How to file an Arkansas DBA
By Bazal Razzaq
Chief Editor
Updated: October 26, 2023
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If you are looking to file an Arkansas DBA as an assumed name to grow the business, you have come to the right place. We have a guide involving the steps to get a DBA in Arkansas or you can take a trusted DBA service.
Before planning to register an Arkansas DBA, you should define the business entity type.
- Sole Proprietorship or Partnership (Business doesn’t have a formal structure)
- LLC, Corporation, or LLP (Business has a formal structure)
A- Register a DBA in Arkansas for a Sole Proprietorship
Step 1. Start With an Arkansas Assumed Name Search
The business name assumed by Arkansas State should be unique and must meet all the basic naming requirements.
You can visit the Arkansas Secretary of State’s website and see if the chosen DBA name is already taken by another business or not.
Then, you must review the Arkansas naming requirements. It should not include the following-
- Phrases and words that confuse the business with a government agency (FBI, State Department, Treasury, etc.)
- Any word that implies the business is organized for unlawful reasons.
- Restricted words such as Bank, Attorney, and University will require additional paperwork, and a licensed individual, say a doctor or lawyer, to be a part of the business.
We suggest you check if the chosen name is available for the web domain (URL). You may plan to start a business in the future but can secure the URL today. You can also try a free “Doing Business as” name generator and create a logo with the help of a free logo generator.
Step 2: Filing an Arkansas DBA with the County clerk
Sole proprietors must file an assumed name registration with a respective county clerk’s office(s) in Arkansas to work under the DBA. The Sole proprietors and partnerships file for a DBA in the country where they conduct the business.
Following is a step-by-step direction to get a Pulaski County DBA. For more queries and directions, you can contact the county clerk. You can get county contact information from the Arkansas State Association of Counties.
Steps to File a Pulaski County DBA
Before you plan to file a DBA, it will be good to search the Pulaski County assumed name database to ensure your name is unique and not taken by anyone. Once the name has been checked, you can complete the Assumed Name Certificate and submit it to the Pulaski County Clerk. You can submit the certificate through mail or in person.
Cost:
$25 Filing Fee
Filing Address:
Pulaski Circuit/County Clerk
401 W Markham St, Ste 100
Little Rock, AR 72201
Manage Pulaski County DBA
DBA Queries-
Call (501) 340-8500 for all your queries and assumed names.
Renewal of DBA-
Assumed Business name doesn’t expire.
Change the Doing Business As name-
File for a new assumed name registration to change the assumed name.
B- Register a DBA in Arkansas for an LLC or Corporation
Following is the list of businesses that file Application for a Fictitious Name with the Arkansas Secretary of State:
- For-profit Corporations, Nonprofit Corporations
- General Partnerships, Limited Partnerships, Limited Liability Partnerships
- Any Foreign Filing Entities
- Professional Corporations, Professional Associations
- Limited Liability Companies
You can use our guide to file an Arkansas DBA for your business.
Step 1: Do an Arkansas Business Entity Search
The assumed name of the Arkansas business entity should be unique and must meet all the naming requirements.
You can visit the Arkansas Secretary of State’s website and ensure the Doing Business Name is not in use.
We suggest you review all the naming requirements and it shouldn’t include the following-
- Phrases and words that confuse the business with government agencies (Treasury, State Department, FBI, etc).
- Words or phrases that imply the company is organized for unlawful purposes.
- Restricted words like Attorney, University, and Bank call for additional paperwork and a licensed individual, say a doctor or lawyer to be part of your business.
- We suggest you check if your name is available as a web domain (URL). You may not plan to start a business today but can secure the URL from others.
If you haven’t thought of a DBA name yet, you can use a free business name generator and create a logo with a free logo generator.
Step 2: Filing Your Arkansas Application for Fictitious Name
You are supposed to set up your DBA in Arkansas with the Secretary of State if the business is not a sole proprietorship. You can either file a hard copy or apply online.
Unless the registered office of the business is in Pulaski County, you should submit the Application for Fictitious Name to the County Clerk where the registered office is situated. You have the following two options-
Option 1: Apply Online With Arkansas’s Corporations Online Filing System.
Option 2: File the Application for Fictitious Name through Mail or In-Person.
Cost:
Corporations and LLCs: $22.50 online, $25 by mail or in-person
All Partnerships: $13.50 online, $15 by mail or in-person
Filing Address:
Arkansas State Secretary of State
Business Services Division
1401 W. Capitol Avenue, Suite 250
Little Rock, AR 72201
Manage Arkansas DBA
DBA Queries-
Contact the Arkansas Secretary of State’s Business and Commercial Services office: at (501) 682-3409.
DBA Renewal with the State-
No need to review the fictitious name.
Change the Doing Business Name-
File for a new DBA to change the fictitious name.
Withdraw the Arkansas DBA-
You should complete and submit the Cancellation of Fictitious Name form to withdraw or cancel the fictitious name. It can be mailed or sent in person.
After Filing Your Arkansas DBA
You should consider the following steps before you start the business journey.
Create a Business Website – Every Business needs a website no matter how small or big. You can use drag-and-drop builders like GoDaddy and Wix to make the job easy.
Bring your Business Expenses in order – You must separate your business and personal expenses. It is possible if you plan to open a business bank account and get a business credit card.
Safeguard your business- Just as an LLC protects your personal assets in case of a lawsuit, a Business also needs protection. You can get business insurance to cover the cost if anything bad happens. Most of the businesses begin with general liability insurance.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The cost of registering your DBA name depends on what type of business you have. We suggest you visit the Secretary of State or any other county clerk’s website to get the current filing fees.
The online registration takes no time while mail-in registration takes time as it includes the shipping time of the form. The entire process usually takes one to four weeks.
We encourage you to research the name to ensure no other business entity has the same name.
If you have registered each DBA name with their offices, you can have as many as you want.