How to Register a Trade Name in California

You must register a trade name, often referred to as a Doing Business As (DBA) name, if you intend to conduct business in California under a name other than your own or the name of your corporation. In California, this is needed by law to ensure that clients are clear about who they are doing business with. A step-by-step tutorial for registering a trade name in California is provided below.

1. Pick a Name

You must select a name that is not already in use in California before registering your trade name. On the website of the California Secretary of State or by visiting their office directly, you can verify whether your desired name is available.

2. Submit a Fictitious Business Name Statement

Following the selection of an original name, you must submit a Fictitious Business Name Statement to the county clerk in the area where your company is situated. This declaration must contain the name of your company, your name, your address, and a succinct description of the nature of your business. Additionally, there is a filing fee that varies by county that must be paid.

3. Publish the Statement

Once your Fictitious Business Name Statement has been submitted, you are required to publish it in a newspaper with a wide readership in the county where your company is located. The statement must be published once a week for a period of four weeks, and you must submit an affidavit of publication to the county clerk’s office.

4. Maintain Your Trade Name In five years, your trade name registration will expire, at which point you must renew it. By submitting a new Fictitious Business Name Statement and publishing it in the same way as the first registration, you can renew your trade name registration. Does California Require DBA Registration?

In California, the cost to register a DBA varies by county but typically costs between $10 and $100. Additionally, the statement must be paid for publication in a newspaper with general readership, which can cost several hundred dollars. Is the trade name the same as the LLC?

No, an LLC and a trade name are not the same thing. A trade name is only a name that a business uses to do business under, whereas an LLC is a legal entity that is distinct from its owners. An LLC may, however, decide to operate under a trade name. How Much Does It Cost in California to Trademark a Name?

The price of registering a name as a trademark in California varies according to the type of trademark you want and the level of protection you need. The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) charges between $225 and $600 per class of products or services for the filing of trademark applications. Additionally, you might need to pay an attorney several thousand dollars to help with the application procedure.