How To Register A Fictitious Business Name (DBA) In Any California City.

1) Selecting A DBA Name That Is Legal

The fictitious name for your California business has a few strict requirements. First, before you register a business name, you must ensure the DBA is unique and not already taken by another company. The California DBA must also adhere to the state’s guidelines.

Before you set up a DBA, you must search your county to ensure that your business name is not already taken. For example, you will check in with San Diego County if your business is in San Diego and with Los Angeles County if you are in Los Angeles. We will cover how to search these county resources in the next step.

Important rules to follow when creating your California DBA.

First, when you register a business name, the DBA cannot include:

• The suffix of a business entity, unless your company is recognized as one of these entities. For example, your fictitious business name in California cannot use LLC, Corp, or Inc. unless your business is an LLC, Corp, or Inc.
• There are several “restricted” words that will both require additional documentation and necessitate that your business is owned by someone with a specific license (for example, a lawyer or an attorney).
• Depending on your county, there may be additional rules to consider for a fictitious business name and set up a DBA.

Reserve a DBA Domain Now

Found the perfect DBA to set up? We encourage you to check if someone has already register the DBA and if the web domain is available. These days, the proper domain name and business website are integral to success. If you reserve the domain now, no one else can secure it, even if you are not quite ready to create a brand-new website for your company. Therefore, register a fictitious business name and domain name.

2) Register DBA In The City Your Business Is Located

Set up a DBA in the city where the company is doing business. If you are unsure which county to register a business name in, check online. Make sure not to register your fictitious business name in the county where you live but in the county where the business will conduct business.

To do business outside of California, you must register a business name with the County Clerk in the city and state where you’re doing business.

While California oversees all DBA fictitious business name rules and requirements, and many steps you must take to procure a fictitious business name in California, it is essential to check in with your specific county to register DBA. Each county clerk has a website dedicated to register DBA.

To register a business name, search online to find out if your fictitious business name is available. Then, follow the instructions on the County Clerk’s website to reserve your fictitious company name. If filing online is not going well not, you may mail it or even register through a chosen third party. The fee ($26) is manageable, and after five years, remember that you will need to renew the business license. You might need a form of notarization when you renew, and you will be again expected to pay $26. For every extra DBA, you must post a statement or announcement in a newspaper for the fictitious business name. Contact your County Clerk and tell them you need to register a DBA and publish the fictitious business name. The County Clerk’s office will be able to give you a list of newspapers to get a DBA, saving you time. Please note that the fictitious business name statement that you decide to publish needs to run for four consecutive weeks.

City County Clerk to File A Fictitious Business Name (DBA):

• Alameda County, CA
• Alpine County, CA
• Amador County, CA
• Butte County, CA
• Calaveras County, CA
• Colusa County, CA
• Contra Costa County, CA
• Del Norte County, CA
• El Dorado County, CA
• Fresno County, CA
• Glenn County, CA
• Humboldt County, CA
• Imperial County, CA
• Inyo County, CA
• Kern County, CA
• Kings County, CA
• Lake County, CA
• Lassen County, CA
• Los Angeles County, CA
• Madera County, CA
• Marin County, CA
• Mariposa County, CA
• Mendocino County, CA
• Merced County, CA
• Modoc County, CA
• Mono County, CA
• Monterey County, CA
• Napa County, CA
• Nevada County, CA
• Orange County, CA
• Placer County, CA
• Plumas County, CA
• Riverside County, CA
• Sacramento County, CA
• San Benito County, CA
• San Bernardino County, CA
• San Diego County, CA
• The City and County of San Francisco, CA
• San Joaquin County, CA
• San Luis Obispo County, CA
• San Mateo County, CA
• Santa Barbara County, CA
• Santa Clara County, CA
• Santa Cruz County, CA
• Shasta County, CA
• Sierra County, CA
• Siskiyou County, CA
• Solano County, CA
• Sonoma County, CA
• Stanislaus County, CA
• Sutter County, CA
• Tehama County, CA
• Trinity County, CA
• Tulare County, CA
• Tuolumne County, CA
• Ventura County, CA
• Yolo County, CA
• Yuba County, CA

3) DBA Follow Up Tasks: Website, Bank Accounts, and Insurance

After you register a business name in your California county, there are additional tasks that we recommend performing as part of your DBA license. While everyone’s business journey is different, it is usually beneficial to follow a significant achievement, such as registering a fictitious business name in California, with some smaller key steps.

