| Name must be distinguishable | No misleading entity words | Cannot be only your legal name |
|---|---|---|
| Your name must be distinguishable in the records of the Secretary of State from any other registered or reserved name, or it will be rejected. [9] | An assumed business name may not include words such as "corporation," "incorporated," "company," "limited," "cooperative," or "LLC" that falsely imply it is a business entity. [1] | An assumed business name may not be exactly the same as an individual registrant's full legal name, since that name would not need to be registered. [1] |
Run a trademark search at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) as well. Registering an assumed business name in Vermont gives you only limited name notice and does not stop a federal trademark holder from challenging your use of the name. [5]
File your Assumed Business Name Registration with the Vermont Secretary of State. You must file not later than 10 days after you begin doing business under the name. [4]
| Filing | Fee |
|---|---|
| Assumed business name registration | $70 [6] |
| Reregistration every five years | $65 [7] |
| Certificate of cessation of business | $35 [10] |
There is no extra fee for filing online, and online filing is the fastest way to register.
Online filings normally process in less than 1 business day, while mailed filings take 7 to 10 business days. You receive a certificate confirming the registration of the name. [1]
Keep your registration certificate. Banks, vendors, and payment processors will ask for it before they let you operate or accept funds under the assumed business name.
A Vermont assumed business name is not permanent. The registration lasts five years, and you must reregister every five years for a $65 fee to keep using the name. [7]
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 business 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 (Assumed Business 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 | $70 state fee + Swyft service fee | State filing fee + Swyft service fee |
Most Vermont assumed business name problems come down to the same handful of errors. Here is what to watch out for before you file.
Vermont requires you to register within 10 days of commencing business under the name. Do not let your filing slip past the deadline. [4]
The Secretary of State rejects names that are not distinguishable from an existing registered or reserved name. Search the database before you commit to a brand. [9]
A sole proprietor cannot include "LLC," "Inc.," "Corp," or similar entity words in an assumed business name. The name may not falsely imply you are a business entity. [1]
A Vermont assumed business name expires after five years. Calendar the $65 reregistration so your filing does not lapse and the name becomes available to someone else. [7]
An assumed business 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 registration is not trademark clearance. A federal trademark holder could still force you to stop using the name. [5]
[1] Vermont Secretary of State. Assumed Name Registration. Accessed on June 4, 2026.
[2] Vermont Secretary of State. Online Business Service Center. Accessed on June 4, 2026.
[3] Vermont Secretary of State. Business Services Fees and Statutes. Accessed on June 4, 2026.
[4] Vermont General Assembly. 11 V.S.A. Section 1621, Registration of Assumed Business Names. Accessed on June 4, 2026.
[5] U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Trademarks. Accessed on June 4, 2026.
[6] Vermont General Assembly. 11 V.S.A. Section 1625, Fees. Accessed on June 4, 2026.
[7] Vermont General Assembly. 11 V.S.A. Section 1635, Reregistration. Accessed on June 4, 2026.
[8] Vermont Secretary of State. Online Business Service Center Business Search. Accessed on June 4, 2026.
[9] Vermont Secretary of State. Business Name Rules and Availability. Accessed on June 4, 2026.
[10] Vermont General Assembly. 11 V.S.A. Section 1628, Certificate of Cessation of Business. Accessed on June 4, 2026.
Vermont Secretary of State, Business Services Division. Business filings, fees, statutes, and the Online Business Service Center.
Vermont Department of Taxes. State tax registration and requirements for Vermont businesses.
IRS. Get an Employer Identification Number (EIN).
U.S. Small Business Administration. SBA Vermont District Office support for Vermont small businesses.
