Effective June 2, 2025, Delaware is changing its registration process for trade names (also known as “doing-business-as” or “DBA” registrations) pursuant to House Bill No. 401, which was signed on February 7, 2025. House Bill No. 40 moves the Delaware trade name registration process online and requires all Delaware trade name holders to re-register beginning on June 2, 2025. Key updates are included below in this Alert.
- Online Registration
As of June 2, 2025, Delaware trade name registrations will be filed in the Delaware Division of Revenue’s “One Stop” registration portal at https://onestop.delaware.gov/. Previously, DBAs were managed by individual counties rather than through a statewide system. Trade Name filings will now require an accompanying Certificate of Good Standing. No physical filings will be accepted, and notarization will also no longer be required.
- Business License
In order to register a Trade Name, a company must either have a Delaware business license, or, if the company is not actively doing business in Delaware, it must first register a “Trade Name Only” business license.
- Timeline
The window to file for trade name re-registration begins on the June 2, 2025. Registration is on a “first come, first serve” basis so a business may lose its existing DBA as a result of another business registering the trade name first. If a company’s trade name is taken, it will need to choose a new name.
Trade names in Delaware do not have a regular expiration and will not require renewal so long as they are used by a business with an active business license or trade name only license.
- Fees
Trade Name re-registration will not require a filing fee if filed before August 1, 2025.
All “Trade Name Only” business licenses require a $25.00 filing fee and annual renewal fee of $25.00.
After August 1, 2025, all trade name registrations will require a $25.00 filing fee.
If you have any questions regarding re-registering your DBA in Delaware, please reach out to your Seward & Kissel relationship attorney.