North Dakota Trade Name Registration is the process of registering a trade name, also known as a "doing business as" (DBA) name, with the Secretary of State. This registration process is required by the state of North Dakota in order to legally operate a business under a business name other than the legal name of the owner or owners. Trade name registrations are available for sole proprietorship, partnerships, limited liability companies, corporations, and limited liability partnerships. It is important to note that registering a trade name does not provide the owner with any legal protection for the name, and that registering a trademark with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office is the only way to legally protect a business name.