Verify that the name you want is not already in use. You can do this by searching county trade name records from the Clerk of the Superior Court. Your name should also adhere to the State of Georgia’s business name standards.

• Desired trade name
• Nature of the business
• Names and addresses of company owners
• Notarized signatures of company owners
• Required forms, such as a Trade Name Application. These forms may vary by county and can be provided by the Clerk’s Office of the Superior Court.
• Form of payment for filing fee and publishing a notice (the amount will vary by county)

You will need to file your DBA with the Clerk of the Superior Court in the county where your business is located. Procedures vary by county, but it will likely require you to fill out an application form and pay a filing fee.

You must publish a copy of your trade name registration in your local newspaper at least once a week for two consecutive weeks. It must be published in the newspaper the sheriff’s office uses for legal advertisements. You must submit payment to the publication for the notice to appear. Keep a copy of the Publisher’s Affidavit as proof your notice was published.

• Applications may take several weeks to be processed. Processing times vary by county.
• Trade names do not need to be renewed. You’ll need to fill out a new registration form with amendments and pay a fee if you want to change your trade name.