Short answer. The town clerk in the town where the business is primarily transacted, not the Secretary of the State. Individuals, unregistered groups and registered business organizations (on a separate form) all file there. Cost: No state fee; the town clerk collects a $20 filing fee.
At a glance
- Called
- trade name certificate
- Where to file
- City or town
- Filing fee
- No state fee; the town clerk collects a $20 filing fee.
- Local fees vary
- No
Renewal, with dates
For a registration filed on Thursday, November 12, 2026:
Setting up the books for the new name? A free bookkeeping health check.
- Sole proprietor or partnership: not confirmed
Your own date: open the calculator set to Connecticut.
Before you file
Forms must be hand-signed and notarized by the town clerk or another notary; new forms apply to trade names filed on or after October 1, 2026 (CGS 35-1).
Not stated on the pages we read: how long it lasts, a newspaper notice and online filing.
Official sources
- Connecticut Business Portal: Trade names, or doing business as (checked November 2026)
- Connecticut Secretary of the State: Trade names (checked November 2026)
General information, not legal advice; we are not lawyers. Checked November 2026 against the pages above. Fees and forms change, and a county or town office can add its own steps, so confirm with the filing office before you file. We don't file DBAs or trade names for anyone.
Questions people ask
Where is a DBA filed in Connecticut?
It's called a trade name certificate. The town clerk in the town where the business is primarily transacted, not the Secretary of the State. Individuals, unregistered groups and registered business organizations (on a separate form) all file there.
What does it cost to register a business name in Connecticut?
No state fee; the town clerk collects a $20 filing fee.
Anything else to know before filing in Connecticut?
Forms must be hand-signed and notarized by the town clerk or another notary; new forms apply to trade names filed on or after October 1, 2026 (CGS 35-1).
All states: DBA registration by state · California · District of Columbia