What has changed with the trade name registration and maintenance process?

The following FAQs refer to the trade name registration process as it will exist once the transition in complete.

Up until the transition date of February 2^nd, 2026, nothing about trade name registration in Delaware will change. Registration and maintenance of trade names must still be done with the Prothonotary’s Office in each county. For more information on the current process, reference the Superior Court Website: Trade, Business & Fictitious Names – Superior Court – Delaware Courts – State of Delaware.

 

When is the transition to the new process?

The Division of Revenue will start administering Delaware’s statewide DBA registry on February 2, 2026, through https://onestop.delaware.gov/.

 

What documentation is required to register a DBA in Delaware?

To register a DBA in Delaware, you need to provide the legal name and address of the entity, the proposed trade name, names and addresses of ownership, date of formation, and nature of business. Additionally, any LLC or Corporation entity that is not actively transacting business in Delaware will be required to provide a Certificate of Good Standing from the Delaware Division of Corporations and may be required to provide other additional documentation.

 

What determines an owner needing to provide name and address for a DBA?

Ownership is defined as “Officers, Directors, or shareholders with more than 10% of equity”.  This is consistent with the Division of Revenue definition for other License tax types.

 

What changes does the online process bring to Delaware’s DBA application?

The required fields for the DBA application will remain the same as they were with the Courts. DBA registration is now available online and is managed statewide rather than by individual counties. The process also now requires a business license in Delaware.

 

How much does DBA registration cost?

The fee remains $25, but the DBA is now registered statewide, eliminating the need to pay multiple fees per county.

 

Is notarization required for trade name applications?

Notarization is no longer required as of February 2, 2026. All applications will be processed online.

 

I am a Delaware LLC / Corporation, and I do not conduct business in Delaware but need a Delaware DBA, what are my options?

For such companies, a Trade Name Only Business license is available. This special license is required to register a Delaware Trade Name if the registrant does not intend to conduct business in Delaware.

 

How does the Trade Name Only business license differ from typical business licenses?

This special license is similar to a regular business license but does not require Gross Receipt and Business Income Tax filings. It costs $25 and shares the same renewal and maintenance requirements as a standard business license.

 

What if I have a Trade Name Only license but want to transition to a standard business license?

Registering a normal business license will nullify a Trade Name Only license. Updates or transfers of Trade Names between licenses can be done without a fee through the Update Trade Name flow in OneStop.

 

Can I use the same OneStop login for multiple client services?

Yes, actions in OneStop are based on knowledge of business details (i.e. license numbers and business names) rather than user accounts (i.e. login information), enabling flexible management across multiple clients

 

What should I do if my business details change?

Updates to key staff, ownership, or business address can be managed through Delaware One Stop in the Update Trade Name flow. Changes to the Taxpayer ID associated with a trade name will require a new registration.

 

Do trade names need to be renewed?

No, trade names in Delaware do not have a regular expiration and do not require renewal as long as they are used by a business with an active business license or trade name only license.  If a license is not maintained for three or more years, the Trade Name will revert to the available pool and the business will be notified.

 

Can I sell or transfer my Trade Name to another business without selling my business?

From February 2, 2026, every trade name must be linked to a Taxpayer ID (TPID)—either a FEIN or SSN/ITIN. To transfer a trade name:

• First, terminate the trade name under the old TPID.
• Then, re-register it under the new TPID. Standard filing fees apply.

 

Is there a public database where I can check the availability of a trade name before registering?

Yes, DOR will host the Delaware Trade Name Registry once the registration process is fully transferred. A static version of the Courts online database will also be hosted for historical reference.

For now, Courts online database can be found at https://courts.delaware.gov/tradenames/  The new online process will also check for active trade names during application.

 

Can I have multiple trade names under a single business license?

Yes, Delaware allows businesses to register multiple trade names under a single business license.

 

How do I cancel my trade name if I no longer need it?

To cancel your trade name, you must submit a request through the Delaware One Stop portal. There is no charge to cancel your Trade Name, and this will also remove the trade name from the active registry and make it available to other businesses.

 

What is the process to Amend or cancel my Trade Name?

After completing the business registration process and obtaining a Division of Revenue business license, a business, individual, or agent will be able to update an existing Trade Name associated with the businesses. There is no fee to update or cancel a Trade Name—including updating the business address or changing key individuals.