DBA/FBN - San Francisco County

DBA is an abbreviation for "doing business as." DBA's are also called Fictitious Name Statements, Business Name Statements, Trade Names, Assumed Names and Assumed Business Certificates.

Registering a DBA is required if you are doing business under any name other than your given name, or your actual corporate name.  A Doing Business As (DBA) or Fictitious Business Name (FBN) Statement is required if you plan to operate your business under a name that differs from your company's legal name.

With a DBA you can legally open a bank account and conduct other transactions using your trade name.  This is a critical first step toward building name recognition for your business. 

Prior to opening a business, a business name must be selected that is not already in use and then registered. Business and Professional Code 17918 specifies "No person transacting business under a fictitious business name contrary to the provisions of this chapter, or his assignee, may maintain any action upon or on account of any contract made, or transaction had, in the fictitious business name in any court of this state until the fictitious business name statement has been executed, filed, and published as required by this chapter. For the purposes of this section, the failure to comply with subdivision (b) of Section 17917 does not constitute transacting business contrary to the provisions of this chapter.

Renewals:  A fictitious business name statement expires five years from the date it is filed in the office of the County Clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed prior to that date if you intend to continue doing business under that name. A renewal does not require publication.

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State law requires that within 30 days the registrant must publish a statement in a newspaper of general circulation in the county in which the principal place of business is located once a week for four successive weeks.