Starting a business in The Bayou State is complicated enough. Getting your ready-to-file Trade Name Registration (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 Louisiana Sole Proprietors with the certificate, accurately pre-filled with the precise information your Parish Clerk of Courts needs. Whether you are from New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Shreveport, Lafayette, or somewhere else in Louisiana, the Trade Name Registration Certificate will work in the parish 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 Louisiana entrepreneur seeking speed, convenience, and guaranteed accuracy:
⚡️ Lightning Fast Preparation: Complete our simple online questionnaire and receive your complete, accurate Louisiana 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 parish.
🛡️ Focus on Core Business: We handle the paperwork preparation so you can immediately focus on the next steps, like setting up your professional Louisiana 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 Louisiana Sole Proprietors so you don't have to. No matter if you are doing business in Orleans, East Baton Rouge, Caddo, Lafayette, or any other parish in Louisiana, 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.
A Louisiana sole proprietor is not legally required by law to file a trade name (also called a fictitious name), however banks and licensing entities are not likely to work with individuals doing business under their personal legal name. This holds true across the state, including in cities like Baton Rouge.
Trade Name filings should be made at the Clerk of Court in your parish, You can get additional information and specific instructions through the Clerk of Courts association.
Yes. Many Louisiana trade name forms require notarization before filing.
No. Registering a trade name in Louisiana does not provide exclusive rights or liability protection. It is mainly for public notice and compliance. It also does not function as a trademark. There might be three businesses in New Orleans with the same name, and another in Baton Rouge. If someone else is using the same name the parish Clerk of Court will not get involved.
Steps:
Visit the Louisiana Secretary of State’s website and access the business entity and trade name search.
Enter your desired trade name and similar variations to check for existing registrations.
Review the list of results and note any active trade names that are identical or confusingly similar.
If your name is available, record that result and proceed with your filing.
If not, adjust your trade name and repeat the search.
Documents Required:
None
Estimated Time:
5–10 minutes
Steps:
Once you find an available name, gather your legal name, mailing address, trade name, and a description of your business.
Create your Trade Name Certificate, and have it notarized
Visit your parish Clerk of Court or mail it in along with the required fee.
Keep the acknowledgment or receipt provided for your banker.
Documents Required:
Completed and filed Trade Name Certificate
Filing fee payment
Estimated Time:
Preparation: 20–30 minutes
What does the law say:
The relevant state law for assumed names / DBAs is: La. Rev. Stat. § 51:122
Steps:
File your trade name with your parish Clerk of Court and wait for your registration to be processed and acknowledged.
Obtain an EIN from the IRS if your bank requires it; many banks in cities like Lafayette prefer an EIN.
Gather your trade name registration confirmation, EIN letter, government-issued ID, and proof of business address.
Choose a local bank and ask about business checking options for sole proprietors using a trade name.
Provide the requested documents and complete the application; most banks will open your account within 1–2 hours.
Documents Required:
Trade name registration confirmation
EIN (if required)
Government-issued ID
Proof of business address
Estimated Time:
Preparation: 20–30 minutes
Bank approval: 1–2 hours