You’ve got the perfect idea. The logo is drafted, the domain is sitting in your cart, and you’re ready to finally launch that vintage plant shop or mobile detailing service. But then you hit the legal wall: the DBA. In California, we call it a Fictitious Business Name (FBN).
Honestly, the biggest mistake new entrepreneurs make is heading straight to the California Secretary of State website to see if their name is "available." You’ll find a search bar there, sure. But if you’re looking for a DBA, that's the wrong place to look.
A state of california fictitious business name search doesn't actually happen at the state level. It's a county game. If you search the Secretary of State’s bizfile Online portal, you’re only looking at Corporations, LLCs, and LPs. If someone is running a sole proprietorship called "Blue Dream Tacos" in San Diego, the state won't tell you a thing about them.
You have to go local.
The Local Loophole: Why the State Won't Help You
California is unique. Most states have a centralized database for everything. Not us. Here, Fictitious Business Names are governed by the California Business and Professions Code § 17900. This law basically says that if you’re doing business under a name that doesn't include your last name (like "Smith’s Plumbing" vs. "Elite Pipes"), you have to tell the county.
Because it’s a county requirement, the records live with the County Clerk or Registrar-Recorder.
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If you live in Los Angeles, you search the L.A. County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk database. If you’re in the Bay Area, you’re looking at San Francisco or Alameda records. There is no "master list" for the whole state. This is frustrating if you plan on operating across multiple counties, as a name could be free in Riverside but taken in San Bernardino.
How to Actually Perform a Search (The Right Way)
Since you’re likely 2026-bound, you’ll find that most counties have finally moved their search portals into the modern era. You don’t usually have to trek down to the clerk’s office and flip through dusty binders anymore.
- Identify your principal place of business. This is the county where your office or home base is located.
- Find the County Clerk’s FBN Search portal. For example, L.A. County uses an open-source data portal (lavote.gov), while San Diego has its own dedicated search tool (sdarcc.gov).
- Run multiple variations. Don't just search "Golden State Coffee." Search "Golden State" and "California Coffee." People get sneaky with punctuation.
- Check the status. A search result might show a name is "expired." In California, FBNs expire every five years. If it's expired and the business looks dead, you might be able to snag it, but proceed with caution.
If you don't have a physical place of business in California but you're still required to file here (common for some out-of-state entities), the law defaults you to Sacramento County. That’s your home base by proxy.
The Secret "Secondary" Search
Wait. Don't stop at the county search.
Even if the county says the name is "available," you could still be sued into oblivion for trademark infringement. The County Clerk’s job is ministerial. They don't check for "confusingly similar" names or trademarks. They just check if the exact string of letters is already on a piece of paper in their office.
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You’ve gotta check the USPTO (United States Patent and Trademark Office) database. If some guy in Texas has a federal trademark on your business name, it doesn't matter if the Orange County Clerk let you register it. They will send you a cease and desist, and you will lose.
Also, check the California Secretary of State’s bizfile Online anyway. Even though FBNs aren't there, LLCs and Corporations are. If you register "Sunset Media" as a DBA, but there's already a "Sunset Media, LLC" registered with the state, you're going to have a hard time opening a bank account or avoiding a legal headache.
Fees and the 2026 Reality
Everything costs more now. Gone are the days of the $20 filing. In 2026, expect to pay anywhere from $35 to $70 for a basic FBN filing, plus an additional **$5 to $10** for each extra name or owner.
And then there's the newspaper thing.
Yes, California still requires you to publish your FBN in a "newspaper of general circulation." It’s an old-school fraud prevention tactic. You have to run the notice once a week for four consecutive weeks.
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- Deadline: You must start this within 45 days of filing.
- Cost: This often costs more than the filing itself—sometimes $40, sometimes $200 depending on the paper.
- Proof: The newspaper will send an "Affidavit of Publication" to the county, though some papers handle the filing for you.
What if the Name is Taken?
If your state of california fictitious business name search reveals someone else is using your dream name, don't panic. First, check if they are actually active. If their filing expired three years ago and their website is a 404 error, they’ve likely abandoned it.
However, if they are active, you can't just add an "s" to the end and call it a day. California clerks generally won't stop you from filing a similar name (they aren't the "name police"), but the original owner can sue you for "unfair competition" under the Business and Professions Code.
Kinda sucks, right? It’s better to pivot now than to rebrand in two years.
Quick Summary Checklist
- Step 1: Use the county-specific online search tool where you live/work.
- Step 2: Search the CA Secretary of State bizfile for LLC/Corp conflicts.
- Step 3: Search the USPTO TESS database for trademarks.
- Step 4: File your FBN Statement with the County Clerk.
- Step 5: Pay the fees (average $50).
- Step 6: Publish in a local newspaper within 45 days.
Once you’ve cleared the search and filed the paperwork, your FBN is good for five years. Just don't forget to renew it. If you change your business address or add a partner, you usually have to start the whole process over again.
Now, go find the specific Clerk's website for your county. Most allow you to start the application online before you even walk in the door or mail the check. It saves a ton of time.