Register a DBA in Iowa

What the law requires

Iowa requires any person conducting business under a trade name or assumed name that is not the true surname of each person with an interest in the business to first record a verified statement with the county recorder of the county where the business is to be conducted (Iowa Code § 547.1). Registered entities of the listed types (LPs, LLCs, corporations, professional corporations, cooperatives, nonprofits) are exempt from the county filing; instead, the entity statutes require a corporation or LLC that uses a fictitious name to deliver a certified resolution adopting the name to the Secretary of State (e.g., Iowa Code §§ 490.401(5), 489.112(8)).

"A person shall not engage in or conduct a business under a trade name, or an assumed name of a character other than the true surname of each person owning or having an interest in the business, unless the person first records with the county recorder of the county in which the business is to be conducted a verified statement showing the name, post office address, and residence address of each person owning or having an interest in the business, and the address where the business is to be conducted." — Iowa Code § 547.1

Where filings go

County recorder of the county in which the business is to be conducted (for persons subject to chapter 547); Secretary of State for the entity-side fictitious-name resolution filings under the entity chapters.

"The county recorder shall collect fees in the amount specified in section 331.604 for each verified statement recorded under this chapter." — Iowa Code §§ 547.1, 547.3

Entities and assumed names

Iowa's entity chapters state that they do not control the use of fictitious names but require a corporation (or LLC, under the parallel § 489.112(8)) that uses a fictitious name in Iowa to deliver a certified copy of the adopting resolution to the Secretary of State. Separately, a foreign corporation whose true name does not comply with Iowa's corporate-name standards must adopt an alternate name in its registration statement before registering to do business.

"This chapter does not control the use of fictitious names; however, if a corporation or a foreign corporation uses a fictitious name in this state, it shall deliver to the secretary of state for filing a copy of the resolution of its board of directors, certified by its secretary, adopting the fictitious name." — Iowa Code § 490.401(5); Iowa Code § 490.1506(1)