If you conduct business in California under a name other than your personal name or the legal name of your company entity, you must register for an FBN. This holds true for corporations, partnerships, LLCs, and sole proprietorships. If John Smith wishes to operate a landscaping company under the name “Sacramento Lawn Care,” for instance, he must apply for an FBN. How Can I Obtain a DBA in California?
You must submit a Fictitious Business Name Statement to the Sacramento County Clerk-Recorder’s Office in order to obtain an FBN there. The fictitious business name, the business address, and the registrant’s name and address must all be included in the declaration. Additionally, there is a filing fee that varies by county and must be paid.
After the statement has been submitted, it must be published in a newspaper with general circulation in the county where your company is located. For four weeks straight, you must perform this once a week. You must submit an Affidavit of Publication to the County Clerk-Recorder’s Office following the final publication.
Do I have to use the business name I register? You can register a business name even if you don’t utilize it. However, bear in mind that even if you haven’t been using the name, you’ll still need to renew your FBN statement every five years.
Yes, a DBA may have a minimum of two owners. However, each owner must sign the Fictitious Business Name Statement in front of a notary public and have their names listed on the document.
Finally, establishing a fictitious business name in Sacramento is a simple procedure that requires filing a Fictitious Business Name Statement and disseminating it in a publication with wide distribution. If you have a DBA with several owners, don’t forget to renew your FBN statement every five years and make sure all owners are listed on the statement.