Fictitious Business Name Filing
This service allows you to file a Fictitious Business Name Statement. Under Business and Professions Code 17900 et seq., the purpose of a Fictitious Business Name Statement is to protect those dealing with individuals or partnerships doing business under fictitious names, and it is not intended to confer any right or advantage on individuals or firms that fail to comply with the law. The filing of a fictitious business name certificate is designed to make available to the public the identity of person(s) who are legal owners of the business.
What is the process?
Search the Fictitious Business Name Statement Index
Use the Self-Service to search the Fictitious Business Name Statement index to see if the business name you have chosen has not already been filed with the Clerk-Recorder's Office.
The Clerk-Recorder’s Office does not check to see if the name is already on file and will not prevent someone from filing a duplicate or similar name. It is your responsibility to check Fictitious Business Name index to ensure that you are not infringing on other business trademarks or common law rights. (Pursuant to Business and Professions Code Section 14411, “The filing of any fictitious business name statement by a person required to file such statement pursuant to Section 17910 shall establish a rebuttable presumption that the registrant has the exclusive right to use as a trade name the fictitious business name, as well as any confusingly similar trade name, in the county in which the statement is filed, if the registrant is the first to file such a statement containing the fictitious business name in that county, and is actually engaged in a trade or business utilizing such fictitious business name or a confusingly similar name in that county.”) Enforcement of this section is at the discretion of the business, not the Clerk-Recorder’s Office.
Submit Fictitious Business Name Statement
A Fictitious Business Name Statement filing in the County of San Luis Obispo can be completed one of three ways:
- Online via the Self-Service Portal to submit the information.
THIS DOES NOT COMPLETE YOUR TRANSACTION. After submitting your information online, the registrant MUST come into one of our offices to complete the process within 30 days. Valid identification and fees required.
- In-person at one of the Clerk-Recorder's Office in San Luis Obispo.
If you are the registrant: When you arrive, use one of our kiosk computers in the lobby to fill out your application, then proceed to the counter to electronically sign the application and show valid identification.
If you are not the registrant: When you arrive, use one of our kiosk computers in the lobby to fill out the application, then proceed to the counter to show valid identification. You must submit an original Fictitious Business Name Statement signed by the registrant.
- By mail via the application. Mail the completed form to the Clerk Recorder’s Office at the address below. Must be accompanied with the appropriate fee. We recommend emailing a copy of your form to [email protected] so we can review for errors before mailing.
Mail completed form to:
County of San Luis Obispo Clerk-Recorder
1055 Monterey Street, Suite D120
San Luis Obispo, CA 93408
Publish Fictitious Business Name Statement
After filing the Fictitious Business Name Statement with Clerk-Recorder's Office, it must be published once a week for four (4) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the County of San Luis Obispo. The first publication must commence within forty-five (45) days of filing the Fictitious Business Name Statement.
Proof of Publication
Each publisher has different procedures for proof of publication, so communicate with the publisher directly regarding the process. Pursuant to BPC 17917(d) and affidavit of publication must be filed in our office within 45 days of completion of publication.
Who is eligible?
Any registrant may file a Fictitious Business Name Statement when the principal place of business is located in the County of San Luis Obispo.
This process does not preclude a person from filing a fictitious business name statement in a county other than that where the principal place of business is located, as long as the requirements of this section are also met. If the registrant has no place of business in this state, the registrant shall file with the Clerk of Sacramento County. Business and Professions Code Section 17915.
Is there a charge for this service?
Yes. Please refer to the Clerk-Recorder's Fee Schedule.
When and where is this service offered?
This service is available anytime throughout the year by mail, online, or in-person at the Clerk-Recorder Office in San Luis Obispo during our transaction hours except during County observed holidays.
Location, directions and hours of operation
Click on location name to show hours of operation, directions and phone information
Monday/Tuesday/Thursday/Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM* Wednesday, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM* *Last transactions processed 30 minutes prior to closing
1055 Monterey Street Suite D120
San Luis Obispo, CA 93408
Tel: (805) 781-5080
Fax: (805) 781-1111
FAQS
- In the case of an individual: a name that does not include the owner(s) surname or suggests the existence of additional owners, such as Sons; Associates; Brothers; Company.
- In the case of a partnership or other association of person: a name that does not include the surname of each general partner or a name that suggests the existence of additional owners.
- In the case of a corporation: any name other than the corporate name stated in its articles of incorporation.
- In the case of a limited partnership: any name other than the name of the limited partnership as on file with the Secretary of State.
- In the case of a limited liability company: any name other than the name of the LLC as on file with the Secretary of State.
The law bars a person conducting business under a fictitious business name, contrary to the requirements, from maintaining any action in any court in the State of California until the fictitious name has been executed, filed and published.
A Fictitious Business Name Statement expires five (5) years from the date of filing, unless it is abandoned sooner. You may renew your Fictitious Business Name Statement every five (5) years, paying the current fees, if there are no changes from your previous statement. If you qualify for a renewal, you are not required to publish the statement in the newspaper.
No. The only way to have exclusive use of the name is to Trademark or Copyright the name through the Secretary of State.
If you are no longer doing business under your filed Fictitious Business Name Statement, the law requires that you file a Statement of Abandonment of Use of Fictitious Business Name form, pay the appropriate fee, and then publish the form.
