Starting a business in The Tar Heel State is complicated enough. Getting your ready-to-file Assumed Business Name Certificate (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 North Carolina Sole Proprietors with the certificate, accurately pre-filled with the precise information the Register of Deeds Office needs. Whether you are from Charlotte, Raleigh, Greensboro, Durham, or somewhere else in North Carolina, 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 North Carolina entrepreneur seeking speed, convenience, and guaranteed accuracy:
⚡️ Lightning Fast Preparation: Complete our simple online questionnaire and receive your complete, accurate North Carolina 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 North Carolina county.
🛡️ Focus on Core Business: We handle the paperwork preparation so you can immediately focus on the next steps, like setting up your professional North Carolina 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 North Carolina Sole Proprietors so you don't have to. No matter if you are doing business in Mecklenburg, Wake, Guilford, Durham, or any other county in North Carolina, 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.
When using a name other than your own legal name.
Filings go to the **Register of Deeds** in the business’s county, such as Mecklenburg County.
Registrations do not expire but must be updated if business information changes.
No. It does not grant exclusive rights or function as a trademark.
Steps:
Visit the official North Carolina Assumed Business Name database website.
Enter your proposed business name and similar variations.
Review search results for active assumed names or conflicts.
Adjust your name if necessary and search again.
Save or print search results for your records.
Documents Required:
None
Estimated Time:
5–10 minutes
Steps:
Once you find an available name,. gather your legal name, address, assumed business name, and the county where your business is located.
Give or send the notarized Assumed Business Name Certificate you created to your county Register of Deeds, such as in Durham County for a Durham business, and pay the filing fee.
Keep your recorded certificate and start using the assumed name in your business.
Documents Required:
Assumed Business Name Certificate
Government-issued ID (for in-person filing)
Filing fee payment
Estimated Time:
Preparation: 15–20 minutes
Filing approval: same day to a few business days
What does the law say:
The relevant state law for assumed names / DBAs is: N.C. Gen. Stat. § 66-65 et seq.
Steps:
File your Assumed Business Name Certificate with the appropriate Register of Deeds and obtain a recorded copy.
Apply for an EIN from the IRS if your bank requires it; many banks in cities like Raleigh prefer an EIN.
Gather your recorded assumed name certificate, EIN letter, government-issued ID, and proof of business address.
Contact a local bank and ask about business accounts for sole proprietors using an assumed name.
Submit your documents and complete the application; account approval typically takes 1–3 hours
Documents Required:
Recorded Assumed Business Name Certificate
EIN (if required)
Government-issued ID
Proof of business address
Estimated Time:
Preparation: 20–30 minutes
Bank approval: 1–3 hours