File a DBA in Arkansas

Arkansas DBA at a glance

• Arkansas uses the term "fictitious name" instead of DBA—both refer to a trade name your business uses that differs from its legal name.
• Filing requires two steps: submitting Form DN-18 to the Arkansas Secretary of State, then recording the approved application with your local county clerk.
• The state filing fee is $25; county clerk recording fees are typically $25–$35.
• A DBA does not create a new legal entity, does not provide liability protection, and does not give you exclusive rights to the name. It only registers the name for public notice.
• After approval, you can use your DBA on bank accounts, invoices, contracts, and marketing materials, but you may still need separate business licenses or permits.

What is a DBA in Arkansas?

A DBA in Arkansas is a fictitious name—a trade name your business uses that differs from its legal registered name. The registration puts customers and creditors on notice that a particular business operates under a specific trade name.

For example: if Jane Smith forms "Jane Smith LLC" but wants to sell candles under the brand "Ozark Candle Co.," she must register "Ozark Candle Co." as a fictitious name before using it in Arkansas.

A fictitious name registration does not:

• Create a new legal entity. Your business structure stays exactly as it is. The DBA is just a name, not a new company.
• Provide liability protection. As a sole proprietor, your personal assets remain exposed even after you register a DBA. Only forming a separate legal entity creates that separation.
• Give you exclusive rights to the name. Registering a fictitious name does not prevent another business from using the same or similar name. It is a public notice filing, not a trademark.

Who needs to file a DBA in Arkansas?

Arkansas law requires a fictitious name registration any time a business operates under a name that differs from its official legal name.

You need to file a DBA in Arkansas if you are:

• A sole proprietor using any name other than your own full legal name. If you're operating as "Ozark Handyman Services" instead of your personal name, you must register before using that name publicly.
• An LLC, corporation, or partnership using a name other than the one registered with the Arkansas Secretary of State. Any trade name beyond your entity's legal name requires a separate fictitious name registration.
• A general partnership without a formal registered name. If the partnership operates under a name that doesn't include the surnames of all partners, a DBA is required.
• A foreign business operating in Arkansas under a trade name. Out-of-state entities follow the same filing process as domestic entities.

Operating under an unregistered fictitious name can expose you to fines and may prevent you from enforcing contracts entered under that name.

How to file a DBA in Arkansas: Step by step

The process for officially registering your fictitious name in Arkansas is a straightforward, five-step sequence that moves from initial name clearance to final recording at the county level. By following these steps, you ensure your business name is compliant with the Arkansas Secretary of State and legally effective for public notice.

Step 1: Check name availability

Search the Arkansas Secretary of State's business name database to confirm your intended fictitious name isn't already taken. You're looking for exact matches and names that are deceptively similar—close enough to an existing registration to confuse customers or cause rejection.

• Spelling variations of a registered name can still count as deceptively similar.
• Clearing the SOS database does not guarantee the name is available at the federal trademark level. If you want exclusive rights nationwide, a trademark search is a separate step.

Use LegalZoom's Arkansas business name search tool to check availability before completing the form. The $25 state filing fee is non-refundable, so confirming your name clears the database before you submit protects you from paying twice.

Step 2: Review Arkansas naming rules

Arkansas has several naming rules that all businesses need to follow when registering with the Secretary of State.  

• The name must be distinguishable from existing registrations. The SOS will reject a filing if the proposed name isn't distinguishable from any entity already registered in Arkansas. Adding a city name or minor spelling variation to an already-registered name typically isn't enough to create distinction.
• The name cannot imply a different business structure. A sole proprietor cannot include terms like "Inc.," "Corp.," "LLC," or "L.L.C." in the DBA.
• Certain terms require additional regulatory approval. Words like "bank," "trust," "engineer," "insurance," and "university" require a separate clearance letter from the relevant Arkansas agency before the SOS will accept your filing.
• Approval does not equal exclusivity. Clearing the SOS database means your application will likely be accepted, not that no one else is using a similar name informally, and not that federal trademark rights are affected.

Step 3: Complete Form DN-18

The official form is the "Application for Fictitious Name" (Form DN-18), published by the Arkansas Secretary of State's Business and Commercial Services Division. Download it from the official SOS forms page or access the Form DN-18 PDF directly.

The form asks for six pieces of information:

1. The fictitious name you want to register, exactly as you intend to use it publicly.
2. Your legal name or entity name. For a sole proprietor, this is your full personal name; for an LLC or corporation, it's the legal name on file with the SOS.
3. Principal place of business address.
4. Entity type. Sole proprietor, LLC, corporation, or partnership.
5. Nature of the business. A brief description of what the business does.
6. Authorized signature. The person signing must have authority to bind the business.

The most common filing mistake is entering the fictitious name in the legal name field, or vice versa. Double-check both fields before submitting.

Step 4: Submit the application to the Arkansas Secretary of State

File Form DN-18 online through the Arkansas Secretary of State's filing portal or mail a paper copy to the Business and Commercial Services Division. The state filing fee is $25 either way, though online submission processes faster.

Once approved, the SOS returns a stamped, certified copy. Keep it—you'll need it for the county recording step, and most banks require it when you open a business account under the fictitious name.

You can also use LegalZoom’s DBA filing service to take the stress and guesswork out of the process. 

Step 5: Record the approved application with your county clerk

After receiving your certified copy, you must take it—or mail it—to the county clerk in the county where your business operates. This step is required. The county recording is what makes the fictitious name legally effective for public notice purposes in Arkansas.

County recording fees typically fall between $25 and $35. Contact your county clerk's office to confirm the current fee before you go. Once recorded, your DBA registration is complete.

Arkansas DBA filing by entity type

All four entity types use Form DN-18 and follow the same state-then-county sequence, but what you enter on the form and who signs it depends on your business structure.