Connecticut Trade Name Certificate: How to File a DBA With Your Town Clerk
Connecticut Trade Name Certificate: How to File a DBA With Your Town Clerk
If you plan to do business under a name other than your own legal name, or under a name that differs from your registered business name, Connecticut requires a Trade Name Certificate. People usually search for this as a Connecticut DBA, a Connecticut DBA registration, or a fictitious name filing. The process is the same no matter what you call it: you file with the town clerk, not the state. Connecticut has no DBA registry for sole proprietors, so there is no Secretary of the State form to submit.
This guide covers who needs a certificate, what it costs, how long it lasts, how to file, and the mistakes that cause trouble later.
Informational notice: This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice. Trade name rules interact with your business structure, liability exposure, and tax reporting. Before you rely on any of this for a real decision, speak with a qualified Connecticut attorney or certified public accountant (CPA).
What a Trade Name Certificate Does and Does Not Do
A Trade Name Certificate puts a public record on file that connects a business name to the person or entity behind it. Anyone searching the town records can see who is operating under that name. That is its entire purpose.
It does not do several things people often assume:
- It is not a license. Connecticut has no general state business license. Licensing depends on your trade and is handled by agencies such as the Department of Consumer Protection, the Department of Public Health, the Connecticut Insurance Department, and the Department of Banking, among others. Local zoning and health approvals may also apply.
- It gives no name protection. Filing does not stop another business from using the same or a similar name. It is a public notice, not a trademark. For brand protection, speak with an attorney about trademark options.
- It gives no liability protection. Operating under a trade name does not separate your personal assets from business debts. Liability depends on how the business is structured.
Who Needs to File
- Sole proprietors who operate under any name other than their own full legal name.
- Registered entities, including LLCs, corporations, and limited partnerships, that operate under a name different from their registered name. The exact registered name does not need a certificate.
Here is how the rule plays out in practice:
- Lopez Bakehouse, run by a sole proprietor, needs a certificate for the business name because it is not the owner's legal name.
- Lopez Bakehouse LLC using its exact registered name on invoices and signage does not need a certificate for that name.
- Lopez Bakehouse LLC using Lopez Cakes as a second product line needs a certificate for Lopez Cakes.
Which Town You File In
You file with the town clerk of the Connecticut town where the business is primarily transacted. Three rules matter:
- A sole proprietor files in the town where the trade name address is located.
- A registered entity may file in the town of its trade name address or in the town of its principal place of business. It can choose either.
- You file in one town only. The certificate covers the town where you filed.
Connecticut has no county government, so no county office handles this filing. The towns do. If you operate in several towns under the same name, ask each town clerk how they handle a business located elsewhere before you assume one filing covers all of them.
Connecticut DBA Fees, Term, and Renewal
| Item | What applies |
|---|---|
| Filing fee | $20, paid to the town clerk |
| Term | 5 years |
| Renewal window | Opens 6 months before the certificate expires |
| Certificates issued before 2025 | Expire December 31, 2029 |
| Penalty for noncompliance | Up to $500, plus a violation of the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act (CUTPA) |
The current rules took effect January 1, 2025 under Public Act 24-111, and Connecticut General Statutes 35-1a to 35-1e now govern trade name certificates. Many town websites still show the older $10 fee. If your town's page says $10, confirm the amount with the clerk before you pay. The current fee is $20.
If you filed before 2025, your certificate runs until December 31, 2029. Mark that date now and ask your clerk which form renewal requires, so you are not caught by a lapse.
Before You File: A Short Checklist
- Check the name. Because Connecticut has no statewide DBA registry, no state search will tell you whether a sole proprietor's trade name is already in use. The Business.CT.gov business search covers registered entities, which is useful for checking an LLC or corporation name, but it is not a trade name search. Ask the town clerk what is on file locally, and consider a separate trademark search if the name matters to your brand.
- Pick your town. Confirm that your business address is a real location in the town where you will file.
- If you are a registered entity, check your standing. The business must be active and current on its annual reports, and the name and address on the certificate must match the record at Business.CT.gov. Annual Report fees are $80 for an LLC and $150 for a corporation.
