Trade Name (DBA) Registration Notice - Washington

TRADE NAME (DBA) REGISTRATION AND NOTICE

State of Washington

IMPORTANT NOTICE

Washington State requires any person or entity conducting business under a trade name to register that name with the Washington State Department of Revenue (DOR) through the Business Licensing Service (BLS), pursuant to RCW 19.80.010. Trade name registration is integrated into Washington's business license application — there is no separate DBA form.

Key Points:

• Registration fee: $5.00 per trade name
• Trade names remain registered indefinitely until cancelled — no periodic renewal is required
• Failure to register prevents the business from maintaining a lawsuit in Washington courts (RCW 19.80.040)
• Registration does not protect the name from use by others
• No newspaper publication is required

PART ONE: REGISTRANT INFORMATION

1.1 Registrant Identification

Full Legal Name of Registrant: [________________________________]

Entity Type (check one):

☐ Sole Proprietorship
☐ General Partnership
☐ Limited Partnership (Domestic)
☐ Limited Partnership (Foreign)
☐ Corporation (Domestic)
☐ Corporation (Foreign)
☐ Limited Liability Company (Domestic)
☐ Limited Liability Company (Foreign)
☐ Limited Liability Partnership
☐ Other: [________________________________]

State/Country of Organization (if entity): [________________________________]

Washington UBI (Unified Business Identifier) Number: [________________________________]

1.2 Contact Information

Principal Place of Business Address:

Street: [________________________________]

City: [________________________________] County: [________________________________]

State: WA Zip: [________]

Mailing Address (if different):

Street: [________________________________]

City: [________________________________] State: [____] Zip: [________]

Telephone: [________________________________]

Email: [________________________________]

1.3 Owners / Partners (if applicable)

Per RCW 19.80.010, sole proprietorships and general partnerships must disclose the true and real name(s) of each person conducting business:

PART TWO: TRADE NAME INFORMATION

2.1 Trade Name (DBA)

Trade Name Under Which Business Will Be Conducted:

[________________________________]

2.2 Nature of Business

Description of Business Activities:

[________________________________]

[________________________________]

2.3 Date of First Use

Date Trade Name Was First Used in Washington: [__/__/____]

☐ Not yet in use; anticipated commencement date: [__/__/____]

2.4 Business Location(s)

Primary Business Location:

Street: [________________________________]

City: [________________________________] County: [________________________________]

PART THREE: WASHINGTON STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS

3.1 Registration Requirement (RCW 19.80.010)

Under RCW 19.80.010, the following must register a trade name with the Department of Revenue:

Sole Proprietors and General Partnerships:

☐ Must register if using any name other than the full legal name of the owner(s)
☐ Registration must include the true and real name(s) and post office address(es) of each person conducting the business

Corporations (Domestic and Foreign):

☐ Must register if using any name other than the corporate name filed with the Secretary of State
☐ Registration must include the corporate name as filed with the Secretary of State

LLCs (Domestic and Foreign):

☐ Must register if using any name other than the LLC name filed with the Secretary of State
☐ Registration must include the LLC name as filed with the Secretary of State

Limited Partnerships (Domestic and Foreign):

☐ Must register if using any name other than the limited partnership name filed with the Secretary of State
☐ Registration must include the limited partnership name as filed with the Secretary of State

3.2 How to Register

Trade name registration in Washington is part of the Business License Application process:

☐ If applying for a new business license: Include the trade name on the Business License Application
☐ If already licensed: Add a trade name through the Department of Revenue's online portal or by filing a Business License Application amendment

There is no separate trade name form — registration occurs through the business licensing system.

3.3 Filing Fees

3.4 Filing Office

Washington State Department of Revenue
Business Licensing Service (BLS)
P.O. Box 47478
Olympia, WA 98504-7478

Online: https://dor.wa.gov/manage-business/grow-business/register-trade-names

3.5 Duration

Trade name registrations in Washington remain effective indefinitely until the owner requests cancellation. There is no periodic renewal requirement. However, the registrant must update the registration concurrently with each annual Business License renewal if any information changes.

3.6 No Name Protection

RCW 19.80 registration does not protect the trade name from use by others. Multiple businesses may register the same or similar trade names. For name protection, registrants should consider state or federal trademark registration.

PART FOUR: TRADE NAME REGISTRATION APPLICATION

(Integrated into Washington Business License Application)

TRADE NAME REGISTRATION INFORMATION

The following information is submitted for trade name registration pursuant to RCW 19.80.010:

1. Trade Name: [________________________________]

2. Registrant Type (check one):

☐ Sole Proprietorship — Owner(s):
Name: [________________________________]
Address: [________________________________]

☐ General Partnership — Partners:
Name: [________________________________] Address: [________________________________]
Name: [________________________________] Address: [________________________________]

☐ Corporation — Corporate Name: [________________________________]
(as filed with the Washington Secretary of State)

☐ LLC — LLC Name: [________________________________]
(as filed with the Washington Secretary of State)

☐ Limited Partnership — LP Name: [________________________________]
(as filed with the Washington Secretary of State)

3. Washington UBI Number: [________________________________]

4. Principal Business Address:

[________________________________]

[________________________________]

5. Mailing Address:

[________________________________]

6. Nature of Business:

[________________________________]

7. This trade name registration is submitted as part of:

☐ New Business License Application
☐ Amendment to existing Business License
☐ Annual Business License Renewal

8. Declaration:

The undersigned declares that the information contained in this registration is true, correct, and complete.

