Gilbert Source

File a DBA (fictitious business name) in Gilbert, AZ

A DBA ("doing business as"), also called a fictitious business name or FBN, lets a business operate under a name other than its owner's legal name.

In Arizona, registering a DBA is optional for a sole proprietor. The filing goes to the Arizona Secretary of State.

How to file with the Arizona Secretary of State

1. Where it goes

The filing goes to the Arizona Secretary of State.

2. How the office takes it

The office's page does not say whether it takes the filing online, by form or in person.

3. What to bring

The office's own page lists the current form and what it asks for; this page does not restate them.

4. File it

The office's own page is the place to do it.

File with the Arizona Secretary of State

What it costs and how long it takes

No fee is recorded here for this office. How long it takes is not recorded here either; the Arizona Secretary of State publishes both on its own page.

After you file

Two things usually follow, and the Arizona Secretary of State handles neither: opening a bank account in the business name, and any city business licence. Gilbert's own licensing page is not recorded here — ask the city clerk.

Renewal and changes

No renewal term is recorded here. The Arizona Secretary of State is the place to confirm how long a filing lasts and what to do if you move or change the name.

Questions

Do I need an LLC instead?

A DBA is a name, not a company. It does not separate your business debts from your own; that is what forming a company does.

What if someone already trades under the name?

A filed name is on the public record, so the office's own name search is the place to check before you file.

Source: azleg.gov. Checked 2026-10-27.