Beginning February 2, 2026, the Delaware Division of Revenue will begin administering Delaware’s statewide trade name registry as part of the state’s transition to a new, centralized online trade name registration system. The transition to this new registration system for “Doing Business As” names (“DBAs”) was initially set to take effect June 2, 2025, but was postponed by the Governor’s signing of House Bill 177. More details about the original legislation is available in our previous alert.
Since the Governor’s postponement of the effective date until February 2, 2026, additional guidance has been published by the Delaware Division of Revenue, clarifying that businesses with existing Delaware trade name registrations are not required to re-apply or re-register their existing trade names in the new system, but may choose to do so at no cost. Re-registration will, however, require an associated business license.
Businesses wishing to register a new trade name on or after February 2, 2026 must do so through Delaware Division of Revenue’s “One Stop” online portal. The required information remains consistent with prior registration requirements, but responsibility for administering the registration process has shifted from county-level Prothonotary offices to a centralized statewide authority, and applicants are required to have an associated business license.
If you have any questions about the changes or would like assistance in re-registering your existing trade names in the new system or registering a new name with the Delaware Division of Revenue, please contact attorney Charmaine Nyman or any member of Barley Snyder’s Business Practice Group.
