An assumed name is a DBA (doing business as) in Arkansas. Obtaining an Arkansas DBA registration will not safeguard your personal assets. Forming a formal business structure, such as an LLC or corporation, will provide you with liability protection as well as a business name.
To begin with an Arkansas DBA, select your business entity type:
Partnership or sole proprietorship (if your business is not a formal structure)
Corporation, LLC, or LLP (if your business has a formal structure such as LLC or corporation)
In Arkansas, you can register a DBA for a sole proprietorship.
Sole proprietors must register their Arkansas DBA with the county clerk in which their business is located.
A general partnership is a company formed by two or more people that does not have a formal business structure. A sole proprietorship is an unincorporated business owned by a single person. In either case, the business name is the same as the owners’ names. In these cases, a DBA can be useful for changing the business name to a more marketable name.
A DBA is only used for branding purposes. A DBA does not protect your personal assets in the event that your company is sued. As a result, we strongly advise that a DBA be used only by a formal business structure such as an LLC or corporation to add new brands to an existing business.
If you run an informal business (sole proprietorship or partnership), we strongly advise you to form an LLC to keep your business and personal assets separate. The name of the LLC can be chosen to serve as the business’s brand name.
Step 1: Conduct an Arkansas Assumed Name Search.
Arkansas assumed names must be distinct and comply with Arkansas’ business name requirements.
To begin, go to the Arkansas Secretary of State’s website and look up your new DBA name to ensure it isn’t already in use.
Review the Arkansas naming requirements next. In Arkansas, assumed names should NOT include the following:
Words that may cause confusion between your company and a government agency (FBI, Treasury, State Department, etc.)
Words implying that the company was formed for any illegal purpose
Restricted words (for example, bank, attorney, university) may necessitate additional paperwork and the participation of a licenced individual, such as a doctor or lawyer, in your business.
We recommend that you check to see if your name is available as a web domain (URL). You may not intend to launch a business website right now, but you may want to prevent others from acquiring your URL.
Step 2: File a DBA with the County Clerk in Arkansas.
To operate under a DBA, sole proprietors must file an assumed name registration with the appropriate county clerk’s office(s).
Sole proprietors and partnerships must file in any county where they conduct or transact business.
We will walk you through the process of obtaining a Pulaski County DBA. Please contact your county clerk for directions in other counties.
The Arkansas State Association of Counties has contact information for your counties.
How to Register a DBA in Pulaski County
Before you begin the DBA filing process, check the Pulaski County assumed name database to ensure your name is unique.
After you’ve decided on a name, fill out the Assumed Name Certificate and return it to the Pulaski County Clerk. The certificate can be mailed or delivered in person.
Maintain Control of Your Pulaski County DBA
DBA Concerns
For general questions about assumed names, call (501) 340-8500.
Renewal of Your DBA
Your assumed name is not going away.
Modify Your DBA
To change your assumed name, you must file a new assumed name registration.
In Arkansas, you can register a DBA for your LLC or corporation.
The Arkansas Secretary of State receives applications for fictitious names from the following types of businesses:
Corporations, both for profit and non-profit
Professional Corporations and Associations
General Partnerships, Limited Partnerships, and Limited Liability Partnerships are all types of partnerships.
Companies with Limited Liability
Entities Filing from Outside the U.S.
Using this guide, you can file a DBA for your incorporated business on your own. Use a professional service instead:
Step 1: Conduct a business entity search in Arkansas.
Arkansas assumed names must be distinct and comply with Arkansas’ business name requirements.
To begin, go to the Arkansas Secretary of State’s website and look up your new DBA name to ensure it isn’t already in use.
Review the Arkansas naming requirements next. In Arkansas, assumed names should NOT include the following:
Words that may cause confusion between your company and a government agency (FBI, Treasury, State Department, etc.)
Words implying that the company was formed for any illegal purpose
Restricted words (for example, bank, attorney, university) may necessitate additional paperwork and the participation of a licenced individual, such as a doctor or lawyer, in your business.
Step 2: Submit Your Arkansas Application for a Fake Name
If your company is not a sole proprietorship, you must register your DBA with the Arkansas Secretary of State. You can file a hard copy or an electronic copy.
Unless your registered office is in Pulaski County, you must file a copy of the Application for Fictitious Name with the County Clerk in the county where your registered office is located.
Control Your Arkansas DBA
DBA Concerns
Contact the Arkansas Secretary of State’s Office of Business and Commercial Services at (501) 682-3409.
Renew Your Business Name with the State
Your fictitious name registration is not going to expire.
Modify Your DBA
To change your fictitious name, you must complete a new registration.
Remove Your DBA
To withdraw or cancel your fictitious name, fill out and return the Cancellation of Fictitious Name form by mail or in person.