Most DBA filings are public record. If you know the business name or owner name, you can look up the exact filing date and expiration date in a few minutes — even if you've lost the original receipt.
Before assuming the information is lost, check these in order. The fastest path is usually the state or county online portal.
Free, public, official databases.
DBAs are filed at the county level. Search your county clerk's Fictitious Business Name database. Major counties (Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange, San Francisco, Sacramento) all have free online search by business name or owner.
Tip: If you filed in one county and now operate in another, search both. Some businesses are registered in multiple counties.
Sunbiz.org — Fictitious Name Search. Returns filing date, expiration (December 31 of the fifth year), and status. Search by registered name, owner, or document number.
Tip: All Florida fictitious names expire December 31, so the year matters more than the date when calculating.
For entity DBAs, use SOSDirect (Texas Secretary of State). For sole proprietor DBAs filed at the county, check the specific county clerk. Search by business name or filing number.
Tip: Entity DBA terms are set by the filer (up to 10 years). Don't assume a default — check the certificate.
For entity Assumed Names, use the NY Department of State Corporation and Business Entity Search. For sole proprietor/partnership Certificates of Assumed Name, contact the county clerk where you filed.
Tip: County-level NY filings often don't have fixed expiration dates, but they must be amended if anything changes.
Utah Business Search at commerce.utah.gov. Free public search by business name or registration number. Returns filing date, expiration (3 years), and status.
Tip: Utah's 3-year cycle is short — set a reminder shortly after you file.
DBAs are filed at the county level (Assumed Business Name Certificate). Search the county clerk's database where you filed. Cook County, DuPage, Lake, and Will all have online search.
Tip: Illinois requires republication on renewal in many counties — budget time for the newspaper notice.
If you have the filing date but no expiration date on hand, you can usually calculate it from your state's standard cycle. The math is straightforward but verify it against the official record once you can.
These are defaults. Counties within a state can vary. Always cross-check with the official record before setting a reminder based on the calculation alone.
The hardest part of DBA renewal is remembering it years from now. Once you have the expiration date, set a reminder for 60 days before it. The DBA renewal reminder guide walks through what to include, and the state-by-state breakdown covers fees and portals.
Set the reminder for 60 days before your DBA expires.
Done in seconds. No sign-up required.
Look up your filing in your state or county's business search portal. Almost every filing record shows a status (active, expired) and an expiration date. If the status is active and the expiration date is within a year, set a reminder. If it's within 60 days, file the renewal now.
Search your state's business name database. Florida's Sunbiz, California county clerk online portals, Texas SOSDirect, and most state Secretary of State websites have free public search by business name or owner name. The original filing date and expiration date are part of the public record.
Go to your county clerk's website (DBAs are filed at the county level in California, not the state level). Search the Fictitious Business Name database by business name or owner name. Most counties — including Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange, San Francisco — offer free online search with filing and expiration dates.
Visit Sunbiz.org and use the Fictitious Name Search. Enter the registered name and the system returns the filing date, expiration date (always December 31 of the fifth year after filing), status, and owner details.
Add your state's cycle length to the filing date. California, Florida, and Illinois: filing date + 5 years. Utah: + 3 years. Massachusetts: + 4 years. Florida is the one exception: the expiration falls on December 31 of the fifth calendar year, not the anniversary of the filing date. Always verify in the official record before setting a reminder.
Try variations of the business name and the owner's name. Try the county next door — if you live near a county line, you may have filed in a neighboring jurisdiction. Some older filings (pre-2000) aren't digitized; in those cases, call the county clerk directly. Be ready to give your owner name, approximate filing year, and original business address.
Free, no account. Pick a date 60 days before your DBA expires — we'll email you in advance and follow up if you don't act.
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