Do I Have to Publish My Fictitious Business Name in California?

Do I have to publish my fictitious business name in California?
State law requires that within 30 days of filing, the registrant must publish a statement in a newspaper of general circulation once a week for four consecutive weeks in the county which the principal place of business is located. A renewal does not require publication.
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You must register a fake business name, sometimes referred to as a “doing business as” or DBA name, if you’re beginning a business in California and intend to use a name other than your own or the name of your corporate entity. But is it necessary to register your DBA in California? Yes, it is the answer.

According to California law, you must publish a notice of your plan to use the fictitious name in a newspaper of general circulation in the county where your principal place of business is located within 30 days of filing a DBA statement with the county clerk’s office. For four weeks in a row, the notice must be published once each week. You must submit an affidavit of publication to the county clerk following publication. Does a DBA require its own bank account?

It’s frequently a good idea to open a separate bank account for your business under your fake name, even though a DBA is not a distinct legal organization. This can simplify record-keeping and help you keep your personal funds and corporate finances separate. Can two businesses share the same DBA name in this regard? The DBA names of two different businesses cannot be the same. The county clerk’s office will verify that the name you’ve selected is not already in use by another company in the same county when you file a DBA statement with them.

Can there be two DBA owners?

A DBA may really have two owners. It’s crucial to remember that a DBA’s owners are solely responsible for any debts or legal problems that result from the business. To protect your personal assets while beginning a business with another person, you might choose to create a separate legal entity, like an LLC or corporation. If I don’t publish my DBA, what happens?

If your DBA is not published in California, you could be in trouble with the law. Publishing your DBA can assist establish your company’s validity and shield it from future legal disputes in addition to being needed by law. If your DBA is not publicly available, it could lead to penalties, legal action, or the inability to execute agreements or safeguard your company’s intellectual property.

In conclusion, you must publish a notice of your plan to use the name in a newspaper of general circulation in the county where your principal place of business is located if you’re beginning a business in California and registering a fictitious company name. It’s frequently a good idea to open a separate bank account for your business under your fake name, even though a DBA is not a distinct legal organization. Although a DBA can have two owners and no two firms can use the same DBA name, the owners are still personally responsible for any legal problems that the business may encounter. Last but not least, failing to register your DBA may subject you to penalties, legal action, or render you unable to execute agreements or safeguard the intellectual property of your company.