Arkansas Fictitious Name (DBA): LLCs and Corporations File at the Secretary of State for $22.50, Sole Proprietors File With the County Clerk
Arkansas Fictitious Name (DBA): LLCs and Corporations File at the Secretary of State for $22.50, Sole Proprietors File With the County Clerk
If you plan to operate under a name other than your legal name or your entity's registered name, you need a fictitious name filing in Arkansas. Most people call this an Arkansas DBA, short for "doing business as," and the state's form calls it an Application for Fictitious Name. The arkansas fictitious name process depends on how your business is organized. LLCs and corporations file with the Arkansas Secretary of State. Sole proprietors and general partnerships file with the county clerk. This guide explains each path, the fees we can verify, and the points where you need to confirm a figure with the agency before you pay.
What an Arkansas Fictitious Name Does and Does Not Do
A fictitious name lets customers see the trade name you actually use, such as "Ozark Hardwood Supply," even though your legal name or your LLC's registered name is different. For an LLC or corporation, the fictitious name is separate from the name on the entity's formation document, which is the Certificate of Organization (Form LL-01) for an LLC or the Articles of Incorporation (Form DN-01) for a corporation. For a sole proprietor, the arrangement is recorded as an assumed name with the county where you operate.
A fictitious name filing does not register a trademark, does not create a separate legal entity, and does not replace your entity filing. Banks, vendors, and other institutions often ask for a copy of the filed certificate or application, so keep the recorded or stamped version with your business records.
Who Files Where: Arkansas DBA Filing at a Glance
The office you file with depends on your business structure. Use this table as a starting point, then confirm details with the office named.
| Business type | Where to file | Fee | Form or document |
|---|---|---|---|
| LLC | Arkansas Secretary of State | $22.50 online or $25 paper | Application for Fictitious Name (DN-18) |
| Corporation | Secretary of State, plus the county clerk of the county where its registered office is located (unless that office is in Pulaski County) | $22.50 online or $25 paper at the Secretary of State; county fee set by the county | DN-18 with the Secretary of State; approved form with the county clerk |
| Sole proprietor | County clerk of each county where you do or intend to do business | Set by each county | Certificate naming the business and each owner, signed and acknowledged before a notary |
| General partnership | County clerk of each county where it does or intends to do business | Set by each county | Certificate naming the business and each partner, signed and acknowledged before a notary |
Sole proprietors never file the fictitious name with the Secretary of State. The $22.50 figure applies only to Secretary of State filings and does not carry over to county recording.
Filing as an LLC With the Secretary of State
LLCs file the Application for Fictitious Name (DN-18) with the Arkansas Secretary of State, Business and Commercial Services Division. The Secretary of State's fee page lists $22.50 for an online filing and $25 for a paper filing. Online filings go through the Corporations Online Filing System.
Follow these steps:
- Check the name. Search the state's business database at sos.arkansas.gov business search. The Secretary of State issues names that are distinguishable for filing purposes on its records, but issuance does not by itself give you an exclusive right to use the name. Search for conflicts with trademarks and existing businesses separately.
- Complete Form DN-18. Get the current form from the Secretary of State forms and fees page.
- Pay the fee. Use $22.50 for an online filing or $25 for a paper filing.
- Submit the filing. The Secretary of State's new business page lists anticipated processing of 3 to 5 business days for all filings, whether mailed, dropped off, or submitted online. Its Business Services FAQ says in-person drop offs currently carry a 48 hour turnaround. The agency does not publish an expedited service or expedite fee for business entity filings.
- Keep the filed copy. Store the approved filing with your entity records and your bank paperwork.
Do not confuse the fictitious name filing with a name reservation. A name reservation is a separate filing for an entity name, costs $22.50 online or $25 on paper, and holds the name for 120 days. It does not substitute for a DN-18 when you plan to use a trade name.
Corporations: The Second Filing With the County Clerk
A domestic corporation files the DN-18 with the Secretary of State, and it must also file an approved form with the county clerk of the county where its registered office is located. The Secretary of State's FAQ identifies one exception: if the registered office is in Pulaski County, the county filing is not required.
Your registered office matters here because every registered entity must maintain a registered agent with a street address in Arkansas. The agent must be located at that address. A P.O. Box is not an acceptable registered agent address, and the Secretary of State will return an incomplete filing for correction. If you change your registered agent, that change is filed with the Secretary of State at no fee.
Confirm the county form and the county fee with the clerk before you file. The Secretary of State does not publish county fees.
