Starting a business in The Old Line 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 Maryland Sole Proprietors with the certificate, accurately pre-filled with the precise information the MD Dept. of Assessments and Taxation and/or the County Clerk needs. Whether you are from Baltimore, Columbia, Germantown, Waldorf, or somewhere else in Maryland, the Assumed Name Certificate will work in the city or town 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 Maryland entrepreneur seeking speed, convenience, and guaranteed accuracy:
⚡️ Lightning Fast Preparation: Complete our simple online questionnaire and receive your complete, accurate Maryland 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 Maryland 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 Maryland Sole Proprietors so you don't have to. No matter if you are doing business in Independent City, Howard, Montgomery, Charles, or any other county in Maryland, 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.
Maryland requires a sole proprietor to register a trade name when doing business under a name other than their legal personal name. This should be done before using the name in commerce in areas like Baltimore.
Trade names in Maryland are filed with the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT), not at the county level.
A Maryland trade name registration is valid for five years and must be renewed with SDAT to remain active.
No. Registering a trade name in Maryland does not grant exclusive rights or liability protection. It records the name you are using and keeps you in compliance with state law.
Steps:
Go to the Maryland SDAT business database search page.
Enter your desired trade name and related variants.
Review the search results for active and inactive trade names that may conflict with your proposed name.
If the name is available, proceed with your trade name registration; otherwise, consider modifying your name.
Save or print search results for your records.
Documents Required:
None
Estimated Time:
5–10 minutes
Steps:
Once you have created and notarized your Trade Name Certificate, gather your owner information, including your legal name, address, and a description of your business activities.
RECONSIDER
Pay the trade name filing fee online or by mail, according to SDAT instructions.
Keep your SDAT confirmation as proof of registration and start using the trade name in your business operations in places like Columbia.
Documents Required:
Trade name application
Filing fee payment
Estimated Time:
Preparation: 15–20 minutes
Online processing: a few business days
What does the law say:
The relevant state law for assumed names / DBAs is: Md. Code Bus. Reg. § 1-101 et seq.
Steps:
Register your trade name with the Maryland SDAT and obtain your trade name registration confirmation.
Obtain an EIN from the IRS if your bank requires it; many banks in and around Germantown prefer an EIN for business accounts.
Gather your trade name registration proof, EIN letter (if any), government-issued ID, and proof of business address.
Contact a local bank and ask about business checking accounts for sole proprietors using a trade name.
Submit your paperwork and complete the application. The account is typically opened within 1–3 business days.
Documents Required:
Trade name registration confirmation
EIN (if required)
Government-issued ID
Proof of business address
Estimated Time:
Preparation: 20–30 minutes
Bank approval: 1–3 business days