California Fictitious Name Registration & Renewal

Registration of fictitious names is required. This applies to a sole proprietor seeking a business name that does not include his surname, a general partnership seeking a business name that does not include the surnames of all owners, and a business seeking a second "doing business as" name.

Fictitious name registration does not offer name protection.

• DBAs are filed in the city or county of the principal place of business in California.
• You may need to register in multiple jurisdictions.
• If you need state-wide registration, consider filing a California trademark instead.
• If you do not have a place of business in California, file with the Clerk of Sacramento County.
• A notice of registration must be published once a week for four successive weeks within 30 days of registration.

Renewal is generally due 5 years from the date of the most recent registration.

• Any change in the facts set forth in your fictitious name registration (principal place of address, names and addresses of owners, nature of business, etc.) requires re-registration within 40 days of the change.