File a DBA in Wyoming

A Wyoming trade name registration tells the public who is operating under a given name. It does not stop a competitor from using the same name. If protecting your name against competitors is a priority, federal trademark registration is the right tool.

Do you need to register a trade name in Wyoming?

No. You can legally operate under a name other than your legal name without filing anything with the state. There is no penalty for skipping it and no government deadline will force your hand.

That said, most business owners choose to register for practical reasons.

• Banks almost always ask for it. When you open a business bank account under your trade name, your bank will typically want to see a trade name registration certificate as proof that the name is officially tied to your business.
• It creates a public record. Registration puts your trade name on file with the Wyoming Secretary of State, so anyone searching the state database can confirm you are the registered owner. That matters when you sign contracts, issue invoices, or enter agreements under your trade name.
• It supports professional credibility. Clients, vendors, and partners expect a business to operate under a consistent, verifiable name. A registered trade name signals that you have taken the formal step to establish your brand.

Who can file a Wyoming trade name?

Any business entity, regardless of structure or size, can register a trade name in Wyoming. What you fill out and who signs depends on how your business is organized.

Sole proprietors

You are the applicant and sign the form personally. A sole proprietor provides the following on the application.

• Your legal name (first and last, as it appears on government-issued ID)
• The trade name you want to register
• Your principal place of business address (a P.O. box alone is typically not sufficient)
• The nature of your business (a brief description of what your business does)
• The date the trade name was first used in Wyoming
• Your personal signature, notarized before submission

LLCs and corporations

An LLC or corporation files under its legal entity name—the name already on file with the Wyoming Secretary of State. The trade name does not replace that legal name; it gives the entity an additional operating name.

An LLC or corporation provides the following on the application.

• The entity's legal name exactly as registered with the state
• The entity type (e.g., limited liability company, corporation)
• The trade name being registered
• The principal place of business address
• A description of the nature of the business
• The date the trade name was first used in Wyoming
• The signature of an authorized person—typically a member or manager for an LLC, or an officer for a corporation—along with that person's title

The entity must be in good standing with the Wyoming Secretary of State before applying. If you are unsure whether your role qualifies as "authorized," check your operating agreement or corporate bylaws before signing. If you are still forming your LLC, you may want to form a Wyoming LLC before proceeding.

Partnerships and nonprofits

Partnerships and nonprofits follow the same basic application structure; the key difference is signing authority.

• General partnerships: any general partner typically has authority to sign. 
• Limited partnerships: the general partner signs; limited partners generally cannot bind the partnership. 
• Nonprofit corporations: an authorized officer—usually the executive director, president, or board chair as defined in the bylaws—signs.

For all entity types, the application fields are the same: legal name, entity type, trade name, business address, nature of business, date of first use, and a notarized signature from whoever holds authority to act.

How to file a DBA in Wyoming: Step-by-step

The process for officially filing a trade name is a sequential journey through the state's requirements. To ensure a smooth registration and avoid rejection, follow these steps carefully, beginning with preliminary checks and concluding with the successful use of your new brand.

Step 1: Check trade name availability

Before filling out the application, confirm your desired trade name is available. The Wyoming Secretary of State maintains a searchable database at sos.wyo.gov. Search for available business names and check for both exact matches and names close to yours.

Wyoming does not allow you to register a trade name that is the same as, or deceptively similar to, a trademark, service mark, or business entity name already registered in the state. If another business is already operating under something that looks or sounds like your chosen name, the state can reject your filing and you lose your $100 filing fee. Search broadly: check the exact name, common misspellings, and phonetic variations.

Also confirm the name does not include restricted words. A trade name cannot contain the following.

• Business entity suffixes such as LLC, Corporation, or Inc., unless it reflects your actual business structure
• Words related to academics, like college, education, or university, unless you have approval from the Wyoming Department of Education
• Words related to finance, such as bank, banker, or trust, unless you have prior approval from the Wyoming Division of Banking

Wyoming requires that you have already started using the trade name before you can register it. You cannot reserve a name for future use through the standard registration process. If your trade name is available but you are not yet using it, you can reserve it for 120 days by filing an Application to Reserve a Trade Name with the Wyoming Secretary of State for $30.

Step 2: Download and complete the Application for Registration of Trade Name

Download the current Application for Registration of Trade Name directly from sos.wyo.gov. Do not use a copy from a third-party site—form revisions happen periodically and an outdated form may be rejected.

The form asks for six categories of information.

1. The trade name being registered. Write the exact name, spelled and punctuated precisely as you intend to use it.
2. Applicant's legal name and entity type. For a sole proprietor, this is your personal legal name. For an LLC or corporation, this is the entity name exactly as it appears in your state registration.
3. Principal place of business address. Provide your physical business address. Whatever address you provide becomes part of the public record.
4. Nature of the business and date of first use. Provide a brief description of what your business does, such as "retail sale of handmade furniture" or "residential landscaping services." The form also requires the specific date the trade name was first used in Wyoming. Do not leave it blank or estimate.
5. Email address. Provide one you actively monitor. The Secretary of State will use it to send notices and your certificate of evidence once the application is processed.
6. Signature of authorized person and notarization block. You must sign in the presence of a licensed notary public, who will complete the notarization block, affix their seal, and confirm the date of signing. Do not sign before you are in front of a notary—a missing or incomplete notarization block will get your application rejected. You can find a notary at most banks, shipping stores, and public libraries.

Step 3: Submit the form and pay the filing fee

Wyoming does not offer online filing. Mail the completed, notarized application with payment to: