Texas birth certificates are $22.00 each. Mail-in expedited requests cost an additional $5.00 expedite fee. Overnight/expedited shipping: $8.00 to a physical address.
Contact your state's Department of State.The Department of State registers business entities and maintains old business information for any business in its jurisdiction. Find your state's Department of State office either through an online search or by going to the National Association of Secretaries of State website.
A general business license is not required in Texas. However, it is important to determine necessary licenses, permits, certifications, registrations or authorizations for a specific business activity, at the federal, state and local level.
Use the USPTO's free trademark database and to get yours registered. Simply go to and click “Search.†Then follow the instructions you see on the screen.
The Texas Secretary of State charges a $300 filing fee, plus an additional state-mandated 2.7% convenience fee to file an LLC Certificate of Formation. It will cost $40 to file a name reservation application, if you wish to reserve your LLC name prior to filing the Certificate of Formation.
I filed an assumed name certificate, but another business is using a name that is similar/the same as mine. The secretary of state will file an assumed name certificate without determining what rights, if any, you have to use the name. Consequently, more than one person can have the same assumed name on file.
An incorporated business (i.e. LLC, corporation, limited partnership, limited liability partnership, foreign filing entity) that regularly conducts business or renders professional services in Texas under a name that is different from its legal name MUST file an assumed name certificate (aka DBA) with the Texas
DBA requirements vary by state, county, city and business structure, but in general, registering a DBA comes with paperwork and filing fees anywhere from $10 to $100. You'll either go to your county clerk's office to file your paperwork or you'll do so with your state government.
How do I check if an LLC name is taken in Texas? You can use the Texas Taxable Entity Search tool to see if your business name is available. You can also call the Texas Secretary of State at (512) 463-5555 or email them at for a preliminary name availability screening.
Sole proprietors and partnerships are required to file an Assumed Name Registration with the appropriate county clerk's office(s) in order to operate under a DBA. Sole proprietors and partnerships must file in any county where your business conducts or transacts business.
The best way to find out if your business name is taken is to do a business entity search within your state, check Federal Trademark Records, and search the web to find businesses with the same or a similar name.
A DBA is not a type of business, but a registration that serves only one purpose – it gives you the ability to do business under a new name. If you form an LLC, you will enjoy benefits beyond name registration, such as limiting your personal liability for the debts of the business.
It is recommended to register your online business as soon as possible. Keep in mind that your intellectual property's protection (including copyrights, patent, and trademarks) will be done separately from the business registration. Copyrights are fairly quick and straightforward to process.
How to Register Your Small Business in 5 Steps
- Decide on a business structure.
- Register your business name.
- Register with the IRS and get a Federal Tax ID.
- Register with your state tax or revenue office.
- Register for the appropriate business licenses and permits.
Sole proprietors and general partners often choose to operate under a DBA name. For example, business owner John Smith might file the Doing Business As name "Smith Roofing." For example, Helen's Food Service Inc. might register the DBA "Helen's Catering."
The proper way to write your Legal name for DBA is to write your “doing business as†name exactly the way you register it at the Secretary of State. For example, if John H. Doe is a sole proprietor and he wants to open a barber shop under the name “Precision Barber Shopâ€, he can register the name with his State.
