The Winnebago County Clerk’s office administers “Doing Business As” or “DBA” business licenses and Certificates of Ownership. All sole proprietorship and partnership businesses in Winnebago County must file for a DBA license or Assumed Name.
(NOTE: If you are starting an LLC or corporation, you need to file with Springfield, IL.)
PROCEDURE FOR FILING FOR AN ASSUMED NAME:
1. Obtain an 'Assumed Name Certificate of Intention' form from our office.
2. Effective Tuesday, December 6th, 2022, applicants must apply through the website portal click here (or a courtesy kiosk located in the Clerk’s Office) to start the process. After completing the application, contact the Winnebago County Clerk’s office between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday to SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT to receive your license: 815-319-4250
4. The County Clerk's office needs to see a valid driver's license or State ID for identification purposes.
5. There is a $30.00 filing fee to be paid when you submit the 'Assumed Name Certificate of Intention' to our office.
6. The form will be file dated. You will be given a receipt for the $30.00 payment and two copies of the 'Assumed name Certificate of Intention'.
7. You will then take the receipt and the two copies to a local newspaper. It must be a newspaper that publishes at least once a week, publishes news and has a legal notice section. The notice must appear in the newpaper within 15 days from the initial filing with the County Clerk's office.
8. The newspaper will publish the notice once a week for three consecutive weeks in the legal notice section. Payment for the publication is the responsibility of the business owner.
9. Upon completion of the three weeks of publication, the newspaper will usually mail the County Clerk's office a 'Certificate of Publication'. You should check with the newspaper to be sure they have sent this certificate to our office.
10. The County Clerk's office will then issue your 'Certificate of Ownership' which shows that your business is registered in Winnebago County.
11. Your business should not be operating under the Assumed Name until you have received the 'Certificate of Ownership' from the Winnebago County Clerk's Office.
12. If there are any changes in ownership or address of the business, these changes need to be updated and filed in the County Clerk's office.
13. The Clerk's Office does not provide business or legal advice.
14. No refunds will be issued.