Wyoming Trade Name Registration: $100 for 10 Years, Mail-Only, Notarized, and the Name Must Already Be in Use
If you sell under a name that is not your legal name or your LLC's registered name, Wyoming treats it as a trade name. Most people call it a Wyoming DBA ('doing business as'). Some forms and banks call it a wyoming fictitious name. The terms mean the same thing. This guide covers the filing, what it costs, what it does and does not protect, and what else you need before you take customers under the name.
The short version: The Wyoming Secretary of State registers trade names for $100 for a 10-year term. The application goes by mail only, must be signed and notarized, and can take up to 15 business days. The name must already be in use in Wyoming before you file. Registration is optional.
What a Wyoming trade name registration does and does not do
A trade name registration is a public record filed with the Wyoming Secretary of State, Business Division. It ties a name to an owner so anyone searching can see who is behind it. The filing is statewide. You do not file with your county clerk.
The registration is narrower than most people expect. A trade name is not a legal entity. It gives you no liability protection and does not create a Wyoming LLC or corporation. If you want your personal assets separated from the business, that protection comes from forming an LLC or corporation, which is a separate filing. A trade name also does not give you trademark rights. Wyoming's state trademark is a different registration under chapter 40-1 of the Wyoming Statutes. It has a five-year term, and renewal carries a fee of up to $150 under 40-1-105.
Fees at a glance
The figures below come from the Secretary of State fee schedule effective July 1, 2026. Confirm them on the agency site before you mail a check, since fee schedules change.
| Filing | Fee | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Trade name registration | $100 | 10-year term (W.S. 40-2-101 to 40-2-111) |
| Renewal | $50 | File within the 6 months before the registration expires |
| Assignment | $25 | Transfers the registration to a new owner |
| Cancellation | $10 | Cancels the registration |
| Trade name reservation | $30 | Holds a name for 120 days; cannot be renewed (W.S. 40-2-103) |
The trade name reservation is separate from the registration. Do not confuse it with the LLC name reservation, which costs $60, is paper only, cannot be accepted by email, and takes up to 15 business days. The LLC reservation lasts 120 days under W.S. 17-29-109. You can find the form at the Secretary of State's LLC name reservation page.
Expedited service: The trade name application instructions (revised May 2022) say expedited service is not available. A newer Secretary of State expedite sheet (revised June 2026) covers Title 40, chapters 1 and 2, which include trade names and trademarks. Because the two documents conflict, check with the Business Division before you pay for expedited handling or promise a client a filing date.
Step 1: Make sure the name is already in use
Wyoming requires the name to be in use in Wyoming when you apply. A trade name registration is for a name you already operate under. It is not a way to lock up a name for a business you plan to launch later. If you need to hold a name while you finish setting up, use the trade name reservation.
Before you file, keep proof of use, such as an invoice, a photo of your sign, or a web page showing the name. The application may not ask for it, but you will want it if the filing is ever questioned.
Step 2: Run a Wyoming trade name search
Start with the Secretary of State's live filing search at the WyoBiz business filing search. Search the exact name, then search variations. Wyoming's distinguishability standard under W.S. 17-16-401(f) does not treat company-type words, the words 'the,' 'and,' and 'a,' or punctuation as making names distinguishable. In practice, 'Big Sky Supply', 'Big Sky Supply LLC', and 'The Big Sky Supply' should all be treated as the same name.
Treat the search as a first check, not a clearance. It does not tell you whether a business outside Wyoming uses a similar name or whether your name conflicts with a federal trademark. Ask the Business Division whether its public search returns registered trade names, since that determines how much a search can tell you.
Step 3: If you are an entity, get in good standing first
An LLC or corporation filing a trade name must be registered and in good standing first. For an LLC, that means the Articles of Organization are on file and the annual report is current. The annual report is a $60 minimum annual license tax, due the first day of the anniversary month of formation. The fee is the greater of $60 or two-tenths of one mill ($.0002) on assets located and employed in Wyoming, so an entity with more than $300,000 of Wyoming assets pays more than $60. An entity that does not pay within 60 days of the due date is subject to administrative dissolution. Check your entity's status on the WyoBiz search before you file.
