If you want to operate under a name other than your own while beginning a business in Orange County, California, you may need to file a DBA (Doing Business As) form. This is a typical prerequisite for sole proprietorships, partnerships, and companies that wish to operate under a different name than their legal one. How to register a DBA in Orange County is as follows:
Step 1: Pick a Name for Your Company
Prior to submitting a DBA, you must select a name for your company that is unique and not being used by another company in your county. By conducting a computer search or physically visiting the Orange County Clerk-Recorder’s office, you can determine whether the name you want is available. The following step can be taken once you have a name that is available.
You must submit a Fictitious Business Name Statement to the Clerk-Recorder’s office in order to open a DBA in Orange County. This declaration informs the general public that you are conducting business using a name other than your legal name. The Clerk-Recorder’s office offers both online and in-person filing options for the statement. For one business name and one registrant, the cost of filing a Fictitious Business Name Statement in Orange County is $26, plus $5 for each additional business name or registrant.
You must publish your Fictitious Business Name Statement in an Orange County publication of general circulation after you file it. The Clerk-Recorder’s office must authorize the newspaper, and you must publish the statement within 30 days after filing it. You will receive an affidavit of publication from the newspaper, which you must submit to the Clerk-Recorder’s office.
Once your DBA application has been submitted in Orange County, you must renew it every five years to maintain it valid. By submitting a fresh Fictitious Business Name Statement and disseminating it in an Orange County publication of general circulation, you can renew your DBA.
Choosing a name for your business, submitting a Fictitious Business Name Statement to the Clerk-Recorder’s office, publishing your statement in a publication of general circulation, and renewing your DBA every five years are the steps required to create a DBA in Orange County. For one business name and one registrant, filing a Fictitious Business Name Statement in Orange County costs $26, plus $5 for each additional business name or registrant. Remember that a DBA is not the same as an LLC (Limited Liability Company), which shields its owners from personal liability. Instead of establishing a DBA, you might want to think about creating an LLC if you wish to limit your personal liability.
You may be obliged by California law to issue a notice of your DBA in a local newspaper after registering your fictitious business name (DBA) in Orange County. Additionally, you should get any licenses and permits required for the particular company activity you plan to engage in. You might also need to open a business bank account, register for federal and state taxes, and set up your accounting and record-keeping procedures. To advertise your company and begin drawing clients, it’s crucial to create a marketing strategy.
Your fictitious company name (DBA) must be renewed in California every five years.