Doing business under any name other than your exact legal name requires an assumed business name certificate at a county Register of Deeds. One filing covers the state, holds up to five names and costs $26.
North Carolina General StatutesNorth Carolina General StatutesNorth Carolina General StatutesNC Department of the Secretary of State fee schedule and the North Carolina General Statutes reviewed October 30, 2026. Confirm current fees with the Business Registration Division before filing.
Heads up: we are an independent company that prepares and submits North Carolina filings for owners. We are not the North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State and we do not give legal advice. Every state and county charge passes through at the exact amount billed, and anyone can file directly with the Business Registration Division for no service fee.
- Filed online with the NC Secretary of State
- We track your April 15 annual report
- Cited to NC General Statutes 57D and 55
- Talk to a filer: (386) 465-3937
The forks in the road.
County filing, statewide effect
Assumed name certificates are recorded by a Register of Deeds in one county where you do business, cover the whole state, hold up to five names and cost $26 (G.S. 66-71.4, 161-10).
North Carolina General StatutesRequired contents
Name, owner's real name, nature of business, principal address and counties used (G.S. 66-71.5).
North Carolina General StatutesWithdrawal
File in the same county, citing book, page and SOS ID (G.S. 66-71.8).
North Carolina General StatutesWhat to have ready
- Search the statewide assumed name index
- Complete the certificate
- Sign it as the statute requires
- Record with the Register of Deeds ($26)
North Carolina Assumed Business Names (DBAs) Explained
North Carolina Assumed Business Names (DBAs) Explained
Assumed business name (DBA) checklist
G.S. 66-71.4 requires the certificate before you do business under the name. This is not legal advice.
North Carolina law and SOS rules behind this.
| Topic | North Carolina rule | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| County filing, statewide effect | Assumed name certificates are recorded by a Register of Deeds in one county where you do business, cover the whole state, hold up to five names and cost $26 (G.S. 66-71.4, 161-10). | North Carolina General Statutes |
| Required contents | Name, owner's real name, nature of business, principal address and counties used (G.S. 66-71.5). | North Carolina General Statutes |
| Withdrawal | File in the same county, citing book, page and SOS ID (G.S. 66-71.8). | North Carolina General Statutes |
Related North Carolina reading.
Heads up: we are an independent company that prepares and submits North Carolina filings for owners. We are not the North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State and we do not give legal advice. Every state and county charge passes through at the exact amount billed, and anyone can file directly with the Business Registration Division for no service fee.
What North Carolina owners ask us
No. It is a name, not a company.
North Carolina General StatutesYes. You can file directly with the NC Business Registration Division for the state fee alone. Our service fee is separate and optional.
NC Department of the Secretary of State