Short answer. The register of deeds in the county. Sole proprietorships, partnerships, and corporations or LLCs using an assumed name all file there. Cost: No state fee; $26 per certificate at the register of deeds. Certificates filed after December 1, 2017 don't expire or need renewal.
At a glance
- Called
- assumed business name certificate
- Where to file
- County
- Filing fee
- No state fee; $26 per certificate at the register of deeds.
- Local fees vary
- No
- How long it lasts
- No expiry
Renewal, with dates
Certificates filed after December 1, 2017 don't expire or need renewal.
Setting up the books for the new name? A free bookkeeping health check.
For a registration filed on Tuesday, November 24, 2026:
- Sole proprietor or partnership: no expiry date
Your own date: open the calculator set to North Carolina.
Not stated on the pages we read: a newspaper notice and online filing.
Official sources
- Durham County Register of Deeds: Assumed business name (checked November 2026)
- NC Secretary of State business manual: Assumed business 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 North Carolina?
It's called a assumed business name certificate. The register of deeds in the county. Sole proprietorships, partnerships, and corporations or LLCs using an assumed name all file there.
What does it cost to register a business name in North Carolina?
No state fee; $26 per certificate at the register of deeds.
How long does a North Carolina assumed business name certificate last?
Certificates filed after December 1, 2017 don't expire or need renewal.
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