Starting a business in The Hawkeye State is complicated enough. Getting your ready-to-file Registration of Trade Name (often called a DBA or "Doing Business As") shouldn't involve hours of forms and guesswork.
At assumedname.org, we eliminate the complex paperwork by providing Iowa Sole Proprietors with the certificate, accurately pre-filled with the precise information the Iowa Secretary of State and/or your County Clerk needs. Whether you are from Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Sioux City, or somewhere else in Indiana, the Assumed Name Certificate will work in the county you are doing business in. Your accurate paperwork is ready in minutes.
If already you have an LLC or a corporation, you may have a different filing process for filing an assumed name at the state level. AssumedName.org focuses on helping Sole Proprietorships with local business name filings.
Our streamlined service is designed for the modern Iowa entrepreneur seeking speed, convenience, and guaranteed accuracy:
⚡️ Lightning Fast Preparation: Complete our simple online questionnaire and receive your complete, accurate Iowa DBA form ready-to-file in minutes.
✅ Guaranteed Accuracy for $5: For a low, one-time fee of only $5, we ensure the information on your certificate exactly reflects the details required by your local county.
🛡️ Focus on Core Business: We handle the paperwork preparation so you can immediately focus on the next steps, like setting up your professional Iowa business bank account.
❓ Still have questions? Find out what a DBA is, why most states require them, and if you need one for your business.
🖹 A custom formatted PDF: Prefilled with your information making it fast and easy for your government office to file and satisfy your jurisdictions business name requirements. You will have the opportunity to view & download your certificate plus it will be emailed to you.
🚐 Less driving around to get the right form: Save time, gas money, and parking fees going from place to place.
😕 Less confusion: We have done the research and identified the right information to put on the right form for Iowa Sole Proprietors so you don't have to. No matter if you are doing business in Polk, Linn, Scott, Woodbury, or any other county in Iowa, the information on your certificate will be accurate.
💲A low one-time charge: We charge $5 plus processing fees to complete your order. We use Stripe as our payment processor so you know it's secure and you can pay with many different types of credit cards or digital wallets like apple pay.
Iowa requires a sole proprietor to file a Trade Name (sometimes called a fictitious name) when operating under a name that does not contain their full legal name. This should be done before doing business in places like Cedar Rapids.
Trade names for sole proprietors are filed with the County Recorder’s Office in the county where the business operates. Filing is done at the county level, not with the Secretary of State.
Iowa trade name filings do not have a fixed expiration date. They remain valid until you file a change or cancellation, such as when ownership or business location changes.
No. Registering a trade name in Iowa does not provide exclusive rights or trademark protection. It is a public notice that you are using that name for your business.
Steps:
Contact or visit the County Recorder where you plan to operate, such as Woodbury County for a business in Sioux City.
Ask to use the trade name index or online search system if available.
Search for your proposed trade name as well as shorter and longer versions to catch similar names.
Review the search results and look for any name that may cause confusion with your proposed name.
Save or print the results so you can refer to them when you file.
Documents Required:
None
Estimated Time:
5–10 minutes
Steps:
Contact the County Recorder’s Office in the county where you will operate (for example, Scott County for a business near Davenport) to confirm how to search trade names and compete your search.
Gather your legal name, address, trade name, and business location details.
Create your Trade Name Certificate at assumedname.org and have it notarized.
File the certificate with the County Recorder in person or by mail and pay the filing fee.
Keep a copy of the recorded trade name registration and begin using your name.
Documents Required:
Completed trade name certificate
Filing fee payment
Estimated Time:
preparation: 10–20 minutes
Filing approval: same day to 1 business day
Steps:
File your trade name with the appropriate County Recorder and wait for your registration to be recorded.
Obtain an EIN from the IRS if your bank requires it; many banks in cities like Ames prefer using an EIN for business accounts.
Gather your recorded trade name registration, EIN letter (if applicable), government-issued ID, and proof of business address.
Contact a local bank and ask about setting up a sole proprietor business account using a trade name.
Submit the required documents and complete the application; many banks will open your account within 1–3 business days.
Documents Required:
Recorded trade name registration
EIN (optional)
Government-issued ID
Proof of business address
Estimated Time:
Preparation: 20–30 minutes
Bank approval: 1–3 hours