Jordan Z. Marks

ASSESSOR | RECORDER | COUNTY CLERK

County of San Diego

Fictitious Business Name

Any person who regularly transacts business for profit under a fictitious name in the County of San Diego is required to file a Fictitious Business Name Statement with the County Clerk within 40 days of first transacting business. Once registered, it is effective for 5 years. The fictitious business name will need to be re-registered prior to the date of expiration or if there are changes to the filed statement, except for the change of a residence address.

You can now file and submit your Fictitious Business Name application all online!

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What is an FBN?

A Fictitious Business Name (FBN) is a business name that does not include the surname of the individual owner and/or each of the partners, or the nature of the business is not clearly evident from the name. For corporations or limited liability corporations, a Fictitious Business Name is any name other than the exact corporate name as stated in the Articles of Incorporation filed with the Secretary of State.

Before You File an FBN Statement

Please review the information below before completing and submitting your Fictitious Business Name (FBN) Statement form.

  • The registrant is responsible for searching the business name availability before filing an FBN Statement. Conduct an FBN Records Search to ensure the name you intend to file is not already registered. 
  • Complete the form clearly using black or blue ink only. Do not use whiteout. Strikeouts are acceptable if initialed.
  • Our office cannot provide legal advice regarding whether a business name may or may not be used, except as provided in California Business and Professions Code sections 17910.5(a) and (c).
  • Our office cannot assist in determining how a business should be organized or conducted.
  • After filing the FBN Statement with the County Clerk, the registrant must publish the statement in an approved newspaper of general circulation within 45 days of the filing date. A list of approved newspapers will be provided for in-person filings and is also available online for mail-in filings. The notice must be published once per week for four consecutive weeks. Please allow the newspaper enough time to prepare and publish the notice. 
  • Once an FBN Statement has been filed, changes or corrections cannot be made. Any changes or corrections will require a new filing and filing fee. No Exceptions.
  • Filing fees are non-refundable once the statement has been filed.
  • If filing in person, staff will review final filing instructions with you before you leave the office.

Keep in mind: 

Although registration of an FBN is required, the County Clerk’s office serves ONLY as the central depository of these names, neither approving nor disapproving a particular name, and CANNOT accept responsibility for omissions, similarities, or duplications among the FBNs on file.

FBNs are filed only in the county where the business is located. Statewide registries do not exist. All prospective registrants are cautioned that registration of a fictitious name DOES NOT guarantee exclusive use of that name.

To determine if a particular business name is currently registered or to research the name of the owner(s) of a particular business, you may conduct an FBN Records Search in person or online, or request the information by mail for a fee. 

Obtaining a Certified Copy of Your FBN

A certified copy of a Fictitious Business Name (FBN) statement is required primarily to prove legal ownership and authorization of a business name to third parties. Banks frequently require it to open business accounts, while government agencies need it to issue licenses, permits, and contracts. You can request copies at any of our available office locations, online, or via mail as described below.

Fees are payable by cash (in person only), check or money order (in person or by mail), or credit/debit card (in person or online). An additional $2.50 surcharge is applicable for card payments. Check or money orders must be payable to San Diego Recorder/County Clerk.

  • $2 for the first page and $0.05 for each additional page
  • $1 for certification of copies, per filing

Order copies of filed FBN Statements online:

Conduct an FBN Records Search online, then add selected filings to the cart. This service requires the creation of an account. Be sure the address on your account profile (not just the billing page) is the correct shipping address you wish to receive the copy. Online orders are printed the following business day and sent via regular mail. Please allow 3 to 5 business days for delivery.

Order copies of filed FBN Statements by mail:

Submit a request by mail and provide the EXACT business name and, if applicable, the registrant name. Payment must be made by check or money order payable to: San Diego Recorder/County Clerk. Do not send cash by mail. Please allow 7 to 10 business days to receive the copy.

Mail your request with check or money order to:

San Diego Recorder/County Clerk
ATTN: FBN
P.O. Box 121750
San Diego, CA 92112-1750

Three Convenient Ways to File:

Before filing, please review all instructions on the General Info tab. 

