Start a business
What to file when you start: a fictitious business name (DBA) with your county, how a DBA compares with an LLC, and the deadlines that follow.
Statewide guides
How to File a DBA (Fictitious Business Name) in California
The statewide steps for filing a California fictitious business name (DBA) statement: who needs one, the form, fees, newspaper publication and renewal.
Start a businessDBA vs LLC in California: Cost, Liability and Which You Need
A California DBA registers a name; an LLC creates a company with liability protection. Compare costs, taxes, paperwork and when you need each.
Start a businessCalifornia DBA Deadline Calculator
Enter when you started using your business name and when you filed, and get your California DBA filing, newspaper publication and renewal dates.
Start a business at a glance
These guides cover the first paperwork most new California businesses face. That means filing a fictitious business name (DBA) with your county, deciding whether you also need an LLC, and keeping track of the deadlines that follow. A DBA only registers a name. An LLC is a separate company that can protect your personal assets.
| Item | Rule | Guide link |
|---|---|---|
| File a DBA | Within 40 days of starting to do business under the name | How to file a DBA |
| Publish the DBA | Start within 45 days of filing, once a week for four weeks in a row | How to file a DBA |
| Affidavit of publication | File with the county clerk within 45 days after the last publication | DBA deadline calculator |
| DBA renewal | Expires 5 years after filing, or 40 days after the facts in it change | DBA deadline calculator |
| Form an LLC | $70 Articles of Organization plus $20 Statement of Information | DBA vs LLC |
| LLC annual tax | At least $800 every year, including the first | DBA vs LLC |
Where to start
- If you need to file a business name with your county, step by step, read How to file a DBA in California.
- If you need to decide between a DBA, an LLC or both, read DBA vs LLC in California.
- If you need your exact filing, publication and renewal dates, use the DBA deadline calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a DBA if I use my own name?
No, not if the name is your own legal name and doesn't suggest other owners. You do need one if the name leaves out your surname or adds words like "& Sons". An LLC or corporation needs one if it trades under any name other than its exact registered name.
Is the $800 LLC tax waived for the first year?
No. The first-year exemption covered 2021 to 2023 and has ended. A new LLC's first $800 payment is due by the 15th day of the 4th month after it files with the Secretary of State.
How long does it take to get a DBA in California?
Usually at least a month. After you file with the county, the statement must run in a newspaper once a week for four weeks in a row. The newspaper's affidavit of publication is filed after that.