Fictitious Business Name (FBN) Filing Instructions

Please read all these instructions before proceeding with Fictitious Business Name Filing(s).

NOTE: The fictitious business name statement shall be filed with the county clerk of the county in which the registrant has his or her principal place of business in this state or, if the registrant has no place of business in this state, with the Clerk of Sacramento County. Nothing in this chapter shall 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 subdivision are also met. (CA Business & Professions Code Sec. 17915)

STEP 1

Check index to see if the business name you have chosen has not already been registered.

There are three ways to check the Fictitious Business Name Index:

• Search online - Fictitious Business Name Search: FBN Search

• Search via a terminal at the:
  SF Tax Collectors Office
  City Hall, Suite 140
  1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place
  San Francisco, CA 94102
  
  
• Search at our office:
  County Clerk's Office
  City Hall, Suite 168
  1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place
  San Francisco, CA 94102-4678

Note: It is your responsibility to check sources other than the S. F. County Clerk's Fictitious Business Name index to ensure that you are not infringing on other business trademark or common law rights. Other suggested sites are the Secretary of State's Business Division, the U.S. Patents and Trademark Office, or the S.F. Public Library.

STEP 2

Go to the Tax Collector's Office at City Hall, Room 140, and do the following:

1. Complete Business Registration Certificate application.
2. Pay registration fee.
3. Pay any prior delinquent taxes.

You may obtain the Application for Business Registration Certificate at: SF Tax Collector Office.

Note: You may skip this step if you have a current original San Francisco Tax Collector Business Registration Certificate, and all the information is consistent with the information on your FBN statement.

STEP 3

Complete the Fictitious Business Name Statement form. Check our Forms page  to obtain the form.

Go to the County Clerk's Information Counter to submit the completed Fictitious Business Name (FBN) form.

Note: New accounts require copy of receipt from Tax Collector's Office. Delinquent accounts require Original Temporary Verification of Registration (TVR) from Tax Collector's Office.

Upon filing, an endorsed copy of the FBN statement (usually yellow-colored) will be provided along with a receipt.

(Payment will be accepted by cash, a California preprinted check including name and address, money order payable to S. F. County Clerk, or debit card.)

 OR

 You may choose to file your FBN Statement by mail by sending:

1. The completed FBN Statement.
2. Corresponding fees.
3. A self-addressed stamped envelope.

STEP 4

An "ENDORSED" copy of the filed statement will be issued to you.

You must publish with one S.F. legal court approved newspaper (see listing of newspapers) within 30 days from the date of filing, once a week for 4 consecutive weeks.

Please Read: FBN Publication Requirement Instructions

Note: Be sure to contact newspaper companies early enough as they may not be able to publish immediately.