• Create a website for your new company. Plenty of helpful builders are out there, such as Square Space and Go Daddy. Enjoy the creative aspects of making your personalized website!
• Open a bank account for your business and consider getting a credit card for business expenses only. That might also make sense if you’d like to wait until your company is more established for this.
• Depending on the size and level of your business, you will want to purchase the appropriate insurance for your assets and other members and shareholders. General liability coverage is a solid starting point in most cases.

If you need help to register a business name, please get in touch with our California small business attorney.

4) FAQ Register Fictitious Business Name

If you still have questions on how to register a business name, we hope to cover at least some of them here.

• Can I possess multiple DBAs?

The short answer is yes. You may register as many fictitious business name as you like. Keep in mind, though, that you will need to be practical. Each DBA adds additional paperwork and fees to the pile. You need to ask yourself if it is worth it to own multiple DBAs and if it will help or hurt your company. When you register many DBAs, it creates more administrative work.

• Can DBAs obtain EINs?

You are not required to procure an EIN since your DBA is a fictitious business name and is not a separate business entity. However, an EIN would be needed for the company to participate in.

• Can DBAs turn into LLCs?

LLCs are companies with limited liability. DBAs are simply names. This is not possible. Also, a proprietorship is not a DBA.

• Can DBAs use LLC in their names?

Yes, if your DBA is a part of a business that is truly a corporation and structured as an LLC. Therefore, you don’t need to get a DBA if the LLC already uses the same name.

• Can DBAs be established for rental properties?

The idea of having a rental under your name will not provide protection. You should create an LLC instead of a fictitious business name to protect your assets. A business attorney would be able to help you with this.

• Should I assign a DBA or legally change the business name?

Usually, obtaining a DBA for your business is an optimal choice instead of a lawful name change. Getting a fictitious business name may seem like many different steps, but it is an easier option in most cases.

• Will my California fictitious business name be protected? What if people try using it for other businesses in different counties or states?

Usually, you are protected when you register your DBA—check with California and your County Clerk to make sure. There is also the option to trademark the fictitious business name. If you are interested in the trademark process and the protection it might offer from state to state, the best bet is to check with a business attorney.

• Can a business use multiple DBAs in California?

Some businesses do end up using multiple DBAs for different brands. However, before you begin thinking in those terms, remember that in California, you must first register the DBA to prevent future conflicts with a different company using an identical name. You might not be aware that a company even exists with the name you would like to use, but that is where registration and research will come into play to get a DBA.

• Which businesses can use DBAs in California?

There are no DBA restrictions based on the business type. Whether you are running an S corp, a C corp, an LLC, or a sole proprietorship, you can choose to assign a DBA to your business. Even though your DBA is fictitious, your company is still recognized as a legitimate entity, so do not worry about that.

For example, you may use a fictitious business name if you are opening a surf shop in San Diego, a salon in Los Angeles, or a ski shop in San Jose, California. Perhaps you are in charge of a multi-million-dollar software corporation in San Jose? Well, you are still allowed to use a DBA with no change to the structure of your business or the rate of taxes you will pay.

• Why would you want to assign a DBA to your new company?

Most companies that utilize a fictitious business name do so for marketing—it is that simple. Choosing a brand name that represents the purpose of your business and is both easy to understand and to remember is essential. Yes, there are times when the business owner’s name matches the business’s goals, but many times it does not. Savvy entrepreneurs know that brands do not exist without their names and logos and that today’s markets are flooded with new businesses. A clear, approachable brand name can help your business shine and, even more importantly, provide the customer with some quick insight into what your company does.

For example, Stone LLC doesn’t illustrate the purpose of the business, but Slick’s Used Snowboards is a name that is quickly understood. So you want to get a DBA as Slick’s Used Snowboards as a fictitious business name.

Good Luck with your DBA in California

Filing a fictitious business name in California is relatively easy. We hope this has answered all your questions on how to set up a dba. But, if you would like additional information on how to file a DBA in California, please contact our California business lawyers for free consultation to register a DBA in California.