Business

Register a Business Name

A business name is registered to protect your business and prevent someone else in the state from operating under and claiming the same name entity.

The Certificate of Assumed Business Name form, also referred to as Business Under Assumed Name (BUAN), Doing Business As (DBA) and Fictitious Name is recorded in the local Register of Deeds Offices and transmitted to the NC Secretary of State Office into a statewide database where name searches can be done in all 100 counties. The business form should be filed in the county where the person resides or where they plan to conduct business. Up to five business names can be filed on one form. The filing fee is $26.00.

The form can be recorded person, (in-office) by mail (US Postal Service), or E-filed (electronically recorded). Information for all owners and partners in the business must be provided on the form. To apply for a Business License, contact the city or county office where licenses and permits are issued.

NC business names filed under the current law will expire 12-1-2022. A new form must be filed in the Register of Deeds Office. It is not be automatically filed when the old one expires. NCGS Chapter 66-Article 14A

Other Business Filings

To register a business name for the purpose of conducting business Online, or register a business as a Corporation, Limited Liability Partnership (LLP), Limited Liability Corporations (LLC) or Non-Profit, contact the NC Secretary of State Office at www.sosnc.gov.

SBTDC – Small Business and Technolgy Development Center

The Small Business and Technolgy Development Center (SBTDC) is a free statewide business advisory service of The University of North Carolina System with offices on 16 campuses. Counselors provide personalized management and education services to help entrepreneurs make their businesses better, create and retain jobs, and improve and develop plans to achieve goals.

Contact the Business Counselor at wssu@sbtdc.org or by phone at 336-750-8340.

EDPNC - Small Business Advisor

The Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC) Small Business Advisors are available to help with licenses, state permits, tax forms, employer requirements, client consultations and contacts for state, local and federal government business services needed to operate a business in North Carolina.

Advisors can be contacted from 8:30am to 4:00pm, Monday-Friday at NCSBADVISORS.GOV or by phone at 1-800-228-8443.