A fictitious business name or DBA allows you to legally do business as a particular name at minimal cost, without creating an entirely new business entity. You can open bank accounts, advertise, and do business under that name.
Filing for a DBA
To file a Fictitious Business Name in Sacramento County, please go to Sacramento County Tax Collection & Licensing. The steps for getting a DBA are similar across counties.
You must publish a "legal notice of intent to file a fictitious name" in a newspaper before your name is registered. The notice must be published once by a newspaper circulating in the county of the principal business location.
If the business is not located in California, register with the Clerk of Sacramento County. Filing a FBN statement makes public the identity of the person doing business under the fictitious name.
Within 30 days of registering your name, California requires you to publish a "fictitious business name statement" once a week for four weeks in a county newspaper.
Clarifying DBA Terminology and Benefits
Is a fictitious name the same as a DBA?
Yes, a DBA, fictitious name, or trade name is the name under which a business entity performs its functions and relates to the public. DBA is an abbreviation of "doing business as." They allow businesses to use a name other than the owner’s personal name.
A DBA is always required in California when a sole proprietor, or any other business entity, wants to operate and sign legal documents under a different name, unless the business name incorporates the owner’s last name.
Benefits of Having a DBA
- DBAs offer marketing advantages, especially for online businesses.
- DBAs provide a level of privacy for the business owners since they can operate under the business name, rather than their personal names.
- Depending on the state, registration of a DBA can be referred to with different terms but essentially describes the same process.