DBA/Fictitious Name Registration Cost Calculator

Estimate your total licensing costs by state

Select Your State

Business Type

License Fee

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State Filing

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Processing

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Total Estimate

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Processing Time

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Renewal Period

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* Estimates based on typical fees. Actual costs may vary by municipality. Contact your local licensing office for exact figures.

How DBA/Fictitious Name Registration Costs Vary by State

Licensing costs differ significantly based on your state and local municipality. Three main factors affect your total cost:

High-cost states (CA, NY, MA, CT, NJ) charge 20–30% above the national average. Low-cost states (MS, AR, WV, AL) can be 20% below.

Corporations pay ~30% more than sole proprietors. LLCs are the baseline. Nonprofits often receive discounts of up to 30%.

State filing fees ($0–$150), processing/expedite fees, and annual renewals (3-5 years) add to the total.

License Fee: The base dba/fictitious name registration fee ($25–$250), adjusted by your state and entity type
State Filing Fee: Required by most states when forming a business entity ($0 for sole props, $50–$150 for LLCs/corps)
Processing Fee: Administrative costs (~10% of license fee) charged by the issuing office
Not Included: Attorney fees, filing service fees, expedite charges, insurance/bonding requirements, or renewal costs

1. File directly if your application is straightforward — you'll avoid service fees entirely.

2. Use free formation services like Incfile or Bizee ($0 + state fees) to save $100+ on entity formation.

3. Check for local waivers — some cities offer fee reductions for home-based or veteran-owned businesses.

4. Bundle permits when possible — applying for multiple licenses at once may qualify for a package discount in some jurisdictions.