Illinois . DBA / Fictitious Name
File a DBA / Fictitious Business Name in Illinois.
A DBA (Doing Business As) . also called a Fictitious Business Name, Assumed Name, or Trade Name . lets a Illinois entity operate under a different name. This guide explains the filing process, where to file in Illinois, fees, renewal cycles, and the critical fact that a DBA is NOT a substitute for forming an LLC or Corporation.
File Illinois DBA →When to file a DBA in Illinois
Operating under a different name than your legal entity
"Acme Holdings LLC" wants to operate retail stores as "Acme Coffee".
Sole proprietors operating under a brand name
Sole proprietorships using anything other than the owner's legal name must file a DBA in Illinois.
Operating multiple lines of business under one entity
Multiple brands run by the same LLC each get their own DBA.
Banking under a brand name
Banks require a filed DBA to accept payments made out to a name other than the legal entity.