How to Register a DBA in Delaware

Delaware's DBA Process Changed in 2026

For years, Delaware split its trade name registration by entity type: sole proprietors and partnerships filed with the Superior Court Prothonotary in the relevant county, while other filings worked through different channels. That changed on February 2, 2026, when the Delaware Division of Revenue became the single statewide registrar for trade names, through the state's Delaware One Stop portal. Every entity, an LLC, a corporation, a sole proprietor, or a partnership, now files the same way, in the same system, rather than being routed to a county office based on entity type. Trade names registered with a county Prothonotary before the change remain valid in the courts' historical records, but any new registration or update now goes exclusively through the Division of Revenue's online platform.

How to Register: Step by Step

To register a Delaware trade name today, create or sign into an account on Delaware One Stop at onestop.delaware.gov, search the statewide database to confirm your chosen name isn't already registered, and submit the trade name application along with the $25 fee. If your LLC or corporation isn't otherwise conducting business in Delaware beyond holding the trade name, you'll also need a Delaware business license; a "Trade Name Only Business License" is available for $25, which requires a Certificate of Good Standing from the Division of Corporations, itself a $50 fee.

The Fee and What It Covers

Delaware's trade name fee stayed at $25 through the 2026 reform, according to the Division of Revenue, with the change described as "the fee remains $25, but the DBA is now registered statewide, eliminating the need to pay multiple fees per county." That's a meaningful simplification from the old system, where a business operating in several Delaware counties could have faced separate filings and fees in each one.

If You Already Have an Old Prothonotary Registration

If your business registered a trade name with a county Prothonotary before February 2, 2026, that older registration remains part of the courts' historical record, but it isn't part of the new statewide searchable database maintained by the Division of Revenue. If you need to make any update, such as a name or address change, you'll do it through the new Division of Revenue system rather than returning to the Prothonotary's office.

The Business License Requirement That Comes With It

A Delaware trade name registration is closely tied to the state's general business license requirement. Any entity registering a trade name needs an associated Delaware business license, which for an LLC or corporation not otherwise operating in Delaware is available as a Trade Name Only Business License, at the same $25 cost, alongside a Certificate of Good Standing from the Division of Corporations.

LLCs Formed Outside Delaware

An LLC formed in another state that wants to register a Delaware trade name follows this same Division of Revenue process. See our Delaware LLC guide for Delaware's own LLC formation requirements if you're considering forming the entity itself in Delaware rather than registering a trade name for an out-of-state LLC.

No Renewal, But Keep Your Business License Current

Because a Delaware trade name doesn't expire, it's easy to forget it's on file at all. Your associated Delaware business license, however, does typically need periodic renewal, so track that deadline even though the trade name itself needs no attention after approval.

Search the Statewide Database Before You File

Delaware's new centralized system means a single search now covers the whole state, rather than having to check each county's historical Prothonotary records separately. Use the Division of Revenue's searchable database to confirm availability before submitting your application.

If You're Still Forming Your Delaware LLC

If you haven't yet formed the LLC that will hold the trade name, handle the LLC formation and the trade name registration as two separate filings, with the LLC's Certificate of Formation going to the Division of Corporations and the trade name going to the Division of Revenue through Delaware One Stop.

Not Legal or Tax Advice

Delaware's trade name and business license requirements can interact differently depending on where else your business operates. Talk to a tax professional or business attorney about how Delaware's requirements apply alongside any other state where you do business.