- Plan for the signature rules. The Secretary of the State's new forms apply to filings on or after October 1, 2026, and they require a hand-signed and notarized signature. Filings made now fall under these rules. Ask your town clerk which form they accept, because the trade name certificate itself is filed locally.
How to File Step by Step
- Get the current form. Contact the town clerk's office or check the town website, and ask for the current Trade Name Certificate form.
- Enter the trade name exactly. Use the name as you will present it to customers, including any punctuation you intend to keep.
- Enter your legal name and address. A sole proprietor uses their own legal name and address. A registered entity uses its exact registered name and the address on file at Business.CT.gov.
- Enter the business address in the filing town. This trade name address determines which town you file in.
- Sign and notarize as required. Hand signing is required, and under the new Secretary of the State forms, notarization applies. Do not substitute a stamp or electronic signature unless the clerk confirms it is accepted.
- Pay $20 to the town clerk. Ask which payment methods the office accepts before you go or mail anything.
- Keep the recorded copy. Store it with your business records. You will need it for banking, contracts, and sales tax registration.
- Calendar the renewal. The certificate lasts five years. Note the expiration date and set a reminder for six months before it, when the renewal window opens.
Common Mistakes That Cause Problems
- Filing with the Secretary of the State. The state does not handle trade name certificates for sole proprietors. The town clerk does.
- Looking for a county office. Connecticut abolished county government in 1960, so there is no county filing, license, or health department. Your local offices are the town or city, and local health departments and districts.
- Paying the old $10 fee. Some town pages still show it. The current filing fee is $20.
- Assuming the certificate protects the name. It does not stop others from using the name, and it is not a trademark.
- Letting the certificate lapse. An expired or unfiled name exposes you to a penalty of up to $500 and a possible CUTPA violation. Pre-2025 certificates expire December 31, 2029.
- Filing in the wrong town. Your filing town must match your trade name address or, for a registered entity, its principal place of business.
- Treating the certificate as a license. A Trade Name Certificate does not authorize you to operate. Your trade's license and local approvals are separate requirements.
What Else You May Need
A Trade Name Certificate is one piece of starting a business. What else applies depends on what you sell and where you operate:
- Sales and Use Tax Permit. If you sell taxable goods or services, you need a Sales and Use Tax Permit from the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services (DRS). The registration fee is $100, and the permit must be displayed at each location. The state sales tax rate is 6.35%. Confirm current details at DRS sales tax information.
- Trade licenses. Connecticut has no general business license, so check with the agency that regulates your trade, such as the Department of Consumer Protection, the Department of Public Health, or the Insurance Department. Start with the New Business Checklist and eLicense system at Business.CT.gov.
- Local approvals. Zoning, health, and occupancy permits are handled at the local level. Contact your town's zoning office and your local health department or district before you sign a lease or open to the public.
- If you form an LLC. An LLC is formed by filing a Certificate of Organization with the Secretary of the State, with a $120 filing fee. Each year after that, you file an Annual Report with a $80 fee.
Official Connecticut Resources
- Secretary of the State, Business Services Division: portal.ct.gov/sots/business-services/bsd
- Trade names information from Business.CT.gov: business.ct.gov/knowledge-base/articles/trade-names
- Business.CT.gov business search: service.ct.gov/business/s/onlinebusinesssearch
- Department of Revenue Services: portal.ct.gov/drs
Where to Get Help
The Connecticut Small Business Development Center at ctsbdc.uconn.edu can help you think through naming and registration questions. The U.S. Small Business Administration's Connecticut page is at sba.gov/district/connecticut.
For a naming dispute, a trademark question, or a choice between a sole proprietorship and a formal entity, talk with a qualified Connecticut attorney. For tax questions tied to your business structure, speak with a CPA. This guide is informational only and does not replace that advice.
The Short Version
A Connecticut DBA is a Trade Name Certificate filed with the town clerk in the town where the business is located. It costs $20, lasts five years, and does not protect your name or your personal assets. File it locally, check the current signature rules, and put the renewal date on your calendar.