5 months ago · Updated 3 days ago
A Texas DBA is officially an Assumed Name Certificate. It lets an existing business use a name other than its legal name without creating a new legal entity. For a Texas LLC or other filing entity, the certificate is filed with the Texas Secretary of State and the state fee is $25. Sole proprietors, general partnerships, and certain other unincorporated businesses generally file at the county level instead.
The most important distinction is what the filing does not do. A Texas assumed name is a public notice filing. It does not create another LLC, it does not create a separate tax classification, and it does not give you exclusive rights to the name. Texas can even accept more than one assumed-name certificate for the same name.
What a Texas DBA Actually Is
“DBA” means “doing business as,” but Texas law and Secretary of State forms use the term assumed name. For an LLC, the practical trigger is using a business name other than the legal name stated in the LLC's formation record.
That distinction matters because “DBA,” “brand,” “trade name,” and “trademark” are often used as if they were interchangeable. They are not. Texas SOS specifically describes the Assumed Name Certificate as a notice filing and warns that filing it does not determine priority or authorize use that violates someone else's rights.
If you are still deciding on the entity's legal identity rather than an assumed name, start with the broader Texas LLC guide. This page assumes you are specifically trying to understand an operating name used by a Texas business.
Where Do You File a Texas DBA: State or County?
The filing office depends on the type of business. This changed materially in 2019, and many older Texas DBA articles still repeat the former dual-filing rule.
For county-level filers, avoid assuming that one fee, one form, or one online process applies statewide. Texas SOS tells these businesses to contact the applicable county clerk for filing instructions and fees.
If You Only Drop “LLC,” Is That a Texas DBA?
My legal name is “Flowers and Joy LLC,” but my website says “Flowers and Joy.” Do I need Form 503?
Texas treats a name different from the entity's exact legal name as a possible assumed name. The Secretary of State even gives an example showing that “ABC” can be filed as the assumed name of “ABC, Inc.”
What becomes fact-specific is whether a shortened logo, domain, or isolated marketing phrase means the LLC is actually conducting business under that name. Routine transactions, advertising, invoices, or business presentations under “Flowers and Joy” rather than “Flowers and Joy LLC” make Form 503 the safer reading of the state rule. When the difference is only incidental branding and the legal entity is consistently identified in business transactions, consider getting Texas legal advice for that exact use.
This is also why a Form 503 is not the same thing as changing the LLC's legal name. Changing the entity itself to “Flowers and Joy Studio LLC” is an amendment question. Keeping the existing LLC legal name while operating under another name is the assumed-name route.
Texas Assumed-Name Rules: Exact Legal Names, Duplicate DBAs and Name Conflicts
Texas applies some unusual rules here. Most importantly, an assumed-name filing is not rejected merely because someone else has already filed the same or a similar assumed name. The Texas SOS assumed-name FAQ says Chapter 71 does not authorize rejection on that basis.
Before investing heavily in a brand, research the name even though Texas may accept the filing. Our Texas business-name search guide explains the state search process.
If you want a quick starting point for checking state records, use the LLC Name Availability Checker.
A filed Texas DBA does not “lock down” the name
Texas can have multiple Assumed Name Certificates for the exact same name. Filing gives public notice of who is using the name; it does not decide trademark priority, unfair-competition rights, or whether another business already has superior rights in commerce.
How to File Form 503 for a Texas LLC
Texas currently makes Assumed Name Certificates available through SOSDirect, its online business-filing system. A filing entity can also use the paper Form 503 and submit it using the delivery methods accepted by the Secretary of State.
Choose the exact assumed name you intend to use
The assumed name cannot be identical to the legal entity name already on file. If the LLC will use more than one assumed name, Texas requires a separate certificate for each name.
Research the name before you build the brand
Check Texas business records and relevant trademark sources. The SOS will not protect you from a name conflict simply because it accepts Form 503.
Complete the Assumed Name Certificate
Provide the assumed name, legal entity information, jurisdiction, principal office, duration, and the Texas counties in which the name will be used. An authorized person signs for the entity.
Submit the filing and pay the state fee
The base filing fee is $25. Credit-card payments are subject to the state's 2.7% convenience fee. Optional expedited processing is separate from the base filing fee.
Keep the filed evidence with your business records
After acceptance, retain the file-stamped evidence and use the assumed name consistently where appropriate. Bank, license, contract, and platform requirements can differ, so check the rules of the institution or agency involved.
What Information Does Texas Form 503 Ask For?
The current state instructions are more specific than many third-party checklists. For an LLC or other filing entity, Form 503 covers the identity of the registrant, the assumed name, the term of the filing, and where in Texas the assumed name will be used.
A state-level Form 503 does not need to be notarized. County-level assumed-name filings follow county and statutory execution rules, so unincorporated filers should use the instructions provided by the applicable county clerk rather than copying the state form process.
How Much Does a Texas DBA Cost in 2026?
For an LLC or other filing entity using Form 503, the Texas Secretary of State fee remains $25. If you pay by credit card, Texas adds a 2.7% convenience fee. Optional Texas Express service can substantially increase the total when speed is genuinely necessary.
| Texas SOS filing option | Additional fee | Current service level |
|---|---|---|
| Regular Form 503 | $25 base filing fee | Standard processing queue |
| Standard Expedited | +$50 | Typically 2–3 business days |
| Next-Day | +$500 | By close of next business day when received by the cutoff |
| Same-Day | +$750 | By close of business the same day when received by the cutoff |
Texas Express was fully rolled out to all business filing types in July 2026. The expedite fee is added to the normal document filing fee; it is not a replacement for the $25 Form 503 fee.
