Starting a business in The Bluegrass State is complicated enough. Getting your ready-to-file Certificate of Assumed 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 Kentucky Sole Proprietors with the certificate, accurately pre-filled with the precise information your County Clerk needs. Whether you are from Louisville, Lexington, Bowling Green, Owensboro, or somewhere else in Kentucky, the Certificate of Assumed Name 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 Kentucky entrepreneur seeking speed, convenience, and guaranteed accuracy:
⚡️ Lightning Fast Preparation: Complete our simple online questionnaire and receive your complete, accurate Kentucky 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 county.
🛡️ Focus on Core Business: We handle the paperwork preparation so you can immediately focus on the next steps, like setting up your professional Kentucky 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 Kentucky Sole Proprietors so you don't have to. No matter if you are doing business in Jefferson, Fayette, Warren, Daviess, or any other county in Kentucky, 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.
Kentucky requires a sole proprietor to file an Assumed Name when using a name other than their legal personal name. This must be done before doing business under that name in cities such as Bowling Green.
Sole proprietors file with the County Clerk in the county where they maintain their principal place of business. Sole proprietors also register with the Kentucky Department of Revenue via revenue.ky.gov for state tax accounts
A Kentucky assumed name registration is valid for five years. You must renew it with the County Clerk to keep the name active.
No. Registering an assumed name in Kentucky does not grant exclusive rights to the name or liability protection. It is a legal registration only. It also does not act as a trademark.
Steps:
Go to the Kentucky Secretary of State’s business search portal, which covers assumed names statewide.
Enter the full assumed name you are considering as well as partial variations to check for conflicts.
Review results for businesses using the same or similar names.
If a similar name is in use, adjust your proposed name and search again.
Print or save the search results so you have a record of your research.
Documents Required:
None
Estimated Time:
5–10 minutes
Steps:
Visit the Kentucky Secretary of State’s online business search to see if your desired assumed name is already in use.
Gather your legal name, mailing address, assumed name, and a brief description of your business activities.
Create your Certificate of Assumed Name and have it notarized.
File the certificate in-person or by mail with the County Clerk and pay the required filing fee.
Retain the confirmation or stamped filing for your records and begin using your assumed name across your business.
Documents Required:
Completed Certificate of Assumed Name
Filing fee payment
Estimated Time:
Preparation: 10–20 minutes
Filing processing: same day to a few business days, depending on submission method
What does the law say:
The relevant state law for assumed names / DBAs is: La. Rev. Stat. § 51:122
Steps:
File your assumed name with the County Clerk and get your confirmation and a stamped copy.
Obtain an EIN from the IRS if your chosen bank requires it; many banks near Covington or Louisville prefer an EIN.
Gather your assumed name confirmation, EIN letter (if applicable), personal ID, and proof of business address.
Contact or visit a local bank and ask about their small business or sole proprietor accounts for DBA users.
Provide all documentation and complete the bank’s account opening steps; most banks will approve the account within 1–2 hours, but some may take longer.
Documents Required:
Assumed name registration confirmation or certificate
EIN (if required)
Government-issued ID
Proof of business address
Estimated Time:
Preparation: 20–30 minutes
Bank processing: 1–2 hours