Step 4: Complete, sign, notarize, and mail the application
Download the Application for Registration of Trade Name from the Secretary of State site. Then:
- Use the current form from sos.wyo.gov, not a copy saved from a third-party site.
- Enter the name exactly as you searched it, along with the owner and business information the form requests.
- Sign the application in front of a notary, who completes the notarial certificate.
- Mail the signed, notarized application with the $100 fee. Confirm the mailing address and accepted payment method with the Business Division before you send anything.
- Allow up to 15 business days for processing.
Do not try to file online. Trade names cannot be registered or reserved through WyoBiz. The online portal handles entity filings such as LLC articles. A trade name application goes by mail.
Step 5: Keep the registration active
The registration runs for 10 years. Renewal costs $50 and must be filed within the six months before it expires. Put the expiration date on your calendar the day the registration is approved. If it lapses, you would need to start over with a new registration at the full $100.
The Secretary of State can also cancel a trade name record for fraud or for a false filing you do not correct. You get 60 days to respond. If the cancellation stands, you have 30 days to appeal to court under W.S. 40-2-107(a)(iv). Accurate filings are the cheapest protection you have.
What else you need before you take customers
A trade name registration is one piece of the setup. Wyoming has no general statewide business license. The Secretary of State notes that beyond registration, a company may need a specific license or permit based on its business. These are usually issued by the city clerk where you operate. Only cities and towns issue business licenses. Counties do not, though they handle land use, building, septic, and liquor matters.
Sales and use tax
If you make taxable sales, you need a sales and use tax license from the Wyoming Department of Revenue, Excise Tax Division. The application carries a $60 non-refundable fee. Apply through the Department of Revenue registration page.
The state sales tax rate is 4%. Counties can add option taxes, and some areas add resort district taxes. There is no city sales tax. County rates change quarterly, so check the rate chart on the Department of Revenue site for your location, and write down the date you checked it.
Taxable sales include meals and prepared food, lodging, admissions, telecommunications, utilities, alcohol, repair and alteration of personal property, and oil and gas well-site services. Intrastate freight is exempt, and food for home consumption, including most baked goods, is exempt. Contractors pay tax on the materials they install.
Wyoming issues no resale certificate form. A buyer purchasing for resale signs a certificate and gives it to you, the seller. Out-of-state sellers face a remote seller threshold of $100,000 in sales, measured by sales alone.
Employees and workers' compensation
Wyoming's workers' compensation coverage is a monopolistic state fund run by the Department of Workforce Services. Coverage is compulsory only for listed extrahazardous industries. Sole proprietors, partners, officers, and LLC members are excluded unless they elect coverage. Confirm with Workforce Services whether your industry is listed before you hire.
Contractor licensing
Wyoming has no state contractor, plumber, or HVAC license. The state licenses electrical trades. Other contractor licensing is handled city by city, so check with the city clerk where you work.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Registering a name you have not yet used in Wyoming.
- Assuming the DBA protects your personal assets. Only an entity filing does that.
- Trying to file online through WyoBiz.
- Skipping the search and filing a name that differs from an existing one only by 'LLC' or 'The.'
- Letting the renewal window pass.
Where to get help
- Wyoming Secretary of State, Business Division: sos.wyo.gov
- Wyoming SBDC Network for business advising: wyomingsbdc.org
- SBA Wyoming district information: sba.gov/district/wyoming
Disclaimer: This article is informational content, not legal or tax advice. Fees, tax rates, and processing rules change. Confirm current requirements with the agency named in each section before you file or pay. For questions about liability, trademark rights, or the tax treatment of your business, consult a qualified attorney or CPA.