Build your brand with a fictitious business name
Whether you’re going solo or looking to expand, your fictitious business name can help establish your brand, and set your company apart from the competition.
Start filing my fictitious name
Kickstart your fictitious business name in minutes.
Starts at $99 + state filing fees. These costs are often tax deductible.
We've helped entrepreneurs turn ideas into businesses 3.5M+ times.
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Why it is important
Legally required
In most states, filing your fictitious name is a must if you don't plan on using your legal name or official company name to do business.
Set up a business bank account
You will need a registered fictitious name if you want to open a checking or savings account for your business.
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Allows you to expand easily
If you already have an LLC or corporation, you can rebrand your company to specific market segments or different geographical areas.
How to file a fictitious business name
- Tell us your fictitious business name
- Answer some questions online
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We'll complete and file your paperwork, and print a notice in your local paper*
*if required by your state
Frequently asked questions
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Most states require you to get a fictitious name if you're using a business name that's different from your LLC or corporation name. For example, if your LLC is registered under the name “Jane Jones Enterprises LLC," but you wish to do business under the name “JJ's Computer Services," you would need to register a separate fictitious business name for this new business line.
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A few states don't require a fictitious name if you use your full name or last name in your business name. For example if your name is Jane Smith, you wouldn't need a fictitious business name to call your business "Jane Smith Bakery" in Colorado, or "Smith Bakery" in California.
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They do two very different things. A fictitious name alerts your county or state that your business intends to go by a name that's different from your personal or official company name. It keeps you compliant wherever a fictitious business name is required. Registering a federal trademark isn't a requirement. It's something you can apply for to get exclusive rights and protections over your brand name across all 50 states.
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In most states and counties, you need to renew your fictitous name every 5-10 years. Fictitious names never expire in a few states like Indiana, Iowa, and New York.
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No. You need to form an LLC, corporation, or nonprofit to get liability protection.
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Yes, what it's called varies by state but it means the same thing.
Why choose us
3.5 million+
businesses
Helping entrepreneurs turn ideas into businesses over 3.5 million times.
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Offering customers compliance and advisory legal solutions in over 1 million subscriptions.
650,000+
consultations
Providing access to our independent network of attorneys over 650,000 times.
Standard
Premium
What's included
What's included
Preliminary name search (where required)
Completion and filing of your fictitious business name application
Publication of your business name (if required in your state)
Filing your proof of publication (if required in your state)
14-day trial of Business Advisory Plan*
Plan includes:
Attorney help
- 30-minute independent attorney consultations on new legal matters
- Contract and other legal document reviews (up to 10 pages)
- Annual business evaluation (12-month plan only)
- Unlimited downloads from legal form library
- Exclusive discounts on other LegalZoom offerings
Meet our customers
Parkman Woodworks
"LegalZoom has a menu of things where we can see how much it will cost instead of paying a lawyer an hourly rate, which we couldn't afford. It was a very straightforward and inexpensive way to take care of the legal considerations our company had to deal with as we were growing." Graham Taglang, fictitious business name customer
Tessa James
"LegalZoom provided the roadmap I needed to get going, took care of steps that would have taken up time I didn't have to spare, and kept me updated on our status during the entire process." Allegra Richdale, fictitious business name customer
Rosen Skincare
"LegalZoom was quick and super easy to navigate. I knew it was definitely the most affordable option, but when I hopped on and started walking through the steps, it was so simple there was no reason for me to go anywhere else!" Jamika Martin, fictitious business name customer
Get answers
Ask an attorney
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Call an agent at (866) 738-2618 (866) 738-2618
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Ready to get your fictitious business name?