Online (Recommended)

Submit electronically and take note of your Transaction Summary information, such as Kiosk number, for your office visit.

In-Person

Print and sign the FBN Statement to bring to your office visit.

By-Mail

  • Online (Select Mail-In for submission type)
    Complete electronically and print to provide an original, wet-ink signature before mailing.
  • Printable
    Print, fill out, and sign for mailing. Send the completed application with a check or money order to:
    • San Diego Recorder/County Clerk ATTN: FBN
      P.O. Box 121750
      San Diego, CA 92112-1750

Valid government-issued photo ID is required for all in-person submissions, including for third parties and authorized agents filing on behalf of the registrant.

Fees:

  • $54 for the first business name and registrant
  • $5 for each additional business name or registrant 

Fees are payable by cash, check, money order, or credit/debit card. An additional $2.50 surcharge is applicable for card payments. Mail-in requests can only be paid via check or money order. Do not send cash by mail.

Check or money order payable to: San Diego Recorder/County Clerk.

Locations:

This service is not available at our Kearny Mesa Office. Instead, you may register an FBN at any of our other office locations including; downtown San Diego, Chula Vista, Santee, and San Marcos. An appointment is not required. 

FBN Records Search

Conduct an FBN Records Search to ensure the name you intend to file is not already registered.  You may also use the site to order copies of FBN Statements to be mailed to you.

Request a search by mail:

County Clerk staff can conduct an FBN Records Search on your behalf for an $8 fee. Submit a request by mail and provide the EXACT business name and, if applicable, the registrant name. Please allow 7 to 10 business days to receive the search results.

Payable to: San Diego Recorder/County Clerk.

Do not send cash by mail.

Mail your request with check or money order to:

San Diego Recorder/County Clerk
ATTN: Vital Records
P.O. Box 121750
San Diego, CA 92112-1750 

In the case of a business owned by an individual, a “fictitious business name” is any name that does not include the last name (surname) of the owner, or which implies additional owners (such as “Company,” “and Company,” “and Sons,” “Associates,” etc.)

Examples:

  • “Jonathan Garcia Catering” is not a Fictitious Business Name.
  • “Garcia and Company Catering” is a Fictitious Business Name.

For Corporations or Limited Liability Corporations, a Fictitious Business Name is ANY name OTHER than the EXACT corporate name as stated in the Articles of Incorporation filed with the Secretary of State.

Appointments are not necessary. See our available office locations for hours of operation. 

Updating, changing, or correcting any information on an active FBN Statement would require you to file a new statement, pay the appropriate fees, and publish in the newspaper.

All new filings must be published. A list of approved newspapers will be provided at the time of filing, or you can find this in the Forms tab.

For renewals only: If there are no changes to the original filing and it is renewed within 40 days of the expiration date, there is no need to publish.

Upon ceasing to transact business under a fictitious business name that was filed in the previous five years, the registrant shall file an FBN Statement of Abandonment. (B&P Code 17922)

When filing an FBN Statement of Abandonment, you must pay the appropriate fees and publish in the newspaper. 

If the FBN Statement has already expired (reached its 5-year expiration), there is no need to file an FBN Statement of Abandonment.

Upon withdrawing as a general partner of a partnership that conducts business under a fictitious business name, the registrant may file an FBN Statement of Withdrawal from Partnership. (B&P Code 17923)

When filing an FBN Statement of Withdrawal, you must pay the appropriate fees and publish in the newspaper.

The withdrawal of a general partner does not cause an FBN Statement to expire if the withdrawing partner files a Statement of Withdrawal meeting the requirements of B&P Code 17923.

Conduct an FBN Records Search by name or filing number. If the POP was filed, it will show in Document Details under "Proofs of Publication" with a hyperlink to the filing.

An Affidavit of Identity is no longer required. 

If filing in person, valid government-issued photo ID is required. If a third party or authorized agent is filing, they must present their own valid government-issued photo ID. A copy of the registrant's ID is not required. 

If filing by mail, a copy of the ID is not required. A notary acknowledgement is also not required. We need the original FBN Statement with an original, wet-ink signature and payment.