How to Obtain a DBA (Doing Business As) Certificate

Whenever you are conducting business under a name other than your own, and you are not a Corporation or other legal entity registered with the Secretary of the Commonwealth, you must obtain a "doing business as" (DBA) certificate from the Town Clerk in the Town where the business is located.

Step 1: See the Building Official, complete the Application for a Use Permit - for DBA/Home Business  (2 page .pdf, 86 Kb), and pay the $35.00 application fee.

Step 2: Come to the Town Clerk's Office with your Use Permit. The DBA certificate is maintained in a public file and allows consumers to identify and locate the business and/or owners.

In Townsend, the filing fee for a DBA certificate is $ 20.00.  The certificate may be filed in person or by mail. The certificate must be renewed every four years ($10.00 fee).

Follow this link for a list of DBA's

For additional information, please call the Townsend Town Clerk at 978-597-1704