Signature: _________________________________ Date: [__/__/____]

Print Name: [________________________________]

Title: [________________________________]

PART FIVE: CANCELLATION OF TRADE NAME

(RCW 19.80.060)

5.1 Cancellation Requirements

Under RCW 19.80.060, when the registrant discontinues use of the trade name, the registrant should file a cancellation with the Department of Revenue within twenty (20) days after discontinuing use.

5.2 How to Cancel

☐ File a cancellation request through the Department of Revenue's online portal
☐ Or submit a written cancellation to the Business Licensing Service
☐ There is no charge for cancelling a trade name

5.3 Cancellation Information Required

☐ The trade name to be cancelled
☐ The UBI number
☐ The registrant's legal name
☐ The date of discontinuance

PART SIX: PENALTIES AND ENFORCEMENT

6.1 Failure to Register — Loss of Right to Sue (RCW 19.80.040)

This is a critical provision. Under RCW 19.80.040, no person carrying on business under a trade name is entitled to maintain any suit in any Washington court until the person has properly completed the registration required by RCW 19.80.010.

However:

☐ Failure to register does not impair the validity of any contract or act
☐ Failure to register does not prevent the person from defending a suit
☐ The deficiency can be cured by completing registration before the court takes action

6.2 Practical Consequences of Non-Registration

☐ Inability to bring lawsuits (including collections, contract enforcement, etc.)
☐ Potential delays in business license issuance
☐ Difficulty opening bank accounts under the trade name

6.3 False Statements

Any person who provides false information in a trade name registration may be subject to penalties under Washington law.

PART SEVEN: UPDATING REGISTRATION

7.1 When Updates Are Required

The registrant must update the trade name registration when:

☐ The registrant's legal name changes
☐ The registrant's address changes
☐ Ownership changes (for sole proprietorships and partnerships)
☐ The entity name changes (for corporations, LLCs, LPs)
☐ The business ceases to use the trade name

7.2 How to Update

☐ File an amendment through the Department of Revenue's online portal
☐ Updates should be made concurrently with the annual Business License renewal
☐ Or submit updates within thirty (30) days of the change

PART EIGHT: OPTIONAL PUBLICATION NOTICE

Washington State does not require newspaper publication for trade name registrations. The following form is provided for voluntary use where required by lenders, counterparties, or local practice.

PUBLICATION TEXT

NOTICE OF TRADE NAME REGISTRATION

Notice is hereby given that [Legal Name of Registrant], [entity type], located at [Business Address], is conducting business in the State of Washington under the trade name "[Trade Name]". The trade name has been registered with the Washington State Department of Revenue, Business Licensing Service, pursuant to RCW 19.80.010.

UBI No.: [________________________________]

[Legal Name of Registrant]

Date: [__/__/____]

PART NINE: NAME PROTECTION STRATEGIES

Because Washington trade name registration does not protect the name from use by others, businesses should consider:

9.1 Washington State Trademark Registration

☐ File a trademark or service mark registration with the Washington Secretary of State
☐ Provides enhanced state-level name protection

9.2 Federal Trademark Registration

☐ File a federal trademark application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
☐ Provides nationwide protection in interstate commerce
☐ Search existing marks at www.uspto.gov

9.3 Entity Name Registration

☐ Registering the business as an LLC or corporation with the desired name provides statewide name protection through the Secretary of State
☐ Entity names must be distinguishable on the records of the Secretary of State

PART TEN: EXECUTION

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Trade Name Registration and Notice as of the date set forth below.

Registrant: [________________________________]

Signature: _________________________________ Date: [__/__/____]

Print Name: [________________________________]

Title: [________________________________]

PART ELEVEN: FILING INSTRUCTIONS AND CHECKLIST

Complete Filing Guide

Step 1: Obtain or Verify Your UBI Number

☐ If you already have a Washington UBI number, proceed to Step 2
☐ If you do not have a UBI number, apply for a Business License at https://dor.wa.gov/

Step 2: Register the Trade Name

☐ Log in to the Department of Revenue's online portal
☐ Add the trade name to your existing Business License Application
☐ Or include the trade name on a new Business License Application
☐ Pay the $5.00 trade name registration fee

Step 3: Receive Confirmation

☐ The Department of Revenue will issue an updated Business License reflecting the trade name
☐ Retain a copy of the confirmation

Step 4: Update Records

☐ Notify banks, vendors, and counterparties of the trade name
☐ Use the trade name consistently in business operations
☐ Maintain records of the registration

Step 5: Maintain Compliance

☐ Update the trade name registration whenever business information changes
☐ File cancellation within twenty (20) days of discontinuing use of the trade name (RCW 19.80.060)
☐ Complete annual Business License renewal as required

Step 6: Consider Additional Protections

☐ Evaluate the need for state or federal trademark registration
☐ Conduct a thorough name search before adoption

Sources and References

• Washington State Department of Revenue — Trade Name Registration: https://dor.wa.gov/manage-business/grow-business/register-trade-names
• RCW Chapter 19.80 (Trade Names): https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=19.80&full=true
• RCW 19.80.010 (Registration Required): https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=19.80.010
• RCW 19.80.040 (Failure to Register — Effect on Suits)
• RCW 19.80.060 (Cancellation)
• Washington State Business Licensing Service: https://dor.wa.gov/

This template is provided by ezel.ai for informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice. Consult a Washington-licensed attorney before filing.