Sole Proprietors and General Partnerships: The County Clerk
Sole proprietors do not file with the Secretary of State. If you operate under any name other than your own real name, you file a certificate with the county clerk of each county where you do or intend to do business. Under A.C.A. 4-70-203, the certificate must name the business and each owner with a post office address. It must be signed and acknowledged before a notary. General partnerships that use a name other than the owners' real names follow the same county process.
Several points matter here:
- File before you do business under the name. The certificate should be on record before you start operating, accepting payments, or advertising under the trade name.
- File in every county where you operate. A business that serves customers in more than one county should ask each relevant county clerk what is required, because the filing is made county by county.
- List every owner. Each owner's name and post office address must appear on the certificate.
- Get the signature notarized. The certificate must be signed and acknowledged, so plan for a notary.
County Recording Fees
Each county clerk sets its own recording fee, and the Secretary of State does not publish those fees. As one reference point, a Springdale guide lists $25 for Washington County. Treat that as a reference only. Check the current fee directly with the clerk in Pulaski County, Jefferson County, and your own county, as of 2026, because the amount can differ from one county to the next.
Late Filing Penalties
This guide does not state a penalty for failing to file a fictitious name certificate with a county clerk. Ask the clerk in each county where you operate what happens if a certificate is missing or late, and whether the county applies any fee or consequence.
Common Arkansas DBA Mistakes
- Sole proprietors filing with the Secretary of State. That filing does not satisfy the county requirement. Your certificate belongs with the county clerk.
- Assuming $22.50 covers everything. The $22.50 online fee applies to Secretary of State filings only. County recording fees are set separately.
- Skipping the second filing as a corporation. A corporation outside Pulaski County may owe a county filing in addition to the DN-18.
- Missing a county. A sole proprietor who serves customers in several counties should check each county's requirement.
- Filing after you start operating. The certificate should be filed before you do business under the name, not after your first invoice.
- Treating the DBA as trademark protection. A fictitious name filing does not give you trademark rights. Search federal and state trademark records and consult an attorney if the name matters to your brand.
Other Registrations That Often Come After the DBA
A fictitious name is one filing among several. Arkansas has no general state business license, the Secretary of State does not issue business licenses, and counties issue no general business license. Most other requirements depend on your activity, your city, or your industry.
- Sales and use tax permit. Any business selling tangible personal property or taxable services must obtain a sales and use tax permit from the Department of Finance and Administration. The permit costs $50 and is applied for through the Arkansas Taxpayer Access Point (ATAP).
- Withholding and unemployment insurance. Withholding registration runs through ATAP. Unemployment insurance registration runs through the Division of Reemployment. Confirm the current steps with each agency.
- City licenses. Many cities require their own business license, privilege license, or registry, and each city uses its own basis. Little Rock and North Little Rock charge based on a base amount plus employees. Bentonville maintains a free registry. Conway does not impose one. Check with your city clerk before you open.
- Occupational licenses. These come from the agency or board that oversees your trade. Examples include the Contractors Licensing Board, Electrical Examiners, and the HVAC/R Board in the Department of Labor and Licensing; the Department of Health for plumbers, cosmetologists, massage therapists, and food establishments; the Alcoholic Beverage Control Division for alcohol; the Medical Marijuana Commission for cannabis; and the State Police for security and investigator licenses.
Your DBA does not change your entity's annual obligations. An LLC must file the Annual LLC Franchise Tax Report with a flat $150 tax, due on or before May 1 each year. A corporation files the Annual Corporation Franchise Tax Report, due on or before May 1, with a minimum tax of $150, or 0.3 percent of outstanding capital stock if greater.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a DBA if my LLC uses its exact registered name?
Generally, no. A fictitious name filing is needed when you operate under a name different from the one on your entity's formation documents. If you add a second brand, product line, or storefront name, file for that name too.
Can I file a sole proprietor certificate online?
This guide does not confirm county filing procedures. Ask each county clerk whether it accepts certificates by mail or in person, and what form, fee, and notary arrangements apply.
Does the Secretary of State fee cover county filings for a corporation?
No. The $22.50 online fee or $25 paper fee covers the Secretary of State filing only. A domestic corporation outside Pulaski County must also complete the county clerk filing and pay that county's fee.
Official Resources
- Arkansas Secretary of State, Business and Commercial Services Division
- Arkansas Secretary of State business name search
- Corporations Online Filing System
- Secretary of State forms and fees, including Form DN-18
- Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration
- Register for a sales and use tax account
- Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center
- SBA Arkansas district resources
This article is informational content, not legal or tax advice. Filing requirements, fees, and county procedures change. Confirm current figures with the Arkansas Secretary of State and with the county clerk in each county where you operate before you file or pay. For complex situations, such as multiple owners, several counties, a trademark concern, or a corporation with a registered office question, consult a qualified attorney or certified public accountant.