File a DBA in Alaska

The business license distinction is where Alaska stands apart from most states. A separate business license is required for each different name a business operates under. If you register an assumed name, you need a business license specifically tied to that DBA name — not just a general license for your entity.

"Registering a business" can mean forming a legal entity, getting a business license, or registering an assumed name. These are three separate processes with three separate forms and three separate fees. Keeping them straight before you start filing will save you time and money.

How to search Alaska name availability before you file

Searching for name availability before you submit is the single most effective way to avoid a rejected application. Names must be "distinguishable" from any other reserved or registered name on file with the Corporations Section.

1. Go to the Alaska Corporations Database. Use the official business search at the Alaska Division of CBPL website to look up registered entities, assumed names, and reserved business names.

2. Enter your proposed DBA name and close variations. Try variations: with and without business suffixes, partial names, and common abbreviations. Alaska's search is case-insensitive and supports wildcard searches. Use "Starts With" or "Contains" to refine results.

3. Review results carefully, not just for exact matches. Check the status of any matches. Pay particular attention to names that share the same root word, sound phonetically similar, or are likely to be confused with your proposed name.

4. Check the business license database as well. Business license records live in a separate system from the Corporations Database. Running both searches gives you a more complete picture of what's already in use.

5. Note the result and decide your next step. If no results appear, the name may be available — but confirm with the Alaska Division of Corporations before filing. If the name is taken, your options are: add a geographic descriptor, add a descriptive qualifier, or choose a different name entirely.

6. Understand that a clear search does not guarantee approval. The state makes the final determination at the time of filing. A name that appears available today could be taken by the time your application is reviewed.

Alaska's naming restrictions: What you can't use

An unincorporated business may not use "incorporated" or "corporation" in its name. A business name may not suggest the organization is a government unit unless it actually is one.

Certain words imply a professional license the business may not hold. "Engineer," "bank," "insurance," and similar terms require documentation proving the business holds the appropriate license. Using them without that documentation will result in rejection.

Brand names, slogans, and internet domain names cannot be registered as business names. These are trademarks or service marks; Alaska's business name registry is not the right place to protect them. To protect a trade name federally, see the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Entity indicators — "corporation," "limited liability company," or abbreviations like INC, LLC, LLP, or LP — can only appear in a DBA name if the business is owned by an entity already on record with the Corporations Section, and only if the DBA name exactly matches that entity's name. A sole proprietor cannot register a DBA ending in "LLC."

How to file a DBA in Alaska: Step-by-step

Step 1: Search name availability

Confirm your proposed assumed name is available using the Alaska Corporations Database. Check for exact matches and close variations, and flag any naming restrictions that could sink your application.

Step 2: Obtain an Alaska business license

Your business license must indicate the DBA name you intend to use — not just a general license for your entity. It costs $50 per year. The license is issued immediately upon online approval, and you'll need your Alaska Business License Number to complete the assumed name registration form. Apply through the Alaska Division of CBPL's online portal or by mail.

Make sure the name on your business license application matches the assumed name you intend to register exactly.

Step 3: Complete the assumed name registration form

File a Business Name Registration form with the Division of CBPL, online or by mail. The form requires:

• Your full legal name
• Your business mailing address
• Your Alaska Business License Number
• The proposed assumed name
• Your business entity type

Double-check every field, especially the spelling of the assumed name. Once a filing is posted, it becomes a permanent record. Corrections require a subsequent filing and may require an additional fee.

Step 4: Pay the $25 filing fee

Alaska accepts all major credit cards for online submissions. For mail submissions, include a check or money order payable to the State of Alaska. This $25 covers the full five-year registration period — it is not an annual fee.

Step 5: Await approval and receive confirmation

Online filings process the business license step immediately. For the assumed name registration, standard processing is 10–15 business days from March through September; expect longer during October through February.

Once approved, keep your confirmation document on file — you'll need it to open a business bank account, sign contracts, or show vendors the name is properly registered.

If your application is rejected, CBPL will notify you of the reason. Common triggers include a missing or invalid business license number, a name conflict, or a prohibited term — all correctable before refiling.

What does an Alaska DBA cost? Full breakdown