For sole proprietors and other county-level filers, there is no single statewide county fee. Texas SOS expressly directs those filers to the appropriate county clerk for the current amount and filing method.
Changing, Renewing or Abandoning a Texas Assumed Name
A Texas DBA is not “set it and forget it.” Chapter 71 contains separate rules for expiration and for information that becomes materially misleading.
Renewal
An assumed-name certificate can run for a maximum of 10 years. Texas law says a renewal certificate should be filed within the six months preceding the expiration date. Successive renewals are allowed, with each new term capped at 10 years.
Material changes
Texas does not provide a simple amendment procedure for Form 503. If the information becomes materially misleading — for example, because the registrant's name, identity, business form, or location changes — a new certificate must be filed no later than the 60th day after the triggering event.
Stopping use of the assumed name
If the entity stops using the assumed name, it may file Form 504, Abandonment of Assumed Name Certificate. The current state filing fee for Form 504 is $10.
Can one Texas LLC use several DBAs?
Yes, Texas allows an entity to conduct business under multiple assumed names. The important catch is that each assumed name needs its own certificate. Form 503 does not bundle several different DBAs into one $25 filing.
That also means you should track the expiration date and material-change status for each certificate separately.
What Happens If You Use an Assumed Name Without Filing?
The original version of this article made the penalty sound more automatic than the statute actually says. The state does provide consequences for noncompliance, but the details matter.
Texas also provides a criminal penalty when a person conducts business under an assumed name and intentionally violates Chapter 71. That offense is a Class A misdemeanor. Separately, knowingly filing a materially false or forged document can trigger the fraudulent-filing provision.
So the correct lesson is not “every forgotten DBA is automatically a crime.” It is that Texas has both civil and criminal enforcement provisions, and intentionally ignoring a required filing creates avoidable legal risk.
A Texas DBA Does Not Replace an LLC
A DBA changes the name under which a person or entity conducts business; it does not create a separate entity. A sole proprietor who files an assumed name remains a sole proprietor. An LLC that files Form 503 remains the same LLC.
That is why statements such as “a DBA has pass-through taxation” are misleading. A DBA has no tax classification of its own. Tax treatment comes from the underlying owner or entity.
The same applies to liability. Filing an assumed name does not itself create a liability shield. If your real decision is whether to remain an unincorporated business with an assumed name or form an LLC, use our DBA vs LLC comparison. That page owns the structure-and-liability question so this Texas guide can stay focused on the state filing.
Before You Submit: Texas DBA Filing Checklist
- Identify whether you file with Texas SOS or at the county level.
- Choose the exact assumed name you will actually use.
- Research name conflicts even though Texas does not reject Form 503 solely because the same assumed name is already on file.
- For a filing entity, complete Form 503 with legal-name, jurisdiction, office, duration, county-use, and execution information.
- Pay the $25 state fee, plus any optional expedite or payment fee that applies.
- Track the certificate's expiration date and begin renewal during the six-month pre-expiration window.
- File a new certificate within 60 days if the information becomes materially misleading.
Frequently Asked Questions
Filing and Name Rules
What is a DBA called in Texas?
The official Texas term is Assumed Name Certificate. “DBA” is the common shorthand for doing business under a name other than the applicable legal name.
Does a Texas LLC file its DBA with the county?
No. Since the 2019 HB 3609 change, Texas LLCs and other specified filing entities submit the Assumed Name Certificate to the Secretary of State and are not required to duplicate that filing with the county clerk.
How much is Form 503?
The Texas Secretary of State filing fee for Form 503 is $25. Credit-card payments are subject to the state's 2.7% convenience fee, and optional expedited service adds a separate fee.
Can I file a Texas DBA online?
Texas SOS currently lists Assumed Name Certificates among the business filings available through SOSDirect. Filing entities can also use the state Form 503 and accepted delivery methods.
Can my DBA be the same as another Texas DBA?
Texas does not reject an Assumed Name Certificate merely because the same or a similar assumed name is already on file. Multiple certificates can exist for the exact same name. That does not mean every filer has the legal right to use the name in commerce.
Renewal, Changes and Legal Effect
How long does a Texas DBA last?
The certificate can be effective for a term of up to 10 years. The filer chooses the stated duration, subject to that maximum.
When should I renew a Texas assumed name?
Texas law provides for renewal within the six months preceding the certificate's expiration date. A renewed term can again run for up to 10 years.
Can I amend Form 503 if my information changes?
Texas does not provide a normal amendment procedure for an Assumed Name Certificate. If the information becomes materially misleading, a new certificate must be filed within 60 days of the event that caused the change.
Does a Texas DBA give me trademark rights?
No. The Assumed Name Certificate is a notice filing. Texas says it does not establish priority or give the filer a right to use the name in violation of trademark, unfair-competition, or other applicable law.
Does a DBA protect my personal assets?
No. An assumed name does not create a separate legal entity or liability shield. Any liability protection depends on the underlying legal structure and the facts of the business.